Sofia Quijada
Panama and Croatia meet for the first time in recorded international history when they face off in their World Cup 2026 fixture on 23 June 2026. Croatia enter as the higher-ranked side at 14th in the world, while Panama sit at 40th, making this a significant test for the CONCACAF representatives against one of Europe’s most experienced tournament nations.
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Head-to-Head Record
Panama and Croatia have no recorded head-to-head meetings prior to this fixture. The two nations have simply never been drawn together in a major tournament or scheduled an international friendly, meaning 23 June 2026 will mark their competitive debut against one another. With no historical data to draw on, recent form, squad quality and World Cup 2026 context become the most relevant indicators for assessing this matchup.
Panama: Recent Form
Panama head into this fixture with a mixed run of results across their last six outings, recording 2 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses (form string: L D W L W D, most recent first). They have scored 10 goals and conceded 12 in that stretch, averaging 1.67 goals for and 2.00 against per match, with a points-per-game rate of 1.33. Notably, Panama have not kept a single clean sheet in their last six, and failed to score on one occasion. Their most recent outing — a 0-1 defeat away to Ghana on 17 June — was a concerning display ahead of a tough European opponent. Earlier in the window, a 4-2 home win over Dominican Republic and a 2-1 away victory against South Africa showed their attacking potential, though a 2-6 thrashing at Brazil underlined the defensive vulnerabilities that Croatia could look to exploit.
- 17 Jun 2026 — Ghana 1-0 Panama (Away) — L
- 6 Jun 2026 — Panama 1-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina (Home) — D
- 4 Jun 2026 — Panama 4-2 Dominican Republic (Home) — W
- 31 May 2026 — Brazil 6-2 Panama (Away) — L
Croatia: Recent Form
Croatia’s last six matches present an equally inconsistent picture: 3 wins, 0 draws and 3 losses (form string: L W L L W W, most recent first). They have scored 10 goals and conceded 13, averaging 1.67 goals for and 2.17 against per match, with a points-per-game rate of 1.50. Like Panama, Croatia have not recorded a clean sheet in this six-match sample and failed to score once. Their most recent result — a 2-4 away defeat to England on 17 June — will be a concern, though back-to-back wins over Colombia (2-1 away) and Montenegro (3-2 away) earlier in the cycle demonstrated their capacity to grind out victories on the road. A 0-2 home loss to Belgium and a 1-3 defeat away to Brazil highlight that Croatia’s defensive record has been far from watertight in the build-up to this tournament.
- 17 Jun 2026 — England 4-2 Croatia (Away) — L
- 7 Jun 2026 — Croatia 2-1 Slovenia (Home) — W
- 2 Jun 2026 — Croatia 0-2 Belgium (Home) — L
- 1 Apr 2026 — Brazil 3-1 Croatia (Away) — L
Form and Record at a Glance
- Head-to-head record: No previous meetings between Panama and Croatia.
- Panama’s last 6: W2 D2 L2 — 10 goals scored, 12 conceded, 1.33 PPG.
- Croatia’s last 6: W3 D0 L3 — 10 goals scored, 13 conceded, 1.50 PPG.
- Clean sheets: Neither side has kept a clean sheet in their last six matches.
- Failed to score: Both Panama and Croatia have each failed to score on one occasion in their last six.
- Football Assosiasion Rankings: Croatia ranked 14th, Panama ranked 40th — a 26-place gap in favour of the European side.
How Panama and Croatia Compare
Despite the 26-place gulf in the Football Assosiasion rankings, the two sides’ raw recent-form numbers are remarkably close: both have scored exactly 10 goals in their last six matches, and Croatia’s points-per-game advantage is modest at 1.50 versus Panama’s 1.33. Where Croatia hold a clearer edge is in the quality of opponents they have faced — wins over Colombia and Montenegro carry more weight than Panama’s victories over Dominican Republic and South Africa — though Croatia’s defensive record is marginally worse, conceding 13 goals to Panama’s 12 in the same number of outings. Panama’s attacking output of 1.67 goals per match shows they are capable of threatening any defence, but the complete absence of clean sheets on either side suggests this fixture could be an open contest.
FAQ
Have Panama and Croatia ever played each other before?
No. Panama vs Croatia on 23 June 2026 will be the first-ever meeting between the two nations in recorded international football history.
What is Panama’s recent form ahead of World Cup 2026?
Panama have won 2, drawn 2 and lost 2 of their last six matches, scoring 10 goals and conceding 12, with a points-per-game rate of 1.33. Their most recent result was a 0-1 defeat away to Ghana on 17 June 2026.
What is Croatia’s recent form ahead of World Cup 2026?
Croatia have won 3 and lost 3 of their last six matches with no draws, scoring 10 goals and conceding 13, for a points-per-game rate of 1.50. Their last outing was a 2-4 defeat away to England on 17 June 2026.
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How do Panama and Croatia rank in the Football World Rankings?
Croatia are ranked 14th in the world, while Panama sit at 40th, giving Croatia a 26-place advantage heading into their World Cup 2026 encounter.