Friday’s offering of Round of 32 action at World Cup 2026 could not start any earlier for fans in the UK.
On the stroke of midnight, Portugal and Croatia commence a battle for one of the coveted spots in the Round of 16, a match which is set to feature two legends in Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, and Luka Modric, 40. Which ageless veteran will add another chapter to their incredible story?
The Toronto Stadium hosts this huge all-European knockout tie, and our full sports betting preview is available to view below.
We have also picked out some tips based on NetBet’s latest World Cup odds, and if multiple selections catch your eye, remember you can combine them into one single wager with the Bet Builder tool. Play your way online this summer – and beyond!
Where can I watch Portugal vs Croatia in the UK?
Portugal vs Croatia will be broadcast live on BBC One, with kick-off scheduled for 12am UK time.
Portugal vs Croatia Preview
Recent results
Portugal’s World Cup 2026 campaign opened with a shock 1-1 draw vs DR Congo, though Roberto Martinez’s men did respond with a 5-0 thrashing of Uzbekistan – in which Ronaldo scored twice. However, the 2016 European champions drew 0-0 in their final first-round match vs Colombia, conceding a concerning total of 26 shots on goal and finishing as Group K runner-up in the process.
Croatia were beaten 4-2 by England in their first Group L game, but Zlatko Dalic and his players did not let the small setback in Arlington phase them one bit. The 2022 semi-finalists beat Panama 1-0 courtesy of a goal from Ante Budimir, before beating Ghana 2-1 and finishing as runner-up in the group.
Head-to-head record
Portugal and Croatia have met 10 times previously, the former winning seven of those contests and two others ending in a draw.
Croatia’s sole victory was a 2-1 success in June 2024, with the most recent meeting in November of the same year ending 1-1.
Team news
Neither Portugal or Croatia have any injuries or suspensions to contend with.
Joao Neves looks nailed on to return to Portugal’s XI after coming on at half-time vs Colombia, while Bernardo Silva and Rafael Leao are also high-profile options for manager Martinez to consider.
Croatia pair Petar Sucic and Nikola Vlasic should each retain their starting spots after both scoring in the 2-1 victory over Ghana, while Josko Gvardiol will almost certainly be reinstated to the team after being afforded a rest vs the Black Stars.
Portugal vs Croatia Odds
*All odds are subject to change
Portugal are the pre-match favourites here at a price of 1.71. A victory for Croatia is at odds of 4.80, while the draw after 90 minutes is 3.51.
Portugal vs Croatia Betting Tips
Player to score or assist – Bruno Fernandes @ 2.28
This is a game which is crying out for some Fernandes ingenuity. Croatia can be a hard nut to crack, so it may require some creative magic to break them down. Fernandes recorded yet another assist in the 5-0 thrashing of Uzbekistan, and has eight goal contributions in his last eight international appearances.
Cristiano Ronaldo to have over 1.5 shots on target @ 2.05
There is no hiding from the fact that this could be Ronaldo’s final match on the World Cup stage, so the 41-year-old will be doing all he can to put his name in the headlines for all the right reasons. Expect attempts on goal aplenty, with Ronaldo already tallying 13 shots at this tournament and seeing six of them hit the target. You may not see many better pre-match picks priced slightly higher than evens this week.
Ante Budimir to commit over 1.5 fouls @ 1.69
Budimir is a talented striker – and he is no stranger to committing a foul either. The Osasuna forward tallied two of them when scoring off the bench vs Panama, before adding another two fouls to the World Cup collection on his first start of the tournament vs Ghana. A third consecutive double for Budimir? Against Portugal’s possession-focused midfield and defence, that looks firmly on the cards.
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