Portugal’s national team faces Croatia this Thursday at midnight (SIC broadcast time) in a match for the Round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup.
The clash, described as a ‘007 mission,’ marks the beginning of the tournament’s knockout stage, where there is no room for error. The confrontation will demand full focus from the team, with no possibility of squad rotation, including the confirmed presence of Cristiano Ronaldo, while the coaching staff deals with seven strategic dilemmas for advancing in the tournament.
The national teams of Portugal and Croatia face off this Thursday, July 2, 2026, at 8:00 PM (Brasília time) / midnight on Friday (Lisbon time), kicking off the knockout stage of the 2026 World Cup. This decisive Round of 32 match takes place at BMO Field in Toronto, Canada.
Team Outlook for the Knockout Stage
Both teams arrive under significant pressure following inconsistent group stage campaigns:
Portugal: Finished second in Group K with 5 points. Led by Roberto Martínez, the team opened with a draw against DR Congo (1-1) and thrashed Uzbekistan (5-0), but faced heavy criticism after a goalless draw against Colombia.
Croatia: Finished second in Group L with 6 points. Zlatko Dalić’s squad started with a loss to England (4-2) but bounced back with narrow victories over Panama (1-0) and Ghana (2-1).
The Last Dance for Two Legends
The major historical draw of this match is the reunion of former Real Madrid teammates Cristiano Ronaldo (41) and Luka Modrić (40), in what is likely the final World Cup match for one of them.
Ronaldo seeks to break the frustrating streak of never having scored in the World Cup knockout stages, while Modrić relies on Croatia’s resilient track record—a team known for stepping up and dragging knockout matches into extra time and penalties.
Where to Watch the Match
Brazil: Exclusive live broadcast on the digital channel CazéTV.
Portugal: Broadcast on RTP1 and Sport TV.
United States: Broadcast on Fox and Telemundo.
