Croatia outlasts Panama 1-0 while England and Ghana battle to scoreless draw in World Cup

Croatia has managed to take a narrow win against a relentless Panama tonight, placing third in the group and giving it a chance to advance to the round of 32.

Marco Pasalic of Croatia controls the ball under pressure from Andrés Andrade of Panama. Megan Briggs / Getty Images

Panama has been mathematically eliminated from the group stage but will still have to play England over the weekend. The team was frantic in the second half trying to equalize but just was not able to capitalize on the moments its front line created.

Croatia is behind Ghana in the group standings and will play it Saturday afternoon.

A nasty tackle has earned Petar Sučić a yellow card and a free kick for Panama in the third minute of stoppage time.

Unfortunately for Panama fans, Michael Murillo skied it.

Officials announced that 5 minutes would be added to the second half with Croatia still leading 1-0, setting it up to earn 3 points.

Panama lost to Ghana on a stoppage time goal. Can it pull off a similar play to stay alive?

There are only a few minutes left in regulation, and Panama is still struggling to equalize.

If it loses, it would be eliminated from the tournament before its final match against England on Saturday.

Croatia's captain, Luka Modrić, is on the bench in the 82nd minute just before the team took a free kick at in Panama's defensive half.

Mario Pašalić has come on in his stead.

Keeper Dominik Livaković is keeping Croatia alive with three saves within about a minute just before the teams returned to the bench for a hydration break.

Panama's Cristian Martínez managed to save the ball from going out of bounds with a slide at the corner in a play that eventually reached Michael Murillo. Murillo took a shot at goal but was rebuffed by Livaković in the goal.

Seconds later, Murillo tried again, only for the Croatian goalkeeper to save again. Carlos Harvey hit a header for Panama, but Livaković was in the zone, denying Panama for a third time in the 68th minute.

The players are walking off for a hydration break just as Panama picks up the tempo in the second half.

Yoel Bárcenas of Panama receives a yellow card. Megan Briggs / Getty Images

Panama captain Yoel Bárcenas was shown a card after a bad challenge on Croatia's Luka Modrić in the 61st minute.

Panama is frantic as it tries to take control again, moving quickly on counterattacks to catch Croatia on the back foot.

Ante Budmir's 54th-minute goal has given Croatia an edge in this must-win game, but Panama will not go down without a fight.

Panama's José Fajardo tried to equalize with a header in the 60th minute but was off target.

Ante Budimir scores coming off the bench to draw first blood for Croatia, taking the lead in the second half.

Ante Budimir #11 of Croatia celebrates with teammates after scoring the team's first goal. Ezra Shaw / FIFA via Getty Images

Josip Stanišić pressed along the right side to deliver a perfect cross to Budimir, who was positioned in the box just in front of Panama's net.

Two of Croatia's players have been substituted while the teams were in the locker rooms at halftime.

Forward Ante Budimir has come on to replace Petar Musa, who is also a front-line player. Forward Andrej Kramarić is subbed on as defender Joško Gvardiol moves to the bench.

Panama and Croatia have returned to the pitch for the second half.

One of these teams has to register a win to keep its World Cup dreams alive— can either make it happen in these next 45 or so minutes?

It's another scoreless first half in a critical match as Panama and Croatia failed to find the back of the net over the better part of the last hour.

Croatia's players have dominated possession, keeping the ball at their feet for much of the game. Veteran captain Luke Modrić is keeping this team under control but has not been able to break through Panama's defense no matter what angle Croatia takes to crack it.

Martin Baturina had a beauty of a shot a minute into stoppage time that was stopped at the post by Panama's keeper. The deflection earned Croatia a corner, but the team just wasn't able to build on its momentum.

Panama's speed has been brutal in terms of being able to take advantage of every little mistake to rush at Croatia's net. José Luis Rodríguez, Michael Murillo and Cristian Martínez have been particularly pesky for Croatia in the transition on the right-hand side.

There will only be 3 minutes of stoppage time added to the clock, the exact amount of time given for the hydration break.

Croatia returned from the hydration break with determination, forcing Panama to play its game for the first time so far.

It has taken up residence in Panama's half by playing a passing game as it tries to find a weakness against a well-connected defense. Panama's Cristian Martínez managed to take advantage on the transition, but Croatia was quickly challenged.

Croatia took back possession to continue its offensive press but struggled to create goal-scoring opportunities.

José Luis Rodríguez had the best chance so far in the 22nd minute with a hard shot that Croatia's Dominik Livaković just barely batted away.

It was the first shot on goal in this half as the teams fight for control. Panama has been dangerous on the transition but has failed to make anything happen in front of Croatia's net. But every time Panama loses possession, Croatia is ready to take up residence in the attacking third.

Panama had a golden opportunity in the first 10 minutes after being awarded a free kick right outside Croatia's box.

The positioning for the kick would have been prime for a goal, but Yoel Bárcenas' hit was deflected by a header from Croatia's Joško Gvardiol at the wall.

Croatia managed to fend off an early press by Panama in the first 5 minutes, just for captain Luka Modrić to lose a chance in transition.

The ball fell right into the hands of Panama keeper Orlando Mosquera.

England's captain, Harry Kane, praised Ghana for making the game this afternoon hard on the Three Lions, remaining compact throughout its defense.

Kane said the team created a number of opportunities through the game but didn't have enough go their way.

“We take it and we move on," Kane told Fox.

Croatia and Panama have taken the pitch in a critical match that will determine whether either team has a chance to advance.

Croatia fans arrive before the match at Toronto Stadium. Vaughn Ridley / FIFA via Getty Images

Neither team managed to register a point in its first games, while the two other teams in their group, England and Ghana, have managed a win and a draw. If tonight's game ends in a draw, neither team will be able to move into the first knockout round.

Yoel Bárcenas will wear the captain's armband for Panama's starting lineup:

Unsurprisingly, Luka Modrić will be Croatia's captain tonight in the team's starting lineup.

NBC News’ Jesse Kirsch reports from South Beach on Scottish fans taking over Miami ahead of tomorrow’s Scotland vs. Brazil World Cup match.

Miami welcomes Scotland fans and 'Tartan Army' ahead of World Cup match

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Team captain Harry Kane leads England players in applauding the fans at full time at Boston Stadium. Catherine Ivill - AMA / Getty Images

England has a narrow lead in Group L following its 0-0 match against Ghana.

Ghana is right on England's heels, though, as both teams won their previous matches, leaving them each with 4 points. England has a 1-point edge in goal difference, giving it the No. 1 spot.

Both Panama and Croatia, who are set to play at 7 p.m. ET, need to win after they failed to gain any points in their first matches. Croatia's 4-2 loss to England has left it at the bottom of the group.

If either team wins, the 3 points would put it in a competitive position ahead of the final matches later this week.

Both Ghana and England will walk away with a point after Ghana managed to hold off England in a heart-pounding final few minutes of stoppage time. England won five corners in the additional 6 minutes at the end. But Ghana's defense deflected at every turn.

Ghana players huddle after the scoreless draw.  Mattia Ozbot / Getty Images

England's Marc Guehi headed a ball toward goal off a pass from Declan Rice in the fourth minute of stoppage time. Kojo Peprah Oppong denied Guehi, however, just before Ghana made its final substitution.

Possession turned over to Ghana in the very last minute, allowing it to get out of its defensive third until the final whistle blew.

It's a high-octane duel with 6 minutes of stoppage time added to regulation as both teams fight for a win.

England's Nico O'Reilly had the third shot at goal in the 86th minute, only to be denied by the crossbar, sending the ball soaring away.

The play came after a relentless attack by England that started with a shot from Bukayo Saka at Ghana's goal. Ghana goalkeeper Benjamin Asare managed a dive to block, but England kept possession and pressed hard in a desperate attempt to score.

O’Reilly hit a header off a cross from Saka, but the game remains scoreless just a few minutes before regulation ends.

Ghana's Prince Adu looked primed to score as he zoomed across the field in a run at England's goal in the 78th minute.

He was tackled and dispossessed with the ball on a trajectory to the goal. But Ghana kept possession, and Antoine Semenyo incidentally ended up blocking a subsequent shot from his own teammate. And a whistle was called for offside, ending the counterattack.

Officials reviewed the play for a foul, but none was called, turning the ball back over to England.

Jude Bellingham and Elliot Anderson have been subbed off in the 73rd minute, just after the players returned from the hydration break.

England has put on Eze Eberechi in the midfield for Anderson, and Morgan Rogers replaced Bellingham on the front line.

And both have from England. The English just had another chance, on a nice cross in front of the net. But Bukayo Saka sailed his header over the net. That has been happening a lot today, it seems.

There was a hard hit between England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and Ghana's Prince Adu after Pickford ran out to try to stop Adu's run at the goal.

Pickford failed to make contact with the ball, and the two players collided. England was awarded a free kick, though it seems it should have been a foul the other way, since Pickford never actually touched the ball.

Ghana is making a series of defensive mistakes that have led to free kicks for England, but luckily for it, England can't seem to make much of the change.

Ghana's Inaki Williams was shown a yellow card after a nasty tackle on England's Anthony Gordon just outside the box.

England was awarded a free kick just outside the box in the 60th minute, which was taken by Declan Rice. He delivered a beautiful cross that was headed by Elliot Anderson.

Unfortunately for England, the ball hit the back post instead of the back of the net.

England's Anthony Gordon had a beautiful straight shot at Ghana's goal in the 57th minute, which landed straight in the arms of keeper Benjamin Asare.

Gordon was able to capitalize off a cross after Ghana deflected a kick from England's Noni Madeuke. It was the first shot on target in the game.

Ghana was awarded a corner in the 52nd minute, only its second so far, but it ends up going nowhere.

The opportunity turned into a foul on England and a free kick for the British. England started a counterattack ... which also failed to create any chances.

The players have returned to the pitch.

Here's hoping there's a goal in our near future.

There were no shots on target in this first half, which had not happened in the group stage thus far.

Plenty of the group stage games have gone 0-0 before players returned to the locker room, but at least solid chances have been created. However, the best opportunities from this match have skied above the goalkeepers.

Not the most exciting half of soccer considering what else has gone on during the World Cup.

England and Ghana remain scoreless after the opening 45 minutes. England dominated possession, controlling the ball for 78% of the action and completing more than 250 more passes than Ghana.

It all amounted to very little, though. England has only 0.27 expected goals, compared with 0.00 for Ghana.

Both sides won their opening matches, but they have been tentative today. Perhaps they’ll wake up in the second half.

Let’s see whether either side can break the scoreless tie.

Ghana didn’t get a shot on goal, but thanks to some solid play from forwards Antoine Semenyo and Jordan Ayew, it finally threatened England a bit after spending most of this half on its defensive end.

Though it was a mild flurry of action, it was a flurry nonetheless.

On the 16th foul of the game, the ref pulled out a yellow card for Rice.

It was Rice's first foul of the game after he stepped on Jerome Opoku's ankle. But unfortunately for Rice, it has been a chippy game on both sides, which is likely to have played a big factor in the referee's decision to give him a yellow.

No big chances have been created throughout the first half, but it has been battle after battle between the two teams.

Perhaps it’s because of the gloomy, rainy weather, but this has been a relatively sleepy match. While England has largely been on the ball, it hasn’t converted the constant possession into goals despite many serious chances. Maybe the hydration break should have been used for caffeine.

We’ve reached the hydration break on a rainy day in Boston. Awkward play here the last couple minutes, as play was stopped because of an injury, restarted, then stopped immediately for the break.

Ghana’s Jordan Ayew was being tended to on the pitch, but he has remained on the field. He's playing now with a wrap on his head after he sustained an apparent head injury.

Something to keep in mind as England stays on attack for much of this first half: Ghana is playing with Benjamin Asare in goal in place of Lawrence Ati Zigi, who was injured in the team’s opener against Panama.

While the English players have dominated possession and spent a considerable amount of time in the attacking third, they've been unable to break past Ghana's defense.

Declan Rice had a free kick around six minutes into the match, but Ghana cleared it away immediately. Then, just now, about 11 minutes in, Reece James was set up with a pass in front of Ghana's net that went nowhere.

Rice had another set piece opportunity in the 13th minute and skied it over Ghana's net.

Granted, we’re only about 10 minutes into this match, but Ghana hasn’t been able to sustain anything so far. Ghana has controlled possession for only 14% of the time so far.

We’re underway in Boston.

For England:

For Ghana:

World Cup fans were united this weekend by a song synonymous with belonging, nostalgia and the yearning for home. John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” is enjoying a new wave of popularity as its sing-along chorus becomes a staple among soccer fans nationwide.

U.S. Soccer officials selected the song as the postmatch celebration tune for the men’s national team. Fans have since delighted in the resurgence of the classic 1971 country-folk hit, with videos circulating across social media of World Cup viewers proudly belting the lyrics.

On Friday, after the United States’ 2-0 win over Australia, the Seattle stadium of nearly 67,000 attendees broke out into a booming rendition of the song.

Check out this second look from Telemundo's cameras.

It was an inauspicious start to the World Cup for Cristiano Ronaldo. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner looked old in Portugal’s World Cup opener, a surprising draw against DR Congo. Ronaldo was criticized for his performance, failing to play a team game in a match Portugal was widely expected to win.

To make matters worse, Ronaldo’s peers all thrived, as top goal-scorers such as Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland all scored multiple times in their opening matches.

At least today, Ronaldo looked like the Ronaldo of old, scoring twice and nearly scoring a third goal on multiple occasions. He also deflected when necessary, playing decoy on a few set pieces to help his teammates.

The question now is if Ronaldo can keep up this level of play against stiffer competition.

Complete and total domination from Portugal in this one.

It was a nice bounce-back performance after Portugal had a disappointing draw against DR Congo in its opening match. Cristiano Ronaldo, who looked old and slow to start this World Cup, returned to form, scoring two goals and nearly completing a hat trick on several other occasions.

The win will temporarily move Portugal atop the standings of Group K.

Uzbekistan has now lost both its matches to start the World Cup.

Ronaldo appears to be playing this one out even as Portugal leads 5-0.

Uzbekistan players and supporters both look dejected after yet another Portugal goal.

After a Nélson Semedo cross was deflected, Rafael Leão collected the ball near the top of the box and buried it for a goal.

It’s 5-0 Portugal.

Cristiano Ronaldo is still on the pitch as he looks for a hat trick.

Uzbekistan just had its best chance in a long time, but Eldor Shomurodov’s right-footed shot from top of the box flew just over the crossbar.

Off another great run from Nuno Mendes, who then made a great pass into the box, Cristiano Ronaldo nearly had his hat trick, but his left-footed shot missed left.

Ronaldo then had another opportunity seconds later, intercepting a kick from the goalkeeper. But his left-footed shot was saved by Abduvohid Nematov.

Portugal added to its lead this half via an own goal off a corner kick. Uzbekistan will have roughly 20 minutes (plus stoppage time) after this break to at least try to improve its goal differential.

Veiga was carded for a rough tackle near the sideline.

After a Bruno Fernandes corner, João Félix back-flicked a shot toward the goal. The ball bounced off multiple people, including an Uzbekistan defender and goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov, before landing in the net as an own goal.

Ronaldo once again played decoy on a free kick, and ran into the center of the box and received a perfectly placed chip pass. Uzbekistan goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov broke up the play, however, leading to a corner.

Ronaldo was holding his leg on the grass after the play, but got up in time for the corner kick.

Outside of Ronaldo nearly taking the ball away from Uzbekistan goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov, not much going on so far in this second half in terms of chances.

Can Uzbekistan finally get on the board? Or will Portugal continue to pour on the goals?

Complete domination from Portugal in the first half.

Cristiano Ronaldo looks to be in top form after struggling in his World Cup opener, scoring two goals already today.

Portugal is leading in practically every major statistical category. Uzbekistan nearly scored at one point, but had a goal taken away due to replay.

Cristiano Ronaldo reacts as he scores his team's third goal today. Ronaldo Schemidt / AFP via Getty Images

Cristiano Ronaldo nearly scored his third goal during stoppage time, trying to chip a shot over a diving goalkeeper. He was inches away from a third goal but his shot was kicked off the goal line by a defender.

Cristiano Ronaldo is cooking in Houston.

As Bruno Fernandes ran down the middle of the field, Ronaldo went wide to his right. Fernandes hit Ronaldo with a perfect pass, and Ronaldo perfectly placed a shot with his right foot to the opposite side of the net.

That’s Ronaldo’s 145th career goal for Portugal.

Uzbekistan has somewhat settled into this match since the hydration break, at the very least beginning to close the possession gap. But Uzbekistan still has a long way to go to climb back into this one, especially after a potential score was taken away thanks to replay.

After Abbosbek Fayzullaev won the ball back for Uzbekistan near the top of the box, Azizjon Ganiev unleashed an incredible strike that briefly made this a 2-1 game.

But replay review determined Fayzullaev’s tackle was a foul, and the goal was taken off the board.

Uzbekistan will have a free kick after the break, but Portugal has thoroughly dominated so far.

Portugal has an 80% to 20% possession edge, and has made nearly 100 more accurate passes than Uzbekistan.

At this point, Uzbekistan needs to figure out how to control the ball for even a few seconds before thinking about scoring.

It’s been all Portugal so far in this match.

After a foul at the top of the box, Portugal was awarded a free kick. Both Cristiano Ronaldo and Nuno Mendes lined up in position to take the shot, and it was Mendes who buried a goal into the left corner of the net with his left foot.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s right-footed strike in the sixth minute made him the first player to score a goal in six different World Cup tournaments, a neat record for a player who’s come under fire for his play of late.

Ronaldo, 41, also became the second-oldest player ever to score in the men’s World Cup.

Portugal’s relentless attacking has paid off.

Cristiano Ronaldo just scored his first goal of the 2026 World Cup, burying a right-footed one-timer into the back of the net off a pass from Nuno Mendes. That was a fantastic finish into a tight window.

Ronaldo just whiffed on a cross into the right side of the box from Nuno Mendes. That was a great opportunity missed by the legendary goal scorer.

Bruno Fernandes just had an attempt in the box, but his left-footed flick was deflected high of the net.

Can Cristiano Ronaldo find the net for the first time this World Cup?

For Portugal:

And for Uzbekistan:

U.S. agencies have seized over 300 drones near World Cup venues since the tournament began, the Transportation Security Administration said today.

Lionel Messi se convirtió en el máximo goleador histórico de los Mundiales con un doblete ante Austria. Mbappé también marcó dos veces para Francia y Haaland lideró la victoria de Noruega en una jornada repleta de goleadores.

Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly owned up to key mistakes in his side’s World Cup group-stage loss to Norway yesterday that left the African side in danger of early elimination.

Koulibaly’s slips allowed Norway to win 3-2 and book their place in the next round along with France, while Senegal, who before the tournament had been touted as strong outsiders, have yet to pick up any points and must win their match against Iraq in Toronto on Friday if they are to have any chance of being one of the best third-placed finishers.

Marcus Pedersen of Norway scores the 1-0 goal against Kalidou Koulibaly of Senegal yesterday. Tom Weller / dpa via Getty Images

“At the top level, football comes down to the details. The team that makes the fewest mistakes wins. Today, I made a lot of mistakes and that’s a real shame,” Koulibaly told reporters after the game.

“The standard at the World Cup is very high and so there is no room for error. We made too many mistakes to stand any chance of winning the match.”

Koulibaly misjudged a clearance and goalkeeper Edouard Mendy was unable to keep out substitute Marcus Pedersen’s rasping shot to give Norway the lead close to halftime.

Wild overnight celebrations erupted across Norway as the men’s national team secured qualification to the World Cup knockout stages and a tide of elated supporters headed to the palace of 89-year-old King Harald V to see if he would join their party.

Despite the match ending at around 4 a.m. local time, Norwegian supporters took to the streets to party after seeing their team qualify for the last 32 after a thriller 3-2 win against Senegal in the second round match of Group I.

Football fever engulfed Oslo, with the capital full of people celebrating the win, even though it is a normal workday.

A large crowd marched up Oslo’s main thoroughfare towards the royal residence chanting: “We’re going to wake up the king.” Upon reaching the palace square, hundreds of fans sat on the ground to perform the “Viking rowing” celebration.

The Norwegian Royal House declined to comment on whether the king and Queen Sonja had been awoken by the festivities, or if the monarch had stayed up to watch the match.

Norwegian supporters celebrate in front of the Royal Palace in Oslo today. Amanda Pedersen Giske / NTB Scanpix via AP

Rebecca Lowe joins Dan Patrick to discuss some of the top storylines around the World Cup, including Cristiano Ronaldo's poor play to start, the United States' potential and more.

The Department of Homeland Security is changing the guidelines for Iran’s national soccer team ahead of its third World Cup match on Friday to accommodate extra time afforded to other countries in the tournament, an agency spokesperson said.

The shift comes as the Iranian soccer federation said it planned to lodge an official complaint with FIFA, the governing body, over its treatment in the U.S. so far. 

The team will now be allowed to travel to Seattle two days before the game, allowing for an extra day beyond the 24-hour window given to Team Melli for its first two games. But the team will still be asked to depart for its home base in Tijuana, Mexico, after the match wraps. 

Joe Prince-Wright and Nick Mendola deliver their key takeaways from the Group J match between Argentina and Austria, in which Lionel Messi scored a brace and broke the record for most World Cup goals scored (17).

Cristiano Ronaldo will be back in action today when Portugal takes on Uzbekistan.

He is goalless in his last 10 games for the national side at major tournaments. So will Ronaldo start?

The same question was asked of Portugal's coach in Qatar four years ago, only this time around, the man in charge is Roberto Martínez, not Fernando Santos. While not specifically referring to Ronaldo, Martínez said earlier this week that some of the criticism his side received after its 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of the Congo is “unfair, it’s unjust.”

Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal moves the ball down the field against DR Congo on June 17. Tom Weller / dpa via Getty Images