Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric face each other in a World Cup knockout match on Thursday, July 2, when Portugal play Croatia at BMO Field in Toronto. Kickoff is at 7:00 PM Eastern — 11:00 PM in the UK.

It carries personal weight for both captains. Modric, widely considered one of the greatest midfielders the game has produced, has played on the biggest stages in football for more than a decade. For Ronaldo, this is another chapter in a career defined by finals and records. The teams around them will decide who advances, but these two will shape how the match is remembered.

How Portugal and Croatia Got Here

Portugal finished as Group K runners-up. They beat Uzbekistan 5-0, but could only manage draws against DR Congo and Colombia. For a squad with Rafael Leao, Pedro Neto, Joao Felix, and four PSG players in the mix, the group stage was cautious rather than commanding. Ronaldo remains the frontman, and in the knockout rounds, he tends to be more decisive.

Croatia came through Group L in second place. They opened with a 4-2 loss to England — difficult, but not embarrassing given England’s form — then responded with wins over Panama and Ghana. They arrived at the Round of 32 with their defensive record improving and their experienced midfield finding form.

The Midfield Battle That Will Decide It

Croatia’s route to success runs through Modric and Mateo Kovacic. If those two can control the centre of the park, they take the pace out of Portugal’s attack and force a more patient game — one Croatia are comfortable playing. The problem is Portugal can create from very little. Leao and Neto in particular cause problems in wide areas, and quick combinations can break even an organised Croatian block.

Croatia are not without chance. They reached the 2018 final and the 2022 semi-final. They know how to survive knockout nights and how to take games to penalties if needed. Portugal are the favourites, but Croatia have defied those odds before.

Where to Watch the Match

In the US, the match broadcasts on Fox and Telemundo. UK viewers can watch live on BBC iPlayer and ITVX — both free. Canadian audiences can follow on CTV, TSN, and RDS. BMO Field in Toronto holds around 30,000 for football, making it one of the more intimate venues at this expanded World Cup.

The winner plays in the Round of 16. Lose here, and the tournament is over — for both teams, and for both captains, possibly for the last time at a World Cup.

Portugal vs Croatia kicks off at 7:00 PM Eastern on July 2 at BMO Field in Toronto. It broadcasts on Fox in the US and BBC iPlayer in the UK.

FYI (keeping you in the loop)

Have Portugal and Croatia met before at a World Cup?

No. Portugal and Croatia have not previously met at a FIFA World Cup. This Round of 32 game on July 2, 2026 marks their first ever encounter at the tournament.