Portugal and Croatia meet in one of the marquee Round of 32 matchups of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with a place in the Round of 16 on the line. The winner will advance to face the winner of Spain vs. Austria, making this one of the most important knockout paths in the tournament.
MORE: FIFA World Cup 2026 power rankings
How to Watch Portugal vs Croatia
- Date: Thursday, July 2, 2026
- Time: 7:00 PM ET
- Channel: FOX
- Stream: Fubo (try for free)
Portugal entered the knockout stage after finishing second in Group K. Roberto Martínez’s side showed flashes of its attacking quality but lacked consistency, drawing with DR Congo and Colombia while routing Uzbekistan. Portugal will once again lean on its experienced core led by Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha, Bernardo Silva, and Rúben Dias. Even at 41 years old, Ronaldo remains a focal point in the attack as he continues his historic international career.
Croatia also finished second in its group after recovering from an opening defeat to England with victories over Panama and Ghana. Zlatko Dalić’s squad continues to rely on the leadership of Luka Modrić, whose midfield partnership with Mateo Kovačić and the emergence of younger players has helped Croatia remain one of the tournament’s toughest knockout opponents. Goalkeeper Dominik Livaković and defender Joško Gvardiol will be counted on to slow Portugal’s attack.
– Live Stream Every 2026 World Cup Match With Fubo –
One of the biggest storylines is the likely final World Cup meeting between two all-time greats: Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modrić. While much of the attention has centered on those legends, Croatia manager Zlatko Dalić emphasized that the real battle will be won in midfield, where Portugal’s technical trio of Vitinha, João Neves, and Bruno Fernandes will try to dictate possession against Croatia’s experienced engine room.
Portugal enters the match as the slight favorite thanks to its attacking depth and overall squad quality, but Croatia has built a reputation for thriving in knockout football. Expect a tightly contested match where a single moment of brilliance—or even extra time and penalties—could decide who moves on to the Round of 16.
Live stream Portugal vs Croatia with Fubo: Start your free trial now!
With Fubo, you can watch live television without cable on your phone, TV, or tablet. Fubo carries a wide array of sports and entertainment channels, including local sports packages and top national channels like ABC, FOX, CBS, ESPN, FS1, MTV, Comedy Central, and much more. The best part is you can try it out today for free.
Regional restrictions may apply. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.
— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead —
