World Cup 2026: Portugal vs. Croatia, confirmed lineups as a legend says goodbye

The BMO Field in Toronto, Canada, will host a significant clash in the 2026 World Cup on Thursday, July 2, as Portugal faces Croatia in a Round of 32 match. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m. Panama time, with Norwegian referee Espen Eskas officiating.

Beyond the immediate prize of a spot in the Round of 16, where Spain already awaits, this game carries emotional weight. It may mark the last time football icons Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modrić share a World Cup pitch.

Portugal, managed by Roberto Martínez, navigated the group stage undefeated with one win and two draws. Despite finishing second in Group K, the team has shown strong form, losing only two of their last 23 matches since Euro 2024. A victory would see them achieve four consecutive World Cup matches without a loss for only the third time in their history, a feat that led them to the semifinals in 1966 and 2006.

Croatia, meanwhile, has demonstrated resilience. After an initial 4-2 defeat to England, they secured wins against Panama and Ghana to advance to the knockout stage for the fourth consecutive time. The team, featuring a core that reached third place in 2022 and was runner-up in 2018, seeks to win three consecutive matches in a major tournament for the first time since their 2018 World Cup campaign.

Historically, Portugal holds an advantage over Croatia, remaining undefeated in official matches and having lost only once in ten total encounters. Notably, Cristiano Ronaldo, despite his prolific international goal record, has yet to score in eight previous World Cup knockout stage appearances, accumulating more shots than any other player without a goal in that phase. Ronaldo and Modrić, former Real Madrid teammates, will now face each other, with Modrić potentially making his 23rd World Cup appearance, a milestone surpassed by only a few players, including Ronaldo.