PREVIEW: Croatia and Panama battle for crucial Group L points in Toronto | OneFootball

Croatia face Panama at Toronto Stadium in Canada tomorrow evening, with the aim to sealing a top-three finish in Group L.

Zlatko Dalic’s side sit at the bottom of group L without a point after suffering a heavy 4-2 defeat to England last week. Croatia will be hoping to right some wrongs from that performance and get the win against Panama. They have never faced Panama in international football, with tomorrow’s World Cup 2026 fixture marking the first encounter between the two nations.

Croatia last faced a CONCACAF side in Qatar 2022, where they beat Canada 4-1. Croatia have won three of their last six matches across all competitions, while also suffering three defeats.

Meanwhile, Panama sit above Croatia in third, despite suffering a 1-0 loss against Ghana in their opening group match on June 17

If Panama lose to Croatia, their hopes of knockout round football at this World Cup will take a severe blow, with England being their only other remaining group fixture. Thomas Christiansen will be aiming to make history by guiding Panama to their first point at a FIFA World Cup.

Panama last appeared in a World Cup in Russia in 2018, where they lost all three of their group stage matches against Belgium, England and Tunisia. They have won two of their last six matches across all competitions, while also recording two draws and two defeats.

The match will kick off at 12am UK time and will be broadcast live on BBC One, and will be available to stream via BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website.