Portugal vs Croatia Prediction. Portugal and Croatia — two heavyweight European nations — clash in the Round of 32 at BMO Field, Toronto on Friday, 3 July 2026 (23:00 UTC (Thursday, 2 July 2026) / 02:00 EAT (Friday, 3 July 2026)). Ronaldo scored at six different World Cups; Modrić starts at 40. Both defences have been solid. Our prediction: Portugal to win or draw (1X). Full analysis, team news, line-ups and all markets on SportPesa.
Match details
| Field | Detail |
| Competition | 2026 FIFA World Cup — Round of 32 |
| Date & kick-off | Friday, 3 July 2026 at 23:00 UTC (Thursday, 2 July 2026) / 02:00 EAT (Friday, 3 July 2026) |
| Venue | BMO Field, Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| How they qualified | Portugal: Group K runners-up (drew DR Congo 1-1, lost Colombia 0-1, beat Uzbekistan 5-0). Croatia: Group L runners-up (lost England 2-4, beat Ghana 1-0, beat Panama). |
| Format | Single elimination. If level after 90 mins: 30 mins extra time, then penalty shoot-out. No draws possible after 90 minutes. |
| Winner faces | Portugal vs Croatia winner faces opponent from the other half of the bracket (Round of 16). |
| Where to watch | DSTV/GOTV |
Ronaldo’s record pursuit vs Modrić’s valediction
Portugal went unbeaten in the group stage but could only manage second place in Group K behind Colombia. A 5-0 demolition of Uzbekistan is their only win, with a draw against DR Congo and a defeat to Colombia adding up to a campaign that has been competent rather than compelling. Roberto Martínez’ side will be expected to raise their game here.
Cristiano Ronaldo remains the emotional and sporting centrepiece. His brace against Uzbekistan made him the first player in history to score at six different World Cups — a record that belongs entirely to him. At 41, in what could be his final World Cup match, Ronaldo leads the attack supported by João Félix and Pedro Neto on the flanks. Bruno Fernándes and Bernardo Silva provide the creative depth in midfield. The only team news concern is João Cancelo, who suffered a minor knock vs Colombia. If not cleared, Diogo Dalot fills in at right-back. João Neves is expected to start despite being taken off at halftime in that match.
Croatia have shown once again why they punch above their weight at World Cups. After a heavy opening defeat to England, Zlatko Dalić’s side bounced back with consecutive wins — Ante Budimir’s goal beat Ghana, and Croatia then beat Panama. They are a side that has finished third (2022) and reached the final (2018). This current crop may be the last iteration of their golden generation, making this a match heavy with legacy weight.
Luka Modrić, 40, has been involved in two goals at this tournament and leads alongside Mateo Kovačić in midfield. Nikola Vlasić and Budimir have both scored and start up front. Ivan Perišić is expected to return to the starting XI after missing the last match, with Martin Baturina moving to the bench.
Availability
| Player | Status |
| João Cancelo (Portugal) | Minor knock vs Colombia. Dalot on standby. |
| João Neves (Portugal) | EXPECTED TO START — came off at halftime vs Colombia but expected to retain his place. |
| Ivan Perišić (Croatia) | EXPECTED TO RETURN — missed last match; expected back in starting XI. Baturina to bench. |
Team news and expected line-ups
Portugal: Ronaldo leads. Félix and Neto support. Fernándes at number 10. Cancelo or Dalot at right-back. Neves and Vitinha in midfield.
Croatia: Modrić captains and dictates. Budimir and Vlasić in attack. Perišić expected to return. Gvardiol anchors defence.
| Portugal (4-3-3) | Croatia (4-3-3) |
| D. Costa (GK) | Livaković (GK) |
| Cancelo / Dalot (RB) | Sutâlo (RB) |
| R. Dias (CB) | Gvardiol (CB) |
| Veiga (CB) | Pongracic (CB) |
| Mendes (LB) | Stanišić (LB) |
| J. Neves (CM) | Modrić (DM) |
| Vitinha (CM) | Kovačić (CM) |
| B. Silva (RW) | Baturina / Perišić (RM) |
| B. Fernándes (AM) | Vlasić (AM) |
| Neto (LW) | Budimir (ST) |
| Ronaldo (ST) | Ivić (LW) |
Key stats
- Portugal: Group K runners-up (4pts). Drew DR Congo 1-1, lost Colombia 0-1, beat Uzbekistan 5-0.
- Portugal: unbeaten in last 8 matches (W5 D3). Conceded just 4 goals in that run.
- Cristiano Ronaldo: scored a brace vs Uzbekistan. First player to score at six different World Cups.
- Portugal: have not been convincing — only one win in Group K, against the weakest opponent.
- Portugal form: D W D W W.
- Croatia: Group L runners-up (6pts). Lost England 2-4 (MD1), beat Ghana 1-0 (MD2), beat Panama (MD3).
- Luka Modrić (40): involved in 2 tournament goals. Starts in midfield alongside Kovačić.
- Nikola Vlasić and Ante Budimir: both scored in the tournament. Both start.
- Ivan Perišić: expected to return to starting XI after missing last match.
- Croatia: 2018 World Cup finalists. 2022 third-place finishers.
- Croatia form: W W L W L.
- H2H (last 5): very competitive — Croatia 1-1 Portugal (Nov 2024), Portugal 2-1 Croatia (Sep 2024), Portugal 1-2 Croatia (Jun 2024), Croatia 2-3 Portugal (Nov 2020), Portugal 4-1 Croatia (Sep 2020).
- Both sides have scored in every match they have played at this World Cup.
Head-to-head
The recent head-to-head between Portugal and Croatia is remarkably tight. Of the last five meetings, each side has won twice with one draw. Their last encounter — a 1-1 draw in November 2024 — is the most recent. Croatia actually beat Portugal in the June 2024 UEFA Nations League fixture, underlining that this is not a comfortable fixture for either side.
| Date | Result |
| 18 November 2024 | Croatia 1–1 Portugal |
| 5 September 2024 | Portugal 2–1 Croatia |
| 8 June 2024 | Portugal 1–2 Croatia |
| 17 November 2020 | Croatia 2–3 Portugal |
| 5 September 2020 | Portugal 4–1 Croatia |
Current form
| Team | Last 5 (inc. WC group stage) |
| Portugal | D W D W W — unbeaten in 8; only 4 goals conceded |
| Croatia | W W L W L — no draws since October 2025 |
Our prediction
Both sides do have enough attacking quality to create chances. However, Portugal have a slight advantage in the depth of their lineup — Ronaldo, Fernándes, Silva, Félix and Neto represent a genuinely world-class attacking group when firing. The question is whether they can finally do so consistently.
Croatia’s defensive structure under Dalić is extremely well organised. Gvardiol’s athleticism and Modrić’s experience in controlling tempo make them very difficult to break down. Both defences have been solid; neither concedes freely. A cagey encounter is the likeliest outcome — with the distinct possibility that extra time decides matters. Portugal’s slight superiority in attacking quality makes them the marginal favourites, but a Croatian upset cannot be ruled out.
Our prediction: Portugal to win or draw (1X).
Odds and markets
Odds correct at 0200 hrs UTC on 03/07/2026 and subject to change.
How to bet on SportPesa
- Open the Portugal vs Croatia event page on SportPesa (link above).
- Choose your market — Single Bet (SB), Multi-Bet (MB), or Live Bet (LB) once the match starts.
- Enter your stake and place your bet.
Frequently asked questions
What time does Portugal vs Croatia kick off?
Kick-off is at 23:00 UTC (Thursday, 2 July 2026) / 02:00 EAT (Friday, 3 July 2026) on Friday, 3 July 2026, at BMO Field, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
How many World Cups has Cristiano Ronaldo scored at?
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored at six different FIFA World Cups — 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, and 2026 — making him the first player in history to achieve this feat. His brace against Uzbekistan in the group stage added to a record that is uniquely his own.
Is João Cancelo playing for Portugal?
Cancelo suffered a minor knock in Portugal’s final group match against Colombia. He is expected to be assessed before kick-off. If he is not cleared, Diogo Dalot will start at right-back. Confirm in the official team announcement before kick-off.
What is Croatia’s best ever World Cup performance?
Croatia reached the final of the 2018 World Cup, losing 2-4 to France. They finished third in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. This is one of the most impressive knockout runs by a nation of Croatia’s size in World Cup history.
What is the Portugal vs Croatia head-to-head record?
The recent meetings between Portugal and Croatia are extremely competitive. Of the last five encounters, each side has won twice with one draw. Their most recent match was a 1-1 draw in November 2024. Croatia beat Portugal 2-1 in June 2024.
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