Portugal - Croatia: score, highlights and statistics

Portugal and Croatia meet on 3 July 2026 at midnight BST (00:00) at BMO Field in Toronto in the Round of 32 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup - the winner advances to the Round of 16, the loser is eliminated. Portugal enter the knockout phase unbeaten in their 3 group-stage matches, scoring 6 goals and conceding just 1, while Croatia posted 2 wins and 1 defeat across their 3 World Cup group games. In the last 5 head-to-head encounters, Portugal have won 3, drawn 1 and lost 1, underlining their historical edge over Croatia in this fixture.

Match Info: Portugal vs Croatia

The Round of 32 tie between Portugal and Croatia kicks off on 3 July 2026 at 00:00 BST at BMO Field in Toronto, Canada, as part of the 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout stage.

Where to Watch Portugal vs Croatia?

UK viewers can watch Portugal take on Croatia live on BBC One, with streaming available free of charge via BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport Web. Radio listeners can follow the action on BBC Radio 5 Live or TalkSport Radio UK. Viewers in Ireland have the choice of BBC One UK, RTÉ2, and the RTÉ Player stream.

In the United States, the match is broadcast on FOX and Telemundo, with streaming options on Fubo TV, Peacock, and Telemundo Deportes En Vivo. Radio coverage is available on SiriusXM FC and Futbol de Primera Radio. Canadian audiences can tune in on CTV, TSN1, TSN3, or TSN4, with the French-language option on RDS.

Across Europe, Germany has coverage on MagentaTV, Spain on DAZN España and Movistar+, Italy on DAZN Italia, France on beIN Sports 1, and the Netherlands on NPO 1 (free-to-air) and NPO Start online. Australia can watch on SBS TV and stream via SBS On Demand.

Match between Portugal and Croatia - Preview

Portugal face Croatia in a single-elimination clash that carries enormous stakes: one nation advances to the Round of 16 and a potential quarter-final meeting with Spain or Austria, while the other boards a flight home from Toronto.

Portugal finished as runners-up in Group K with 5 points, going unbeaten but far from convincing. A 5-0 demolition of Uzbekistan was offset by a 1-1 draw with DR Congo and a goalless stalemate against Colombia. Roberto Martínez has 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo leading the line - he has started all three group games - but the squad depth behind him is formidable: Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, and 21-year-old João Neves have already made their mark on the tournament.

Croatia qualified from Group L as runners-up behind England, collecting 6 points from a turbulent campaign. A 4-2 defeat to England exposed genuine defensive vulnerabilities, but Zlatko Dalić's side regrouped with a disciplined 1-0 win over Panama - played at this same BMO Field - and then saw off Ghana 2-1 to seal their place in the last 32. The Vatreni's experience in knockout football, demonstrated by a World Cup final in 2018 and a third-place finish in 2022, makes them an opponent Portugal must respect.

Head-to-Head: Portugal vs Croatia

Across 10 all-time meetings, Portugal have won 7 and Croatia just 1, with 2 draws - a dominant record that only partially masks how competitive this rivalry has become in recent years, with Croatia winning in Lisbon as recently as June 2024.

The five most recent meetings between the two nations:

• 18 November 2024 - UEFA Nations League - Croatia 1:1 Portugal
• 5 September 2024 - UEFA Nations League - Portugal 2:1 Croatia
• 8 June 2024 - Friendly - Portugal 1:2 Croatia
• 17 November 2020 - UEFA Nations League - Croatia 2:3 Portugal
• 5 September 2020 - UEFA Nations League - Portugal 4:1 Croatia

Portugal - Recent Form

Portugal enter the knockout stage of the 2026 World Cup unbeaten in their 3 group matches, with 6 goals scored and 1 conceded - a defensive record bettered by very few sides at this tournament.

The headline result was a commanding 5-0 win over Uzbekistan, in which Portugal demonstrated their attacking range across the entire squad. A 1-1 draw with DR Congo in the opening game and a 0-0 stalemate against Colombia showed a side capable of preserving a clean sheet but occasionally struggling to break down organised defences. Two pre-tournament friendlies - wins of 2-1 over Nigeria and 2-1 over Chile - rounded out a preparation phase that provided minutes but few real tests of quality.

Croatia - Recent Form

Croatia reached the Round of 32 with 6 points from 3 World Cup group matches, winning 2 and losing 1, but conceding 5 goals across those 3 games - a defensive return that raises concerns ahead of this tie.

The 4-2 defeat to England in their opening fixture was chastening: Croatia looked vulnerable to pace and high-tempo pressing, which is precisely the threat Portugal's wide attackers pose. However, Dalić's side responded with back-to-back wins - a composed 1-0 against Panama and a tight 2-1 against Ghana to secure qualification. Before the World Cup, Croatia beat Slovenia 2-1 in a friendly but were beaten 2-0 by Belgium, suggesting their defensive work still needed sharpening ahead of the tournament.

Facts and Statistics

Portugal and Croatia are meeting in the World Cup knockout stage for the first time in their history, adding an extra layer of significance to a rivalry that has produced 27 goals across 10 all-time matches. This is a fixture defined by Portugal's overwhelming historical dominance but punctuated by Croatia's ability to produce upsets at the highest level.

• Portugal have scored 19 goals in 10 meetings against Croatia; Croatia have replied with just 8.
• Croatia's only win in this fixture in the last decade came in a June 2024 friendly in Lisbon - a 2-1 result that remains their sole victory against Portugal.
• Cristiano Ronaldo has played 8 World Cup knockout matches without scoring a single goal.
• Croatia reached the 2018 World Cup final and finished third in 2022, underlining their pedigree in knockout competition.