Croatia kept its World Cup survival hopes alive in Toronto by securing a narrow 1-0 victory over Panama, officially eliminating the Central American side from the tournament due to head-to-head tiebreaker rules.
The match marked the 200th international cap for Croatian midfielder Luka Modric, whose side bounced back to earn three crucial points in Group L, leaving them in contention for a spot in the round of 32 before facing Ghana.
Substitute Ante Budimir scored the decisive goal in the 54th minute following an assist from Josip Stanisic, while Panama failed to equalize despite hitting the crossbar later in the second half.
Bellingham Stays Positive After Ghana Draw
Meanwhile, in other tournament developments, England midfielder Jude Bellingham downplayed his team's recent scoreless draw against Ghana, urging his teammates to maintain an optimistic outlook.
"No worries, no stress, no drama.
That was the message I just gave in the dressing room: stay positive and keep the good atmosphere we have now.
It is not the end of the world.
We have 4 points, we are in a good position to qualify for the next round," said Bellingham.
The Real Madrid player noted that the team struggled against defensive setups, labeling the performance as a common difficulty teams face early in tournaments.
"It is a bit of a 'second game syndrome'.
We start with a good performance and a great victory, but the second game turns out frustrating because of the way the opponent defends and organizes themselves," he added.
Bellingham also credited the opposing squad for their tactical execution during the frustrating stalemate.
"We have to give Ghana credit. They got exactly what they wanted.
We couldn't beat them, despite all our corners, our possession and our long-range shots. But those things happen," he said.
Infantino: World Cup Most Successful Event in History
In New York, FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed immense satisfaction with the tournament, boldly claiming it has surpassed all prior global events in scale and fan engagement.
Infantino described the ongoing World Cup as the "most successful event in history" during a press briefing.
The administrative head emphasized that the tournament's impact reaches far beyond the sport itself, pointing toward packed stadiums and vibrant host cities.
"It's incredible. This is bigger than anything the world has ever seen.
Not just in football, but any event whatsoever. It is the most successful event in history," said Infantino.
Infantino further highlighted the diverse demographic of fans attending the matches, noting a substantial presence of families and children.
"The stadiums are full, the cities are full and the atmosphere is great. There are many families, children and women in the stadiums; that is truly beautiful.
I am immensely grateful to all the fans who come to the stadiums and the fan festivals," he said.
According to FIFA statistics, the total attendance has reached 2,851,010 spectators after 44 out of 104 matches, putting the tournament on track to break the historical record of 3,404,252 set during the 1994 World Cup in the United States.
