Looking to put a maiden World Cup victory on the board in midweek, Croatia will meet Panama at BMO Field in the early hours of Wednesday.With all eyes now fully fixed on North America for the 2026 World Cup, there are plenty of attractive betting promotions available this summer.Verdict: Croatia winBest Odds: 4/7Bookmaker: BetUSPanamaStarting with Panama, while Los Canaleros might have put in a largely rugged display at BMO Field last week, Thomas Christiansen’s camp suffered major last-gasp heartbreak in Toronto. Eventually falling to a 1-0 loss at the hands of African giants Ghana, the Reds have an almighty job on their hands in the race to mount any kind of genuine knockout stage charge this month. Facing what will certainly be a heavyweight challenge when they meet the former World Cup finalists in the early hours of Wednesday, Panama have drastically failed to find any kind of stability since opening 2026. Getting the final stint of their pre-tournament preparations underway with a rollercoaster 6-2 defeat against Brazil on May 31st, Christiansen’s camp have mustered just a pair of wins from any of their previous eight appearances across all competitions so far this calendar year.Panama Team NewsOnly making a late cameo appearance off the bench in Toronto last week, the record-breaking Anibal Godoy could be handed a full recall and earn a 160th international cap. However, one-time Girona attacker Yoel Barcenas will lead Panama out at BMO Field.Playing his domestic football with Championship outfit Norwich City, Jose Cordoba will start at the heart of Christiansen’s defence in the early hours of Wednesday. Both Carlos Harvey and Cesar Blackman are one booking away from serving their own respective World Cup suspensions.CroatiaAs for Croatia, while the former World Cup finalists might still find themselves almost universally regarded as a standout contender to punch yet another knockout stage ticket this month, Zlatko Dalic’s camp opened proceedings with a worrying performance in California. Eventually falling to an action-packed 4-2 loss against historic rivals England, the Blazers are desperately searching for an immediate response here. Although Croatia might have signed off their pre-tournament preparations with a 2-1 win against Slovenia, it appears that was just a minor boost for Dalic’s camp. Including a routine 2-0 defeat at the hands of Belgium on June 2nd, the Blazers have lost three of their previous four appearances across all competitions and they have shown some recent defensive struggles. In fact, Croatia have failed to muster a single clean sheet from any of their last seven straight showdowns.Croatia Team NewsWhile talismanic skipper Luka Modric might have turned 40 back in September, the former Ballon d’Or winner will lead Croatia out in Toronto and earn a record-breaking 200th international cap at BMO Field. Only making a 30-minute cameo appearance off the bench against England last week, Manchester City ace Mateo Kovacic should be handed a full recall.Fellow Man City star Josko Gvardiol will start at the heart of Croatia’s defence in Toronto on Wednesday. Opening his World Cup account with a consolation strike in California, Dallas striker Peter Musa will spearhead Dalic’s charge in the final third.Panama vs Croatia Key Factors to ConsiderWednesday’s showdown at BMO Field is the first meeting between Panama and Croatia.The Blazers have lost three of their previous four appearances across all competitions.Croatia have failed to register a single clean sheet from their last seven matchups across all fronts.Panama have won just a pair of their eight matchups across all competitions so far this calendar year.AC Milan superstar and Croatia skipper Luka Modric will earn a record-breaking 200th international cap in Toronto.ConclusionGetting their World Cup adventure underway with a rollercoaster 4-2 loss at the hands of historic foes England, Croatia know the importance of claiming an immediate response in Toronto. Desperate to avoid what would be an infamous banana skin at BMO Field, the Blazers are rightfully installed as a standout contender in the early hours of Wednesday. Despite their extended defensive struggles on either side of opening 2026, we are Croatia to put a maiden World Cup victory on the board here.Verdict: Croatia winBest Odds: 4/7Bookmaker: BetUSThe post Prediction: Panama vs Croatia appeared first on SoccerNews.