Panama vs. Croatia Prediction: World Cup Picks & Best Bets (June 23)
We're making our Panama vs. Croatia prediction ahead of tonight's pivotal clash, with the tournament more or less coming to an end for the loser. My daily gamers went 5-1 yesterday, and we're going to roll that on today as we continue to build our bankroll.
Croatia is a -205 moneyline betting favorite, and our World Cup predictions will dig into that line and all the best bets. Play from BMO Field in Toronto gets underway at 7 p.m. ET (FOX, Telemundo, FOX One).
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⚽ Panama vs. Croatia predictions: Pick to win & player prop bets
See all of our experts' soccer picks across the best World Cup betting sites.
| 💰 Best bets | 📊 Best odds | ⚖️ Wager (units) |
|---|---|---|
| Croatia -1.5 | +120 via DraftKings | 0.5u -> 0.6u |
| Mateo Kovacic Over 1.5 shots | +137 via bet365 | 0.25u -> 0.34u |
| Panama Over 1.5 cards | -110 via bet365 | 0.5u -> 0.46u |
| Panama Over 2.5 cards | +300 via bet365 | 0.25u -> 0.75u |
⚽ Who will win Panama vs. Croatia?
Panama might have shocked some in their opener versus Ghana, having the lion's share of the ball and producing the better chances (despite the end result), but the reality of the situation will come crashing down tonight. Croatia has a significantly stronger midfield, which will outwork and suffocate the Panamanian side.
The constant pressure they couldn't exert against England (with an even better and younger midfield) will show, and a switch to a back four on the defensive side should limit the very few chances Panama can create.
Score prediction: Croatia 3, Panama 0
💵 My best bet: Mateo Kovacic Over 1.5 shots (+137)
Panama will spend much of the game on the back foot, dropping deep and succumbing to pressure from Croatia's midfield buildup and excellent triangle passing. That will limit space for Musa, but it should open things up for shots from the edge (or outside) of the box. Kovacic won't hesitate to let those shots fly - his shooting numbers have, well, shot up over the last two to three years.
🦶 Who will score in Panama vs. Croatia?
Follow all of our expert soccer betting analysis for the 2026 World Cup.
Petar Musa, F, Croatia (+120)
Musa scored one of Croatia's two markers in the opener, and he will again be a focal point of the offense tonight. But that offense will have many more opportunities to expose Panama's defense than it did against England, and his form entering the tournament is as good as most.
He's found the back of the net in three of his last five games, including one goal in two games with the national team and two goals in his final three fixtures with FC Dallas before the tournament started. In a must-win game, he'll find the back of the net.
Best Panama vs. Croatia goal-scorer pick: Petar Musa (+125 via FanDuel)
💰️ More World Cup predictions today
I break down more markets from across the entire slate in my best World Cup predictions today.
🥅 Will both teams score in Panama vs. Croatia?
Panama had the bulk of possession but still struggled to create chances against a Ghana side missing a key midfielder. Tonight, the work will be even harder for them, as Croatia's midfield will dominate the possession (in the range of 65% I expect).
The underdog should struggle to create even the two big chances they made (and failed to execute on) in the opener. Croatia winning to nil is in the cards.
Both teams to score (BTTS) pick: No (-106 via bet365)
💡 How to bet on both teams to score (BTTS)
Our soccer expert Jeremy Vernon broke down how to bet BTTS at the World Cup with a full history and statistical analysis of the popular prop betting market across more than 7,000 matches.
📊 Panama vs. Croatia odds
We're tracking the latest World Cup odds and favorites to win this year's tournament.
📺 How to watch Panama vs. Croatia
- Date: Tuesday, June 23
- Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
- Location: BMO Field (Toronto)
- TV/Streaming: FOX, Telemundo, FOX One
📅 World Cup best bets today
See all of our experts' soccer picks and the latest World Cup odds and favorites.
The tournament continues today with four matches, and we're breaking it all down with our World Cup predictions today:
- World Cup predictions today
- Portugal vs. Uzbekistan prediction
- England vs. Ghana prediction
- Panama vs. Croatia prediction
- Colombia vs. Congo win probability
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