World Cup 2026: Portugal vs. Croatia Predictions

Portugal vs. Croatia Overview and Latest Odds

Croatia head into this Round of 32 encounter as slight favorites, with pre-match projections and current World Cup odds giving them approximately a 57 percent chance of securing victory within the 90 minutes of regulation.

• Location: Toronto Stadium, Toronto, Ontario, Canada 

• Date & Time: Thursday, July 2, 7 pm ET

• How to Watch: FOX

For readers in states where traditional sports betting is not yet available, regulated US prediction market apps and sites provide a legal option. These platforms let users trade on event outcomes while drawing on the collective wisdom of the market to generate highly accurate forecasts.

Expert Betting Predictions and Best Bets for Portugal vs. Croatia

Below are our three top tips for Portugal vs. Croatia, including two straight bets and one same-game parlay. 

• Both teams to score yes 

We fancy both sides will feature on the scoreboard, especially given the previous six encounters between the two have resulted in both teams scoring. Croatia’s two group-stage matches resulted in both sides scoring; the lone exception was against Panama, a less formidable team than England and Ghana. 

Portugal loves to play on the front foot, creating dangerous opportunities that eventually result in goals. But the 2016 UEFA Euro champions have looked vulnerable at the back at times, needing the keeper to bail them out. 

• Petar Sucic to score or assist 

The crafty attacking midfielder has made his mark when featuring in the starting XI, which is why he has a solid opportunity to get on the stat sheet again. When Sucic started against England and Ghana, he contributed a goal or an assist in each match. 

The Inter Milan employee saw his value rise after his displays in his debut season in Serie A. The 22-year-old is thriving with Croatia now becoming the main catalyst for creating dangerous opportunities. 

• Croatia +1.5 & over 5.5 total corners 

This is a difficult matchup to break down between two evenly matched teams, which is why we expect Croatia to remain competitive throughout. Even if they fall short, we don't see them losing by more than a single goal. History supports that view, with seven of the last eight meetings between Portugal and Croatia being decided by one goal or ending in a draw.

Between the two nations that boast elite talent, there will be moments when either side is hemmed in on its own end, surrendering corners. Between the two competitors, six combined group-stage matches, in four instances it produced over 5.5 corners.

Portugal Betting Preview

Finishing in second place in Group K, Portugal are now tasked with winning a knockout match in consecutive tournaments for the first time in the country's history. The Seleção das Quinas had a golden opportunity to win the group, but they couldn’t get ahead against Colombia inside the 90-minute contest. 

Portugal found the back of the net six times, although their underlying numbers suggest they outperformed expectations, generating an expected goals (xG) total of just 4.2. The major outlier is that they thrashed World Cup debutants Uzbekistan by five goals, inflating their attacking analytics. 

Roberto Martínez is hoping Portuguese footballing legend Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the greats of the game, will rise to the occasion on Thursday. The 41-year-old striker has not shone in the World Cup when the spotlight is on, as he’s scoreless in eight World Cup knockout matches, despite generating 29 shot attempts. 

Croatia Betting Preview

The 2018 runners-up and third-place finishers in the previous edition of the World Cup, the crop of players from this campaign wouldn’t surprise anyone if Croatia went on another extended run. Like their adversary, Croatia couldn’t top their group, resulting in a second-place finish. 

Zlatko Dalić and his squad responded impressively after suffering a 4-2 defeat to England in their World Cup opener. The Vatreni bounced back with consecutive victories, securing a place in the knockout stage for the fourth time in the nation's World Cup history.

Croatia's all-time appearance leader, Luka Modrić, recorded his first goal contribution of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the victory over Ghana. The captain will once again be leaned on to dictate the play in the middle of the park and set his players up with quality passes. 

How Portugal and Croatia Match Up Against Each Other

Across 10 all-time meetings, Portugal retains the edge, having won seven times to Croatia’s lone victory. On paper, this is a heavyweight contest between two of Europe's elite, with Portugal ranked fifth in the FIFA World Rankings and Croatia 11th.

The midfield battle will likely determine the outcome of this Round of 32 fixture. Portugal will want to control possession and attack with pace, while Croatia will try to disrupt their rhythm and capitalize on counterattacks. 

Overall, Portugal deserves to start as slight favorites. Still, Croatia are exactly the type of team that can knock Ronaldo and Co. off guard, as Croatia's wealth of knockout-stage experience cannot be overlooked in a winner-takes-all match.