# Portugal vs Croatia Match Preview, Prediction, Timings, Lineups, Teams, and How to Watch | FIFA World Cup 2026

URL: https://technosports.co.in/portugal-vs-croatia-match-preview/  
Published: 2026-07-02  
Updated: 2026-07-02  
Author: Reetam Bodhak

Two icons. One ticket. When Cristiano [Ronaldo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFA)and Luka Modrić share a World Cup stage, you stop whatever you’re doing and watch. Portugal take on Croatia in what could be the final chapter for two of football’s greatest-ever players — and the stakes couldn’t be higher.

## Portugal vs Croatia: Match Details

| Detail | Info |
| --- | --- |
| **Match** | Portugal vs Croatia |
| **Round** | FIFA World Cup 2026 — Round of 32 |
| **Date** | Thursday, July 3, 2026 (early hours) |
| **Kick-off (ET)** | 7:00 PM ET (July 2) |
| **Kick-off (BST/UK)** | 12:00 AM BST (July 3, midnight) |
| **Kick-off (IST)** | 4:30 AM IST (July 3) |
| **Venue** | BMO Field (Toronto Stadium), Toronto, Canada |
| **How to Watch (UK)** | BBC One / ITV |
| **How to Watch (USA)** | FOX / FOX One (stream) |
| **How to Watch (India)** | JioHotstar / Sports18 |

## Team Form & Tournament Stats

**Portugal** finished second in Group K with 5 points — one win (5-0 vs Uzbekistan), two draws. Ronaldo leads their scoring chart with 2 goals and 6 shots on target in the tournament. Portugal have conceded just 1 goal all group stage, and Bruno Fernandes and Nuno Mendes have been their most creative outlets.

**Croatia** qualified second in Group L with 6 points, winning two of their three games including a 2-1 victory over Ghana in their final group match. Luka Modrić has 1 assist, while Martin Baturina and Petar Sucić have chipped in with goals. However, they conceded 5 goals in the group stage — a vulnerability Portugal will look to exploit.

![Portugal vs Croatia](https://technosports.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/crcrcr-1024x768.jpg)

| Stat | Portugal | Croatia |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Goals Scored | 6 | 5 |
| Goals Conceded | 1 | 5 |
| Shots on Target | 12 | 11 |
| Group Stage Record | W1 D2 L0 | W2 D0 L1 |

## Predicted Lineups

**Portugal (4-3-3)** Diogo Costa | Diogo Dalot, Rúben Dias, Renato Veiga, Nuno Mendes | João Neves, Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes | Pedro Neto, Cristiano Ronaldo, João Félix

**Croatia (4-3-3)** Livakovic | Stanisic, Vušković, Gvardiol, Perišić | Pasalić, Modrić, Kovačić | Baturina, Musa, Sucić

## Prediction & Analysis

On paper, Portugal hold the edge — tighter defensively and with superior individual quality across the pitch. But Croatia under Zlatko Dalić have made a habit of grinding through knockout football. Betfair’s odds currently favour Portugal at 8/11, with Croatia as notable underdogs at 15/4. NBC Sports predicts a 1-1 draw with Croatia winning on penalties — which feels very on-brand for Modrić’s generation.

**Our Prediction: Portugal 2-1 Croatia** *(after 90 minutes)*

## What Happens If Portugal Win?

The winner faces Spain or Austria in the Round of 16 in Arlington, Texas (July 6). A Portugal vs Spain quarter-final — and ultimately a path to the New Jersey final on July 19 — awaits the survivors of this bracket.

For all our World Cup 2026 coverage, head to the [TechnoSports FIFA World Cup 2026 hub](https://technosports.co.in) and browse our full [football match previews and predictions](https://technosports.co.in/football).

Broadcasting varies by region. Here’s a quick guide:

| Region | Broadcaster |
| --- | --- |
| **India** | JioTV, Sports18 |
| **UK** | ITV / BBC |
| **Australia** | Optus Sport |
| **USA** | Fox Sports, Telemundo |
| **Turkey** | TRT Sport |

## FAQs

### **Q: What time does Portugal vs Croatia kick off in India?**

The match kicks off at **4:30 AM IST on Thursday, July 3, 2026**. Set that alarm — it’s worth the early wake-up. Watch it live on JioHotstar or Sports18.

### **Q: Have Portugal and Croatia met at a World Cup before?**

 Not in the knockout rounds. According to Betfair’s match data, Portugal and Croatia have no previous head-to-head record in this World Cup season — making this a fresh, high-stakes encounter between two nations who know each other well from European football but have rarely collided on the biggest stage.