Croatia defeated Panama 1-0 in Toronto during their first qualifying match for the 2026 World Cup. The game saw a determined effort from Panama, but they were unable to overcome Croatia’s defense. Substitute Ante Budimir scored the sole goal of the match, securing the win for Croatia despite a less-than-dominant performance. The victory marks Croatia’s initial success in the qualifying campaign for the expanded 48-team tournament. Panama displayed courage throughout the match but ultimately lacked the finishing touch to equalize. The result places Croatia in a favorable position early in the qualifying process. The match highlighted the competitive nature of the 2026 World Cup qualification rounds.