Portugal vs Croatia live online: score, stats, goals and updates | 2026 World Cup last 32

For pretty much the first time, Croatia push Portugal back, knocking the ball about with the Portuguese defense set on the edge of its box.

Finally, Sucic puts his head down and tries to barrel his way into the Portuguese box, but is dispossessed.

From the left, Bruno plops a corner-kick deliver into the middle. Veiga is waiting, but can't connect.

Portugal come again, working it left to Mendes. He crosses, but his delivery is headed away.

Portugal have, without doubt, been the better side in this first half. But they have nothing to show for that superiority, and the clock is ticking closer and closer to half time.

Croatia come forward again, finding Modric on the right flank. But Mendes wins it back again.

Croatia's forward forays are somewhat sporadic in nature - but they manage one now.

Charging up the field in the left-hand channel, Kovacic looks up and clips an outside-of-the-boot ball inwards, towards Budimir at the tip of the Croatian attack.

There's Mr. Mendes, though. He steps across to steal the ball and clear the danger.

That's excellent hussle from Nuno Mendes. He wins it back on the edge of the Croatia area, before slipping it left to Bruno.

Twice Bruno thwacks a low ball into the middle, but twice it's repelled. Mendes really is an awfully good footballer, isn't he.

Portugal, though, respond by whipping in yet another dangerous cross.

From the left, Mendes plays an inch-perfect diagonal into Cancelo's run forward on the opposite flank. From there, Cancelo pings an inswinger into the area, with Bruno and Ronaldo both busting a gut to get a touch to it.

Neither manages to, but that was fine attacking play.

Having had the chance for a three-minute exchange of views on the touchline, Croatia come back out and put together their longest spell of possession so far.

It's finally worked right to Vlasic, who has space to run into... but is offside.

Josip Stanisic of Croatia (L), Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal (2-L), Dominik Livakovic of Croatia (2-R), and Josip Sutalo of Croatia (R) in action.

Peeep! Having quenched their thirst, the teams are back out and playing again.

World Cup 2026

How do hydration breaks work during the 2026 World Cup and how long do they last?

You probably don't need it at this point, but nonetheless: here, courtesy of my colleague Roddy Cons, is the full lowdown on the World Cup hydration break.

Before we do stop for refreshments, Pongracic has to look alive to keep out another threatening cross into the box.

From the left, Mendes delivers - but the Croatia defender gets it behind.

The corner comes to nought, and it's time for drinks.

The question now, in the age of the mid-half drinks break, is: can Portugal keep up this momentum after the stoppage?

Portugal continue to push Croatia back.

From the right, Cancelo cuts back onto his left, before sending in a cross which, in truth, is poorly hit. Croatia deal with it easily enough.

But right away, it's Portugal ball once more.

The ball has not left the Croatia half for a good couple of minutes now. Portugal certainly do look on it so far.

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo reacts during the first half in Toronto.

There's the first yellow card. Rúben Dias goes into Mr Eskas's notebook, for a foul on Budimir.

At the other end, Mendes fizzes a corner kick into the middle, where Veiga meets it. His header is powerful enough, but isn't well-directed enough. It flies over the bar.

Baturina scampers forward down the Croatia left, but finds his way forward blocked.

He checks back, and plays it inside. It's worked to Modric, who looks up and pings a raking, crossfield ball over to the right wing. It's overhit, though. It flies out of play.

Ronaldo gets plenty of welly behind it, but this one won't be his first ever goal in a World Cup knockout tie.

He thunders it right at the Croatia wall. 

Back come Portugal, winning a free-kick in shooting territory.

Ronaldo to take...

Portugal have done most of the attacking so far, but that's better from Croatia.

Stanisic gets forward down the right, before delivering a ball into the middle. It's right on Budimir's head - but he nods over!

Fantastic forties

Cristiano Ronaldo, by the way, is the oldest player ever to play in a knockout-stage game at a men's World Cup.

Tell you what, Portugal are looking decent so far. On the right wing, Neto drops a shoulder and cuts inside, before clipping a left-footed ball into the box.

It ends up flying behind for a goal-kick, but it was hit with plenty of menace.

Yep, Leao looks like he's in the mood.

Having already created one chance, he now whips in a wicked cross into the danger area. It doesn't find a green and white shirt this time, but still. A lively start from Leao.

Right away, Portugal also create an opening - and it's a very good one indeed!

On the left, Mendes pings a perfect little ball into space for Leao to chase. 

Chase it he does. And when he reaches it, close to the byline, he zips a fine cutback into the Croatia box, finding Bruno Fernandes on the penalty spot.

Fernandes turns its goalwards first time, but Livakovic saves!

The first shot is chalked up in Croatia's favor.

Receiving the ball on the edge of the Portugal box, Budimir gets it out of his feet and strikes - but it's too close to Costa. And tamely hit.

No Josko Gvardiol in this Croatia lineup, despite apparently being fit to play.

A strange one. This is, after all, a player who has been linked with Real Madrid in recent times.

Portugal begin on the front foot, working it right to Pedro Neto.

Neto can't conjure up a ball into the box, though, and Croatia bring it clear.

Peeeep! We're underway in Toronto.

Both teams are wearing their change kits, incidentally. I get disproportionately irate when this happens, I must confess. Hey ho.

Who is the VAR?

Espen Eskas will be assisted in the VAR booth by Jarred Gillet, by the way. He's technically Australian, but represents the English Football Association.

And a last look at the Croatia team:

Here's a final reminder of the Portugal lineup:

Out come the teams!

Led out by Messrs Modric and Ronaldo, here come the two sets of players.

It's anthem time: Portugal first. I'm rather a fan of this one, I must say.

World Cup 2026

Who is Espen Eskas, the referee for Portugal vs Croatia in the round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup?

For the full lowdown on Mr Eskas, check out this profile by my colleague Roddy Cons.

Who is the referee?

Norway's Espen Eskas will be the man in the middle in Toronto.

What the coaches said: Zlatko Dalic

What the coaches said: Roberto Martínez

France the runaway favorites

France, by the way, are now overwhelmingly the frontrunners, both for Opta and the bookmakers

After the French demolished Sweden in the round of 32, Opta gives Les Bleus a 29.33% chance of winning a third World Cup - well ahead of Argentina on 14.62%, and Spain on 14.48%.

The bookies, meanwhile, haveFrance as the +190 favorites, ahead of Argentina on +425 and Spain on +600.

Where do Portugal and Croatia stand among the World Cup contenders?

Overall, Opta rate Portugal as sixth favorites for the trophy, with a 4.38% chance of title success.

Despite reaching their recent World Cup feats, Croatia are down in 15th, with only 0.58% probability of lifting the trophy.

Opta opts for Portugal

The soccer stats experts Opta are backing Portugal to maintain their good record against the Croats today.

Opta's 'supercomputer’ is giving the Portuguese a 56.2% chance of victory in 90 minutes, and a 68.68% probability of reaching the last 16, either before or after extra time (and, potentially, penalties).

Croatia’s chance of a win inside 90 minutes is rated back at 19.5%.

Portugal fans cheer for their team at BMO Field, as the World Cup clash nears kickoff.

Portugal two-for-two over Croatia in major tournaments

Although the teams haven't met before at the World Cup, that doesn't mean they haven't crossed paths in major-tournament play.

There have been two meetings at the European Championship, with Portugal winning both.

At Euro '96, the Seleçao eased to a 3-0 group-stage victory. Twenty years on, the Portuguese were 1-0 extra-time winners in the last 16 in 2016, on their way to lifting their first ever European title.

What is Portugal and Croatia's head-to-head record?

Portugal and Croatia have met 10 times in all competitions - and the Seleçao has very much had the upper hand.

The Croats have beaten Portugal only the once, in a friendly in June 2024, while the Portuguese have won seven of the teams' meetings. There have been two draws.

Fans at BMO Field hold up a "welcome to Toronto" sign for Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo and Croatia's Luka Modric.

Ronaldo's "last dance"?

Incidentally, it appears that Cristiano Ronaldo is preparing to call time on his Portugal career after this summer's tournament.

His sister, Katia, is reported to have told SportTV: “Enjoy it while it lasts. It's ending soon. The info I have, from a reliable source… this is his last dance.”

Modric, Ronaldo move up World Cup appearances list

As he wins his 202nd Croatia cap, Luka Modric will also go joint-fifth in the men's World Cup’s all-time appearances list. He'll pull level with Manuel Neuer and Paolo Maldini on 23 tournament games.

Ronaldo, meanwhile, is set to make his 26th World Cup appearance, leapfrogging Germany's Lothar Matthäus into second. Argentina’s Lionel Messi leads the list, with 29 games as things stand.

Modric won't be the most capped player on the field today, though.  That's because one of the three men that surpass the Croat's appearances haul is Cristiano Ronaldo, the male game's most capped individual ever.

Ronaldo will be playing for Portugal for the 232nd time. Again: ridiculous numbers.

Modric adds to huge Croatia cap haul

A midfield master who was at the heart of those 2018 and 2022 runs, Luka Modric will be winning his 202nd Croatia cap today. That is, frankly, ridiculous.

The former Real Madrid star us only behind three men on the worldwide list of international soccer's all-time highest appearance makers.

World Cup specialists

In all, Croatia have registered two semifinal finishes and a silver medal in just three decades since they first entered the men's World Cup.

It really is quite something, given this is a country with a population of around four million. Look away, Scotland fans - this is Croatia's World Cup record in full:

1998: third place
2002: group stage
2006: group stage
2010: DNQ
2014: group stage
2018: runners-up
2022: third place

Can Croatia go deep again?

Having advanced from Group L, Croatia are in the knockout stages for the third time in their last five World Cup appearances.

On all three previous occasions that they reached the knockouts, they made it to at least the semifinals.

That, of course, includes a final appearance in 2018, followed by a second consecutive last-four finish four years ago.

Luka takes a look at the field

Croatia's Luka Modric walks the BMO Field turf ahead of kickoff in Canada.

Croatia lineup confirmed

Zlatko Dalic's team is also up. The Croats start thusly: Livakovic, Stanisic, Sutalo, Pongracic, Perisic, Modric, Kovacic, Vlasic, Sucic, Baturina, Budimir.

No changes to the team that beat Ghana in the final round of group-stage games. 

Portugal lineup confirmed

Roberto Martínez has named his XI. It is: Costa, Cancelo, Veiga, Dias, Mendes, J. Neves, Vitinha, Fernandes, Neto, Leao, Ronaldo.

Martínez makes two changes to the team that began the matchday-three draw with Colombia. Joao Neves is back alongside Vitinha in the midfield, while Rafa Leao gets the nod over Joao Felix in attack.

At a glance: Croatia's recent form

The Vatreni's last five results:

Jun. 27: Croatia 2-1 Ghana, World Cup
Jun. 24: Panama 0-1 Croatia, World Cup
Jun. 17: England 4-2 Croatia, World Cup
Jun. 7: Croatia 2-1 Slovenia, friendly
Jun. 2: Croatia 0-2 Belgium, friendly

How did Croatia reach the round of 32?

Like Portugal, Croatia also finished second in their group.

The Vatreni opened up Group L with a 4-2 defeat to England, but recovered to record consecutive wins.

At today's venue, Ante Budimir's second-half strike gave the Croats a 1-0 win over Panama on matchday two. Then, in their final group game, Croatia leapfrogged Ghana into second spot with a 2-1 triumph, thanks to goals by Petar Sucic and Nikola Vlasic.

Cristiano checks in

Cristiano Ronaldo arriving at BMO Field a short while ago, as Portugal prepare to take on Croatia in Toronto.

Portuguese party in Toronto

Roberto Martínez's players will also be backed by some pretty vocal Portuguese support, by the looks of things.

Players to carry Jota with them

As they have been since this World Cup began, the Portugal players will be wearing special wristbands honoring Diogo Jota's memory.

"Diogo Jota's game"

Speaking to reporters after Portugal's draw with Colombia, Roberto Martínez said of the anniversary: “Every day is difficult. When you are training, there are always moments that Diogo Jota comes back into our memory.”

Martínez added: "I would say that [the anniversary] is a little bit of a celebration. I think we need to honor Diogo Jota. I think it's a moment to cherish.

"Everything we started in this team started with him, we won the Nations League with him, he's probably our sun and light and the biggest stimulation that we have. We want to win the World Cup for him.

“The anniversary is just a moment that makes the game Diogo Jota’s game.”

Today’s game is one that carries huge emotional significance for Portugal: It comes a day before the first anniversary of the death of Liverpool and Seleçao star Diogo Jota.

On July 3, 2025, Jota and his brother, André Silva, were killed in a car crash in Spain, as they travelled to Liverpool so the forward could begin preseason training with the Reds.

Portugal boss Roberto Martínez arrives at BMO Field ahead of kickoff.

At a glance: Portugal's recent form

The Seleção's last five results 

Jun. 27: Colombia 0-0 Portugal, World Cup
Jun. 23: Portugal 5-0 Uzbekistan, World Cup
Jun. 17: Portugal 1-1 DR Congo, World Cup
Jun. 10: Portugal 2-1 Nigeria, friendly
Jun. 6: Portugal 2-1 Chile, friendly

Ronnie and Robbie share unwanted record

In eight knockout-stage appearances for Portugal, Ronaldo has not only failed to score, but hasn't even registered an assist.

Per Opta, Ronaldo's 29 shots without scoring in a World Cup knockout game are the joint most by any player on record since 1966. He shares that mark with a fellow former Real Madrid favorite, Brazil’s Roberto Carlos.

But there's a major gap on CR7's World Cup resumé

...aside from the obvious, trophy-shaped hole in his CV, that is.

All of Ronaldo's World Cup goals have come in the group stage. He's yet to find the net once in the knockouts.

Ronaldo surpasses Eusébio

That 2006 campaign was, of course, the first of Cristiano Ronaldo’s joint-record six World Cups.

Now 41, he became the first player to score at six separate finals when the Portuguese thumped Uzbekistan on matchday two.

Ronaldo's double against the Uzbeks also took him past the great Eusébio as Portugal’s highest ever scorer at men’s World Cups. The Al-Nassr forward now has a career total of 10 tournament goals.

Portugal set for another last-16 date?

Unimpressive though they may have been, Portugal are now into the knockout rounds for the fifth time in the last six men's World Cups.

They're chasing last-16 qualification for the third straight tournament. 

In eight men's World Cup campaigns so far, Portugal’s best performance came in 1966 and 2006, when they were beaten semifinalists.

Portugal held twice in Group K

On matchday one, Portugal produced a hugely disappointing display against DR Congo: Despite a dream start in Houston - where Joao Neves headed home inside the first few minutes - the Portuguese were held to a 1-1 draw.

Although the Seleçao then responded by thumping Uzbekistan 5-0, a second stalemate followed on matchday three, this time against the Colombians. That draw ensured Los Cafeterias topped Group K ahead of Roberto Martínez’s side.

How did Portugal qualify for the last 32?

What with that stacked midfield and everything, Portugal came into this World Cup as one of the major favorites. But they certainly haven't convinced so far. 

Roberto Martínez's men had to settle for second place in Group K, behind Colombia, after winning only one of their first-round games:

World Cup last-16 matchups: as it stands

July 4:

Canada vs Morocco
Paraguay vs France

July 5:

Brazil vs Norway
Mexico vs England

July 6:

Portugal/Croatia vs Spain
United States vs Belgium

July 7:

Argentina/Cape Verde vs Australia/Egypt
Switzerland/Algeria vs Colombia/Ghana
 

Who has qualified for the round of 16?

Following Spain's win over Austria, we now have 11 confirmed last-16 teams, with two more to follow today.

After Portugal and Croatia face off in Toronto, Canada then plays host to another round-of-32 clash, as Switzerland and Algeria meet in Vancouver. That game kicks off at 11:00 p.m. ET/8:00 p.m. PT.

World Cup 2026

Spain vs Austria live online: score, stats, goals & updates | 2026 World Cup round of 32

For all the reaction to Spain's 3-0 win in California, join my colleague Calum Roche here.

Spain await after ousting Austrians

The final whistle has just gone in L.A., where Spain have swept past Austria to reach the round of 16. 

Mikel Oyarzabal scored two, either side of a goal for Pedro Porro, as the European champions eased Das Team aside.

La Roja now move on to Dallas, where they'll play Portugal or Croatia next Monday, July 6.

What time is kickof?

Toronto's BMO Field - where Croatia beat Panama in their second group game - is the setting for this evening's round-of-32 tie. 

Kickoff in Canada is in just about two hours' time: at 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT. We'll have team news for you just as soon as it drops.

Portugal vs Croatia: welcome!

Hello! In the second of two all-European clashes today, Portugal and Croatia meet for the first time ever at a men's World Cup.

It’s an exceedingly appetising game whose winners, we now know, will face Spain in the last 16. In today's opening Old Continent matchup - a clash that has just finished - the Spaniards saw off Austria in Los Angeles.