TORONTO (Interstat) — Croatia defeated Panama 1-0 on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at BMO Field in a World Cup group stage match. Substitute Ante Budimir scored the lone goal in the 54th minute, firing a left-footed shot past the Panama goalkeeper. Petar Sučić, also a substitute, provided the assist. Panama midfielder Édgar Bárcenas recorded an assist of his own but was booked in the 61st minute. Sučić received a yellow card in second-half stoppage time. Croatia improved to 1-0 in the competition and overall, while Panama fell to 0-1 in both the tournament and all competitions. The match remained scoreless until Budimir’s decisive strike, and Panama was unable to equalize despite late pressure. Bárcenas’ yellow card was the first of two cautions for Panama, who struggled to break down a disciplined Croatian defense. The win gives Croatia an early lead in their group.