{"id":757707,"date":"2026-06-24T08:36:19","date_gmt":"2026-06-24T08:36:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/757707\/"},"modified":"2026-06-24T08:36:19","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T08:36:19","slug":"buoyed-by-huge-fan-base-at-toronto-home-game-croatia-ends-panamas-world-cup-bid-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/757707\/","title":{"rendered":"Buoyed by huge fan base at Toronto ‘home game,’ Croatia ends Panama’s World Cup bid"},"content":{"rendered":"

TORONTO \u2014 A sea of red-and-white checkered jerseys filled Toronto Stadium on Tuesday as Croatia fans turned out in full force to see their team end Panama\u2019s World Cup hopes with a 1-0 victory.<\/p>\n

The stadium crowd and fans at Toronto\u2019s flagship FIFA Fan Festival erupted when Croatia\u2019s Ante Budimir scored the first and only goal of the match in the 54th minute. By the end of the game, Panama fans were crestfallen as the score meant their team would not move on to the knockout round.<\/p>\n

For soccer fan Anita Budimir, Croatia\u2019s goal was extra special.<\/p>\n

\u201cBudimir scored, so I mean, shout out,\u201d she said at the fan fest grounds. \u201cWe\u2019re not related at all but \u2026 we have the same name so that\u2019s pretty sick.\u201d<\/p>\n

Croatia\u2019s fandom appeared to outnumber Panama\u2019s as thousands of supporters marched toward Toronto Stadium before kickoff, whistling and waving cardboard cut-outs of their soccer heroes\u2019 faces while the acrid smell of red smoke canisters filled the air. A contingent of fans carried a 100-metre flag that has become a centrepiece of Croatia supporters\u2019 celebrations.<\/p>\n

The Ontario government says more than 100,000 people of Croatian descent live in the province, which it says is the largest Croatian population in Canada.<\/p>\n

Others came from far and wide, including Sanja Shaback, who arrived from Vancouver to strike seeing Croatian superstar Luka Modric off her bucket list.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s more Croatians at this game than there were Canadians at the Canadian game in Vancouver,\u201d she said. \u201cThis is definitely a home game for Croatia.\u201d<\/p>\n

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic also attended the game, sharing a box with FIFA president Gianni Infantino.<\/p>\n

Panama fans knew they faced a very tough opponent, but said they were still disappointed to see their team drop out of contention.<\/p>\n

\u201cDuring the game we felt like, OK, we can maybe win the game but at the end \u2026 we couldn\u2019t score. They scored and that\u2019s how it works,\u201d Adrian Espil, who travelled to Toronto from Panama, said outside the stadium.<\/p>\n

Panama had also lost its match against Ghana in Toronto last week.<\/p>\n

Amy Pinzon said she was biting her nails \u201cthe whole time\u201d during Tuesday\u2019s match, but her hopes for Panama were dashed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought we were gonna score,\u201d she said at the fan festival. \u201cBut at least we made it to the World Cup \u2026 it was very worth it for me tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

Croatia remains in contention for the knockout round ahead of its final group-stage match against Ghana on Saturday.<\/p>\n

Before Tuesday\u2019s game, Elena Dejanovic described the atmosphere among Croatia supporters in Toronto as \u201cludilo,\u201d the Croatian word for madness.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is perfect,\u201d she said, surrounded by family members who came from Croatia and Switzerland.<\/p>\n

Dejanovic said the World Cup has been \u201ca come together moment\u201d for Toronto.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverybody\u2019s like all for one, one for all,\u201d she said. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter who you are \u2026 it\u2019s a nice feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n

Panama fan Armando Acosta, who had been planning the World Cup trip with his father for months, agreed.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt feels like everybody is family in the stadium,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s really great.\u201d<\/p>\n

Before the match, another man who arrived from Panama said that no matter the outcome, the country\u2019s team will always have the support of its fans.<\/p>\n

\u201cPanama is a small country with a big heart,\u201d said Johau Lewis. \u201cAnd we come with faith.\u201d<\/p>\n

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 23, 2026.<\/p>\n

\u2013With files from The Associated Press<\/p>\n

Elissa Mendes and Maan Alhmidi, The Canadian Press<\/p>\n

\t\tKeep it Factual<\/p>\n

Add CityNews Toronto as a trusted source on Google to see more local stories from us.<\/p>\n

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