Portugal and Croatia meet in the 2026 World Cup round-of-32 on Friday at 12am (UK time) with both sides hoping to keep their tournaments alive.
There have been some doubts about Portugal at the World Cup so far, especially after they opened their tournament with a draw against DR Congo. Portugal did bolster their chances of reaching the knockout stages with a comprehensive victory over Uzbekistan. That game saw Cristiano Ronaldo become Portugal’s all-time leading goalscorer at the World Cup. But Portugal drew once more in their final game against Colombia, and they had to settle for second.
Croatia also finished second in their group, though they had to recover from defeat in their first game. The 2018 runners-up lost 4-2 to England, placing them bottom of the group after one game. But they bounced back to beat Panama in their next match, albeit with a slender victory. That set up a winner-takes-second battle against Ghana in the final game, though a draw would have been enough for both sides to qualify. Croatia did take the win, though, and the runners-up spot in Group L.
This will be the 11th meeting between these two sides, with Portugal having won seven of the 10 so far. That includes wins at the European Championships in 1996 and 2016.
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Portugal vs Croatia team news
Portugal team news
Roberto Martinez has a clear favoured starting selection, and it’s one he’ll no doubt look keep with for this game. That will mean one change from the starting lineup against Colombia, with Joao Neves coming back into the midfield ahead of Ruben Neves. He’ll partner clubmate Vitinha in the double pivot, with Bruno Fernandes ahead of them as the No.10.
Pedro Neto and Joao Felix has become the go-to wing partnership from the past two matches. Bernardo Silva had started on the right in the first game, with Neto on the left. But Neto was switched over to the right, and Silva dropped out, to allow Joao Felix on the left. Cristiano Ronaldo will continue to lead the line.
After sitting out the first game, Ruben Dias has started alongside Renato Veiga as the centre-back pairing. And that will continue here. Joao Cancelo and Nuno Mendes are the first-choice defenders and will start once more. Diogo Costa will be in goal.
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Croatia team news
Zlatko Dalic altered his attack slightly for the win against Ghana, and he may be tempted to reward those who sent Croatia through to the knockout stages. Ante Budimir led the line after his goal against Panama and may still start up top, despite the lack of goal. Nikola Vlasic started on the right-wing and scored the winner, with Martin Baturina pushed over to the left.
Petar Sucic also returned to the starting lineup from the opening defeat to England, this time playing in a No.10 role. And he opened the scoring, so could continue in his spot. Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic are the favoured double pivot.
There’s a question to be asked about the defence. Petkovic dropped Josko Gvardiol for the win over Ghana, after his struggles against Panama. He was replaced at left-back by Ivan Perisic, who dropped from his more advanced position. Perisic may keep that spot, with Josip Stanisic on the right. Marin Pongracic and Josip Sutalo are the centre-back pairing, with Dominik Livakovic in goal.
Portugal vs Croatia predicted lineups
Portugal (4-2-3-1): Costa; Cancelo, Dias, Veiga, Mendes; Vitinha, J Neves; Neto, Fernandes, Felix; Ronaldo.
Croatia (4-2-3-1): Livakovic; Stanisic, Pongracic, Sutalo, Perisic; Modric, Kovacic; Vlasic, Sucic, Baturina; Budimir.
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