Portugal vs today match matters because Roberto Martínez’s side reach Thursday’s Croatia tie with two draws in three games. That leaves Portugal short of the authority expected of one of the World Cup 2026 favourites.
Cristiano Ronaldo, now 41-year-old, remains the focal point of the attack. Portugal were weighed down by his presence in the build-up to a last-32 knockout match that can no longer be treated as routine.
Croatia in the last 32
Portugal were set to face Croatia on Thursday 2 July in the World Cup last 32. The route looked more forgiving before the group-stage results changed it, with Ghana the more favourable tie that had been expected.
Instead, Portugal drew against the Democratic Republic of Congo and Colombia, and that sequence pushed them into a tougher knockout test. Croatia have not been at their best in the three matches they have played, but Luka Modric, Mateo Kovačić, Joško Gvardiol and Josip Stanišić still make them dangerous opponents.
Ronaldo and Martínez pressure
The pressure point for Martínez is obvious. Ronaldo stays central to whether Portugal can provide the firepower they need against Croatia, and the manager has to decide how much the attack should still revolve around him.
That decision sits against a simple fact: Croatia usually find a way to win at tournaments. Portugal cannot take anything for granted, especially after a group phase that fell below the standard expected from them.
How to follow Portugal
Fans in the United States can watch Portugal v Croatia on Fox and Telemundo, with streaming on Fubo. Thursday was also the penultimate day of last-32 action at the World Cup 2026, with Spain facing Austria in Los Angeles on the same day.
The result on Thursday will decide whether Portugal move on with their status intact or carry the weight of those two draws deeper into the tournament. For Ronaldo, the night is another test of whether he still drives Portugal’s path when the margin for error has vanished.
