Portugal vs Croatia: what to know before the World Cup Round of 32

# Portugal vs Croatia: Your No-Stress Guide to the Round of 32

In a nutshell

Two legends, one last dance. This is the tie of the round for the neutrals: 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal against 40-year-old Luka Modrić and Croatia — two all-time greats almost certainly at their final World Cup. Portugal have more firepower and depth; Croatia have the smartest midfield in the game and ice-cold nerve in knockout football. Expect a tight, tense, high-quality battle that could easily go the distance.

Who's playing, in one line each

Portugal — *A Seleção*, in red: European heavyweights and reigning Nations League champions, packed with attacking talent and still led by the ageless Cristiano Ronaldo, under coach Roberto Martínez.

Croatia — the *Vatreni* (Blazing Ones), in their famous red-and-white check (here in blue): 2018 finalists and 2022 semi-finalists, masters of tournament football, still orchestrated by the great Luka Modrić.

How they got here

Both came through as group runners-up to set up this heavyweight knockout. Portugal have the deeper, more explosive squad — Bruno Fernandes pulling the strings behind Ronaldo, with Rafael Leão and João Félix in reserve. Croatia, at coach Zlatko Dalić's third straight World Cup, once again lean on their brilliant, experienced midfield to control games. This is the Round of 32, a straight knockout: level after 90 minutes means extra time, and then a penalty shootout — a stage where Croatia have made a habit of surviving.

The probable lineups (and what they mean)

Think of a lineup as a team's *shape* — how many players defend, build, and attack.

Portugal line up 4-2-3-1 (four defenders, two holding midfielders, three creators, one striker). João Neves and Vitinha screen the defence, freeing Bruno Fernandes to create in the number 10 role, with Pedro Neto and João Félix wide and captain Cristiano Ronaldo up top. It's balanced, deep and loaded with attacking quality.

Croatia line up 4-3-3 (four defenders, three midfielders, three attackers). The heart of the team is that midfield: captain Luka Modrić alongside Mateo Kovačić and young Petar Sučić, controlling tempo and starving opponents of the ball. Manchester City's Joško Gvardiol anchors the defence, with veteran Ivan Perišić and striker Ante Budimir leading the line. Built to dominate midfield and grind teams down.

*Heads-up: these are predicted XIs based on the latest reporting. Coaches often tweak them an hour before kickoff, so treat them as the most likely starting point, not gospel. Portugal's Rafael Leão and Bernardo Silva are pushing to start, and Diogo Dalot is an option at right-back. Croatia can call on in-form forward Andrej Kramarić up front if Dalić wants more of a goal threat.*

What to expect (even if you've never watched soccer)

Expect a cagey, tactical chess match rather than an end-to-end thriller. Portugal have the star quality to win it in a flash — when Bruno Fernandes threads a pass or Ronaldo gets a sight of goal, those are the moments to watch. Their challenge is patience against a side that rarely gives the ball away cheaply.

Croatia will try to win the game where they always do: in midfield. Modrić and Kovačić will look to keep the ball, slow the tempo, and frustrate Portugal into mistakes, then pounce. And if it stays level, remember: Croatia are the great survivors of modern knockout football, having reached two of the last three World Cup finals/semis and won multiple shootouts along the way. The single question the match will answer: can Portugal's firepower break Croatia down — or will Croatia's midfield control drag the favourites into the kind of long, nervy night they thrive in?

Players to watch

Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, striker & captain, No. 7) — the all-time leading international goalscorer, at 41 chasing glory at what is almost certainly his last World Cup. Still a goal threat and the biggest name in the sport.

Bruno Fernandes (Portugal, attacking midfielder, No. 8) — Portugal's creative engine and penalty specialist. Direct, relentless and full of assists and goals; the man most likely to unlock Croatia.

Luka Modrić (Croatia, midfielder & captain, No. 10) — a 40-year-old maestro with over 200 caps, still dictating games with his passing and poise. The soul of Croatia and the mirror image of Ronaldo across the pitch.

Joško Gvardiol (Croatia, defender, No. 4) — the Manchester City star who anchors Croatia's defence and even carries the ball forward. Fresh off injury, he's key to keeping Portugal's attack quiet.

The bottom line

Portugal are slight favourites — deeper, more explosive and full of match-winners around Ronaldo, and fresh from winning the Nations League. But Croatia are the ultimate knockout survivors: a midfield that can control anyone, nerves of steel, and a habit of dragging big teams into extra time and penalties, where they usually prevail. The likeliest outcome is a tight, low-scoring game — and with two 40-something legends on the pitch, a dramatic finish, extra time or a shootout would surprise no one.

When and where to watch

Thursday, July 2, 2026 — BMO Field, Toronto, Canada. Kickoff: 7:00 PM ET (USA/Canada) · 8:00 AM JST (Japan, Jul 3) · 8:00 AM KST (Korea, Jul 3).