Croatia have been eliminated from the FIFA World Cup 2026: they lost their Round of 32 tie to Portugal 2-1 at BMO Field in Toronto on 2 July 2026.
Croatia had reached the Round of 32 as the Group L runners-up, but Portugal, the Group K runners-up, edged them to advance to the Round of 16.
Who Did Croatia Face in the Round of 32?
The bracket is fixed in advance: the Group L runner-up meets the Group K runner-up. Croatia finished second in Group L, so their tie was against Portugal. You can see the full path in our explainer on how the Round of 32 format works.
Croatia secured second place in Group L behind England, with their result against Ghana lifting them into the runner-up slot. Full table and fixtures are in our Group L teams and fixtures guide.
Croatia’s runner-up finish set up a Toronto tie against a Group K heavyweight. Here is how the tie finished:
| Matchup | Opponent | Date | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Croatia (Group L runners-up) | Portugal, the Group K runners-up | 2 July 2026 | BMO Field, Toronto | Portugal 2-1 Croatia |
Croatia, the Group L runners-up, faced Portugal, the Group K runners-up, and went out after a 2-1 defeat.
The Team That Ended Their Run
Croatia’s runner-up slot pointed straight at Group K, where Colombia finished top and Portugal took second. Profiles for all four are in our Group K teams and fixtures guide.
- Portugal, the European heavyweight and 2016 Euro champions, were the Group K runners-up and the side lined up against the Group L runner-up. See the Portugal match schedule at the World Cup.
- Colombia won the group after beating both Uzbekistan and DR Congo, but as group winners they sat in a different part of the bracket and were not Croatia’s opponent.
Group K finished with Colombia first and Portugal second, which sent Croatia to face Portugal in Toronto.
The Result
The tie finished: Portugal 2-1 Croatia in Toronto on 2 July 2026 at BMO Field.
It was a daunting draw, a meeting of a 2018 finalist and the reigning European champions of 2016, and Portugal edged it. For Croatia, reaching this stage was an achievement after a shaky start, but their 2026 World Cup ends in the Round of 32.
With Croatia out, fans following the rest of the knockouts in Toronto can still browse hotels in Toronto (our guide to Toronto World Cup hotels near BMO Field helps).
Featured image: Croatia fans at a World Cup match, by copa2014.gov.br, licensed under CC BY 3.0.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Croatia qualify for the Round of 32?
Yes, as Group L runners-up behind England. But Croatia were then eliminated in the Round of 32, losing 2-1 to Portugal at BMO Field in Toronto on 2 July 2026.
Who did Croatia play in the Round of 32?
Croatia played Portugal, the Group K runners-up, and lost 2-1 on 2 July 2026 in Toronto. Portugal advanced to the Round of 16.
Have Croatia and Portugal met in a major knockout before?
Yes. At Euro 2016, Portugal edged Croatia 1-0 after extra time in the Round of 16, on their way to winning the title. This 2026 World Cup Round of 32 tie again went Portugal’s way, 2-1.
Sources
- FIFA: World Cup 2026 Standings & Brackets
- 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout stage: Wikipedia
- Sky Sports: World Cup 2026 bracket and knockout fixtures
- CBS Sports: World Cup group standings
- ESPN: 2026 World Cup fixtures and results
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