FIFA World Cup

Round of 32

POR Portugal Portugal - CRO Croatia Croatia

Portugal Portugal

Croatia Croatia

Toronto Stadium(Sold out)

Espen Andreas Eskås

Portugal scrape through

Heartbreak for Croatia and Luka Modrić on his final World Cup appearance, as Portugal come from behind to edge a breathtaking, drama-filled encounter and book their place in the Round of 16.

End of second half

Full-time

Goal ruled out

The Croatia players are devastated as the referee shares his decision with Toronto Stadium. Ronaldo and the Portugal bench are overjoyed. That's surely it...

90'

+ 13

Late drama!

Joško Gvardiol bundles in after Igor Matanović helps on a dangerous cross, but was the Freiburg forward offside? The referee will check this...

90'

+ 10

Almost there

Nothing comes of the cross. The ball is now back in the Croatia half...

90'

+ 9

Last chance saloon

Ivan Perišić wins a corner...

90'

+ 8

Yellow card

Ivan Perišić

90'

+ 6

Time for a hero

Andrej Kramarić - scorer of a club-record 158 goals for Hoffenheim - is sent on to rescue Croatia's World Cup campaign.

90'

+ 6

Substitution

Andrej Kramarić

Mateo Kovacic

90'

+ 4

Late lead for Portugal!

Josip Stanišić doesn't deal with Rafael Leão, who's allowed the time and space to float in a cross from the left. Substitute Gonçalo Ramos towers above his marker and plants a header into the back of the net to put Portugal within touching distance of the Round of 16.

90'

+ 4

Gonçalo Ramos

GOAL!

2:1

Assist:R. Leão

Goal probability

Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.

5 %

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

8.65 m

90'

+ 2

Substitution

Joško Gvardiol

Nikola Vlašić

90'

+ 1

Ten added minutes

Portugal are on the attack...

89'

Inches away!

Mario Pašalić meets a brilliant Petar Sučić cross with a downward header towards the far post, but he can't keep it on target.

86'

Wide!

Lady Luck continues to elude Renato Veiga, who glances wide from a corner.

82'

Ronaldo makes way

Is this the last time fans will see the Portugal great in action at the World Cup?

81'

Substitution

Rúben Neves

Cristiano Ronaldo

80'

Another disallowed goal!

Petar Sučić races away and finishes past the goalkeeper, but the flag goes up for offside.

76'

Matanović!

The Freiburg man does well to get a shot away, only for Diogo Costa to charge out to narrow the angle and make the block. He's made a real impact since coming on.

75'

Wow!

Mateo Kovačić powers through the Portugal midfield and drives a shot towards the bottom corner, but Diogo Costa gets the slightest touch to direct it onto the post before palming over the Croatia No.8’s follow-up.

One apiece in Toronto

It's finely poised as we reach the second hydration break. The fans have been treated to non-stop action since the restart, with Ivan Perišić's opener cancelled out by Cristiano Ronaldo's penalty – his first goal in World Cup knockout-stage football – as well as a couple of disallowed efforts and a strike against the woodwork.

68'

Substitution

Mario Pašalić

Martin Baturina

68'

"Siuuuuuuuuuuuu!"

Ronaldo goes down the middle from the spot, and Portugal are level!

68'

Cristiano Ronaldo

GOAL!

1:1

Penalty

Goal probability

77 %

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

11 m

66'

Penalty check

The referee heads to the pitchside monitor to take another look at a possible foul on Renato Veiga following a corner. It did seem like he was being held back as the ball came in...

2:29

Watch: Ivan Perišić's top 5 Bundesliga goals

The Croatia goalscorer netted some beauties during his time in Germany.

64'

Four Portugal changes

Bruno Fernandes is among the players hooked, with Portugal trailing at Toronto Stadium.

63'

Substitution

Gonçalo Ramos

João Cancelo

63'

Substitution

Nélson Semedo

Bruno Fernandes

62'

Substitution

Francisco Conceição

Pedro Neto

62'

Substitution

Bernardo Silva

Vitinha

62'

Offside the decision

Not much in that. Croatia still lead.

61'

Ronaldo scores...

Incredible first touch and a cute finish, but the flag's up. This'll be checked...

59'

Yellow card

Luka Modrić

58'

Woodwork!

We have a real game on our hands in Toronto as Rafael Leão rattles the crossbar from 18 yards.

56'

Disallowed goal!

Croatia think they've scored a second as Igor Matanović converts from close range, but it's ruled out for an offside in the build-up. Huge let-off for Portugal.

Breakthrough in Toronto!

Portugal are at sixes and sevens as Bayern Munich full-back Josip Stanišić goes on the overlap and clips a cross towards the back post. Former Dortmund, Wolfsburg and Bayern forward Ivan Perišić brings it under control and lashes an effort under the advancing Diogo Costa. That's Croatia's first shot on target of the game!

53'

Ivan Perišić

GOAL!

0:1

Goal probability

16 %

Distance to Goal

The distance to goal is measured at the time of the shot - from the position of the ball to the center of the goal.

12.21 m

48'

Denied!

Mateo Kovačić drives through the Portugal defence and goes for goal, but Diogo Costa gets just enough on it to turn it behind for Croatia's first corner of the match.

46'

Aerial presence

Igor Matanović replaces Ante Budmir for Croatia. The 6'5" Freiburg striker scored 15 goals in all competitions in 2025/26.

Kick-off!

45'

+ 6

Half-time: Portugal 0-0 Croatia

It's goalless in Toronto, but Portugal have dominated and will feel they should be ahead. Croatia need to find a way to change the pattern of the game.

45'

+ 5

Substitution

Igor Matanović

Ante Budimir

Half-time

45'

+ 1

Wayward strike

Another good ball from Pedro Neto is only half cleared, but Rafael Leão gets his attempted volley all wrong, sending it high over the crossbar.

42'

One-way traffic

Almost all the action is taking place in the Croatian defensive third as Zlatko Dalić's side survive a couple of dangerous corner-kick deliveries.

36'

Getting closer

Bruno Fernandes drives a cross-shot towards the near post, but Dominik Livaković parries it away. The ball comes straight back to the Portugal midfielder, before Ivan Perišić intervenes and puts it behind for a corner.

30'

Almost!

Nuno Mendes switches play brilliantly to João Cancelo. The former Bayern Munich full-back cuts inside and whips a ball into the six-yard box, where Cristiano Ronaldo is inches away from making the decisive touch.

Hydration break

Portugal have asked all the questions so far in Toronto, with Croatia forced to sit deep and absorb wave after wave of pressure.

22'

Danger averted

Former Wolfsburg defender Marin Pongračić dives full stretch to cut out Nuno Mendes’ cross, just before it can reach its intended target in the six-yard box.

18'

Proceed with caution

Rúben Dias is the first player to go into the referee's book after being penalised for an aerial challenge.

17'

Yellow card

Rúben Dias

16'

Huge opportunity!

Renato Veiga is left kicking himself after rising completely unmarked to meet an inswinging corner, only to head over the bar. Croatia just can't get a foothold in the game right now.

12'

Wall does its job

More purposeful running from Rafael Leão wins Portugal a free-kick in a dangerous position, but Cristiano Ronaldo drives his effort straight into the wall.

A whisker away

Ronaldo rises between two defenders at the back post to meet Pedro Neto's teasing cross, but he doesn't connect, and the ball sails behind for a goal-kick. Portugal have made a really bright start.

CR7 lurking

Cristiano Ronaldo gets his first sniff of goal from a Portugal corner, but the delivery is just beyond the reach of even the uber-athletic captain.

Close!

Portugal also find joy on their left-hand flank with Rafael Leão, who goes on the outside of Josip Stanišić. His cut-back picks out Bruno Fernandes, whose first-time effort is brilliantly saved by Dominik Livaković. The rebound is then hacked off the line, before Croatia finally scramble the ball clear.

Warning shot

Ante Budimir is unmarked as a low cross is played into the penalty area, but his shot lacks the power to beat Diogo Costa.

Ball's rolling!

We're under way in Toronto. Both sides are sporting their change strips – Portugal in white and pale green, Croatia in two-tone blue.

Kick-off!

Loud and proud

Powerful support pours in for both teams, with Toronto home to large Portuguese and Croatian communities, whose passion is evident throughout the stadium.

Here they come

Razor-sharp focus is etched across Ronaldo's face as the two teams stride onto the pitch at Toronto Stadium, the air pulsing with the sound of Shakira's 'Dai Dai'. That can only mean the national anthems are up next...

Spain lie in wait

Lamine Yamal was at his menacing best for Spain earlier today against Austria, helping orchestrate a 3-0 victory for La Roja in Los Angeles. They will play the winner of this game in Dallas on Monday 6 July.

New ground for Ronaldo?

The Portuguese superstar is his country’s all-time leading scorer at World Cups with ten goals. However, all of those have come in group games; he hasn’t found the net in eight World Cup knockout matches to date.

More on that Portugal team

Coach Roberto Martínez has made two changes following last week's goalless draw against Colombia, bringing in João Neves for Rúben Neves in defensive midfield, while Rafael Leão begins on the left wing instead of João Félix.

More on that Croatia team

Croatia boss Zlatko Dalić has kept faith with the same XI players that started against Ghana in their final group game, meaning Luka Modrić begins in central midfield, while Bayern's Josip Stanišić is once again at right-back.

Predicted line-up: Portugal

Predicted Formation:4-2-3-1

The confirmed starting line-up will be published around 60 minutes before kick-off.

Portugal subs

Silva, Sá, Inácio, Dalot, Araújo, Semedo, Costa, Neves, Silva, Nunes, Conceição, Guedes, Trincão, Félix, Ramos

Starting line-up: Croatia

Formation:4-3-3

Croatia subs

Pandur, Kotarski, Gvardiol, Ćaleta-Car, Vušković, Erlić, Moro, Kramarić, Pašalić, Jakić, Fruk, Sučić, Matanović, Pašalić, Musa

2:11

Watch: All Kramarić goals in 2025/26

Enjoy all of Andrej Kramarić's Bundesliga goals from the season just past.

Croatia's Bundesliga charges

Five of Croatia's squad for this World Cup played in the Bundesliga last season: Kristijan Jakić (Augsburg), Andrej Kramarić (Hoffenheim), Igor Matanović (Freiburg), Josip Stanišić (Bayern Munich), Luka Vušković (Hamburg).

Head-to-head record

Portugal have won seven of their 10 meetings with Croatia, including five of the six competitive encounters between the nations. Croatia’s only victory came in a pre-EURO 2024 friendly, which Dalić’s charges won 2-1. The teams have never met before at the World Cup.

How they got here: Croatia

After losing 4-2 to England in their opening game, 2018 finalists Croatia edged to a 1-0 victory over Panama to set up a crucial clash with Ghana. A point would have been enough for Zlatko Dalić’s team to advance as one of the best third-placed sides, but Nikola Vlašić’s late winner earned them a 2-1 victory and a place in the round of 32 as Group L runners-up.

How they got here: Portugal

Portugal bounced back from a frustrating 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their Group K opener with a resounding 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan. With qualification to the round of 32 already secured, Roberto Martínez’s team played out a goalless draw with Colombia in their third group encounter to finish second behind the South Americans.

Welcome!

Follow all of the action as Portugal take on Croatia in the FIFA World Cup 2026 round of 32, kicking off at 1am CEST in Toronto.