Portugal vs. Croatia live score, result, highlights from 2026 World Cup knockout game

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Portugal battled back from a one-goal deficit to down Croatia 2-1 in the Round of 32, setting up a date with Iberian rival Spain in the Round of 16.

Selecao das Quinas was set back after Ivan Perisic found his target early in the second half. Cristiano Ronaldo responded with aplomb 10 minutes later, equalizing from the penalty spot after Renato Veiga was brought down in the box.

Both sides huffed and puffed, with Croatia seeing multiple goals chalked off due to offsides. Ronaldo departed in favor of newly-minted AC Milan striker Goncalo Ramos, who proceeded to sink Croatian hearts with a last-gasp header.

The Checkered Ones thought they leveled the scoring in the dying moments, scrambling the ball into the net as extra time neared its conclusion. However, the goal was ruled out due to yet another offsides, spelling a cruel end to Croatia's World Cup hopes.

The Sporting News tracked live scoring updates and highlights for Portugal vs. Croatia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Below are the complete results from the Round of 32 match in Toronto.

STREAM: Watch the 2026 World Cup live with fubo (U.S. only free trial)

Portugal vs. Croatia score

Location: Toronto
Referee: Slavko Vincic (SLV)

Projected starting lineups:

Portugal (4-2-3-1): 1. D. Costa (GK) — 20. J. Cancelo, 3. R. Dias, 13. R. Veiga, 25. N. Mendes — 15. J. Neves, 23. Vitinha — 17. R. Leao, 8. B. Fernandes, 18. P. Neto — 7. C. Ronaldo

Croatia (4-2-3-1): 1. D. Livakovic (GK) — 2. J. Stainisic, 6. J. Sutalo, 3. M. Pongracic, 14. I. Perisic — 10. L. Modric, 8. M. Kovacic — 13. N. Vlasic, 17. P. Sucic, 16. M. Baturina — 11. A. Budimir

2026 WORLD CUP HQ: Latest World Cup news | Full World Cup schedule | Updated World Cup standings

Portugal vs. Croatia updates, highlights from 2026 World Cup knockouts

Final score: Portugal 2, Croatia 1

90+13': Croatia's equalizer ruled out for contentious offsides

9:05 p.m.: For the third time, Croatia saw a goal ruled out due to offsides. The Checkered Ones thought they snatched an equalizer at the death, with the ball limping into the net due to a Ruben Dias own goal. However, a VAR review found that there was an offsides in the build-up. Croatia is headed out in the knockout stages due to the contentious call.

90+4': Goncalo Ramos buries header as Portugal takes last-second lead

8:55 p.m.: GOALLLLL! Surely that's the winner for Portugal. Goncalo Ramos leaps high to connect with Leao's cross and send it barreling beyond Livakovic! What a turnaround for Martinez's side!

PORTUGAL TAKES THE LEAD IN EXTRA TIME 🤯

Rafael Leão delivers a beautiful ball to Gonçalo Ramos who nets the header! pic.twitter.com/yeiVMAYN3N— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 3, 2026

Portugal 2, Croatia 1

80': Croatia sees second goal of game chalked off due to offsides

8:41 p.m.: Kovacic has been the best player on the pitch thus far. The Croatian standout produced a splendid delivery to find a streaking Sucic, who finished deftly beyond Costa. However, he was a smidge offsides, leading the goal to be chalked off.

ANOTHER goal called offside in this match 😱

Petar Sučić would've given Croatia the lead pic.twitter.com/YeqKaGcTbr— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 3, 2026

76': Costa makes stunning stop to turn away Kovacic's curling effort

8:37 p.m.: Costa dived low to collect another impressive Kovacic hit, deflecting the unruly thing off of the post before stopping the Croatian with another diving stop to keep the score level at one. The turgid outfit has given way to a wonderfully attacking showcase in the second half.

65': Ronaldo equalizes from penalty spot

8:30 p.m.: GOALLLLLLLL! Renato Veiga was brought down in the box, with VAR intervening to rule the incident a penalty. Ronaldo lines up and laces his effort to Livakovic's right, leveling the score at one goal apiece. That's Ronaldo's first-ever knockout stage goal.

Croatia 1, Portugal 1

58': Leao rattles bar with wonderful hit

8:20 p.m.: Now, this game is open! Leao's fiery effort curled beyond Livakovic's grasp. However, it held up long enough to strike off the cross bar and away from the cage.

Rafael Leão SO CLOSE to the equalizer for Portugal but it's off the crossbar 😱 pic.twitter.com/K41UEoCiZv— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 3, 2026

57': Budimir's strike ruled out for offside in build-up

8:18 p.m.: Croatia looked to have found another, with Vlasic finding a sliding Budimir who turned the ball into the net. However, Vlasic mistimed his run, leading to an offsides call that made the goal null and void.

Croatia nearly doubles its lead in a matter of moments but the flag is up for offside! pic.twitter.com/IoCrTSS07N— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 3, 2026

54': Perisic opens scoring with left-footed strike

8:14 p.m.: GOALLLLLLLL! We finally have a goal in this contest! And it comes from Croatia! Nikola Vlasic laid off an effort to Josip Stanisic, who lofted a cross towards Budimir. The ball was flicked away into the path of Ivan Perisic, who buried his left-footed strike to push the Croatians into the lead! Portugal is stunned!

CROATIA TAKES THE LEAD OVER PORTUGAL EARLY IN THE 2ND HALF 🇭🇷

Ivan Perišić delivers! pic.twitter.com/UB4d9Ee281— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 3, 2026

Croatia 1, Portugal 0

48': Kovacic's effort goes wide as Croatia launches first major attack

8:08 p.m.: Kovacic slalomed past a few tackles, bearing down on Costa's goal after losing his balance. He fired a left-footed shot towards Costa's cage, but was flicked away by the Portuguese net-minder. Strong start to the frame for the Checkered Ones.

KOVACIC EXTREMELY CLOSE TO SCORING!pic.twitter.com/xk6fn4abYQ— GoalAlert HQ ⚽️ 🥅 (@GoalAlertHQ) July 3, 2026

8:05 p.m.: Back in action from BMO Field. Let's see if we can find a goal in the second half.

45+1': Leao's volley soars over goal

7:46 p.m.: Portugal has looked the more threatening of both sides thus far, producing a handful of half-chances and stinging Livakovic's hands with a pair of efforts. However, things have been fairly turgid around the 18-yard box for Roberto Martinez's side. Leao latched onto a looping ball and attempted to fire it home on the volley. But his strike leapt high off of his right foot, landing in the stands.

25': Chances limited on both sides as first half wears on

7:25 p.m.: After early flourishes by both sides, the game has settled into a bit of a slog. There have been a few half-chances here and there. But the attacking play hasn't quite kicked into gear thus far.

5': Dominik Livakovic stonewalls Bruno Fernandes after strong play from Mendes, Leao

7:03 p.m.: Portugal burst into life after absorbing a bit of Croatian pressure, with Nuno Mendes finding Rafael Leao surging towards the penalty box. The Milan star swept a pass towards Bruno Fernandes, who slapped a shot at Livakovic's frame. The Croatian netminder was equal to the attempt, diving low to deflect it away. Fernandes fired his rebound into a jungle of limbs, which gobbled the effort up and sent it elsewhere.

Pre-game

7 p.m.: National anthems have been crooned. Handshakes hav been exchanged. Here comes the football, live from BMO Field in Toronto! We're underway!

6 p.m.: Here's a look at the lineups for tonight's contest. Not much in the way of surprises for either side, with Ronaldo leading the line for Portugal and Kovacic and Modric looking to keep play ticking in the midfield. Ante Budimir will retain his place up top for Croatia as Andrej Kramaric and Petar Musa watch on from the sidelines. No Josko Gvardiol in Croatia's lineup — Ivan Perisic will drop to left back, while Martin Baturina will offer his services at left wing.

🇵🇹 PORTUGAL vs CROATIA 🇭🇷

Starting XI's confirmed! ✅ pic.twitter.com/B355h3GbH9— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) July 2, 2026

5 p.m.: While there have been some calls to drop Cristiano Ronaldo in favor of 24-year-old striker Goncalo Ramos, there is little evidence that Roberto Martinez will make a change at the No. 9 position. Only time will tell if that's a wise decision.

Where to watch Portugal vs. Croatia in World Cup

Portugal vs. Croatia start time

Date: Monday, June 29
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET

Portugal vs. Croatia kicks off at 7 p.m. ET from BMO Field in Toronto.

What channel is Portugal vs. Croatia on today?

TV channel: Fox or FS1
Live stream: Fubo (U.S. only free trial)

Thursday's match between Portugal and Croatia will air nationally on Fox (for English-speaking viewers) and Telemundo (for Spanish-speaking viewers) in the United States. Those looking to stream the match can turn toward fubo, which offers a free trial to new users.

Here's a look at how the 7 p.m. ET start time compares to differing time zones:

MORE WORLD CUP NEWS:

World Cup 2026 knockouts schedule

Round of 32

Round of 16

Quarterfinals

Semifinals

Third-place match

Final

David Suggs

David Suggs is a content producer at The Sporting News. A long-suffering Everton, Wizards and Commanders fan, he has learned to get used to losing over the years. In his free time, he enjoys skateboarding (poorly), listening to the likes of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and D’Angelo, and penning short journal entries.

Source: Sporting News