How to watch Panama vs Croatia live stream for free – FIFA World Cup 2026
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Panama and Croatia meet in a must-win FIFA World Cup 2026 Group L clash at BMO Field in Toronto, Canada on June 23rd. Both sides are reeling from opening defeats and face elimination unless they can turn things around. Panama fell 1-0 to Ghana in a disciplined but toothless performance, while Croatia absorbed a shock 4-2 loss to England despite controlling large spells. With England and Ghana both on three points, the loser of this match will likely exit the tournament at the group stage.
Every match streams live and free in English on BBC iPlayer and ITVX in the UK and on SBS On Demand in Australia. These broadcasters geo-block streams outside their home country, so you need a VPN to watch from abroad. We recommend NordVPN for reliable unblocking, fast HD streaming, and broad device support across all three broadcasters.
The Group L showdown kicks off at BMO Field, Toronto, Canada on June 23rd at 7:00 PM ET / 4:00 PM PT / 12:00 AM BST (June 24th) / 1:00 AM CEST (June 24th). The match streams free on HRT in Croatia, Medcom / TVN Media in Panama, BBC iPlayer in the UK, and SBS On Demand in Australia, all requiring a VPN from abroad.
Where to watch Panama vs Croatia
| Country | Streaming Service | Price | Local kickoff time | Notes |
| United States | Fox Sports / Telemundo / Tubi | Fox Sports: paid (cable or Fubo from $84.99/month) / Telemundo: free OTA / Tubi: free (VOD, 30 min after live) | 7:00 PM ET / 4:00 PM PT | Fox: cable login required. Telemundo: free with antenna. Tubi: on-demand replay only. |
| Canada | CTV / TSN | CTV: free (cable login) / TSN: CA$19.99/month | 7:00 PM ET | CTV: free with cable. TSN: full coverage. |
| Panama | Medcom / TVN Media / Tigo Sports | Free + Paid | 6:00 PM CST | Free, Panama matches. |
| Croatia | HRT | Free | 1:00 AM CEST, June 24th | Free, all Croatia matches. |
| United Kingdom | BBC iPlayer | Free (account required) | 12:00 AM BST, June 24th | Free, UK postcode required. |
| Australia | SBS On Demand | Free (account required) | 9:00 AM AEST, June 24th | Free, all 104 matches. |
How to use a VPN to watch the World Cup 2026 for free
HRT streams the match free in Croatia, BBC iPlayer carries it free in the UK, and SBS On Demand has all 104 matches free in English in Australia. All three are geo-restricted to their home country, but a VPN lets you watch from anywhere – see our full FIFA World Cup 2026 free streaming guide for every country.
- Pick a VPN with servers in the UK, Australia, or Croatia. We recommend NordVPN for its reliable unblocking of BBC iPlayer, SBS On Demand, and HRT.
- Download and install the VPN app on your device (Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, smart TV, Fire TV, or Apple TV).
- Connect to a server in the UK, Australia, or Croatia. This changes your virtual location to match the broadcaster's region.
- Open the streaming platform. Go to BBC iPlayer, SBS On Demand, or HRT. Create a free account if required.
- Find Panama vs Croatia and start watching for free. Keep the VPN active throughout the match.
Panama vs Croatia live coverage
Platforms like BBC iPlayer, ITVX, and SBS On Demand require you to create a free account. During registration, you will be asked for a local postal code. Simply Google and use any random, valid postal code from that specific country (e.g., a London postcode for the UK) to complete your registration.
Why you need a VPN to watch Panama vs Croatia
FIFA licenses World Cup rights country by country, so free broadcasters like HRT in Croatia and BBC iPlayer in the UK block streams from outside their home territory. If you try to access them from abroad, you'll hit a geo-block error screen like the one below.
A VPN for streaming changes your virtual location so the broadcaster recognizes you as in-region, unlocking the free stream. This also helps travelers and expats keep access to paid subscriptions like Fox Sports, TSN, or DAZN while abroad.
How to watch Panama vs Croatia free with a VPN – detailed guide
Choose a VPN with servers in the UK, Australia, or Croatia
We recommend NordVPN for streaming the World Cup 2026. Starting from $3.49/month on the 2-year plan, NordVPN operates across 224 locations, including robust coverage in the UK, Australia, and Croatia. Its NordLynx protocol retains 82% speed even on distant servers, ensuring smooth HD playback without buffering. NordVPN reliably unblocks BBC iPlayer, ITVX, SBS On Demand, and HRT, and its Smart DNS feature works on smart TVs without native VPN apps. All plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee. Read our NordVPN review for full performance benchmarks.
Install the VPN app on your device
Download and install the NordVPN app on the device you plan to watch on. NordVPN supports Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, smart TVs (Android TV, Google TV), Fire TV, and Apple TV. For devices without a native VPN app, such as Samsung or LG smart TVs, use NordVPN's Smart DNS feature or install the VPN on your router. One NordVPN account covers up to 10 devices simultaneously.
Connect to a server in the UK, Australia, or Croatia
Open the NordVPN app and select a server in the United Kingdom (for BBC iPlayer), Australia (for SBS On Demand), or Croatia (for HRT). This changes your IP address to match the broadcaster's region, unlocking the stream. If the first server doesn't work, disconnect and try a different city within the same country. Learn more about how to change your location with a VPN.
Open the streaming platform
Go to BBC iPlayer, SBS On Demand, or HRT in your browser or app. BBC iPlayer and SBS On Demand require a free account with a local postcode (use any valid UK or Australian postcode). HRT streams free without an account for most content, but check if login is required for live World Cup coverage.
Start streaming Panama vs Croatia
Find the Panama vs Croatia match in the live sports section and start watching. Keep the VPN active throughout the match. If the stream buffers or fails to load, switch to a different server in the same country, clear your browser cookies, or restart the app.
How to watch Panama vs Croatia on different devices
The easiest way to watch Panama vs Croatia with a VPN is in a desktop or mobile web browser, because no app store account or app install is required. Other devices, especially streaming sticks and smart TVs, often add an extra step, usually switching the app store country or installing the VPN at the router level. This guide explains exactly what each device needs.
| Device | HRT | BBC iPlayer | SBS On Demand | Fox Sports | NordVPN | How to use VPN |
| Web browser (desktop) | Web | Web | Web | Web | Yes | Native app |
| Web browser (mobile) | Web | Web | Web | Web | Yes | Native app |
| iPhone / iPad | App | App | App | App | Yes | Native app |
| Android phone / tablet | App | App | App | App | Yes | Native app |
| Android TV / Google TV | App | App | App | App | Yes | Native app |
| Amazon Fire TV | Cast | App | App | App | Yes | Native app |
| Apple TV | Cast | App | App | App | Yes | Native app |
| Samsung TV (Tizen) | Cast | Cast | Cast | Cast | No | Smart DNS or router |
| LG TV (webOS) | Cast | Cast | Cast | Cast | No | Smart DNS or router |
| Roku | No | Cast | Cast | App | No | Router or Smart DNS |
| Chromecast (older) | Cast | Cast | Cast | Cast | No | Cast from VPN device |
| PlayStation | No | No | No | App | No | Router |
| Xbox | No | No | No | App | No | Router |
Match preview
Head-to-head and recent meetings
Panama and Croatia have never met in a senior international fixture. This is their first-ever competitive encounter. Croatia enters as the more experienced side, having reached the World Cup final in 2018 and the semifinals in 2022. Panama qualified for their second World Cup after debuting in 2018, when they lost all three group matches.
Current form
Panama lost their World Cup opener 1-0 to Ghana in a tight defensive battle, failing to register a shot on target. They struggled to break down Ghana's low block and lacked creativity in the final third. Croatia, meanwhile, conceded four goals in a shock 4-2 defeat to England despite dominating possession for long stretches. Defensive lapses and an inability to match England's pace on the counter proved costly. Both teams now face must-win pressure.
Team news
Panama manager Thomas Christiansen is expected to rotate his midfield after a toothless performance against Ghana, with Adalberto Carrasquilla likely to start. Croatia's Luka Modric remains the creative fulcrum despite turning 41 in September, and manager Zlatko Dalic may drop deeper midfielders to add pace and width. No confirmed injuries for either side as of June 22nd.
Tournament context
Group L is wide open after matchday 1. England leads with three points after beating Croatia 4-2, while Ghana sits second with three points from their 1-0 win over Panama. Both Panama and Croatia are on zero points, meaning the loser of this match will almost certainly exit the tournament unless they beat England in the final group game and other results fall in their favor. Croatia needs a win to keep their knockout hopes alive, while Panama must find their first World Cup goal to have any chance of progressing.
FAQ
Where can I watch Panama vs Croatia?
Fox Sports carries the match in the United States (cable or Fubo subscription required), Telemundo broadcasts it free over-the-air in Spanish, and CTV streams it free in Canada with a cable login. HRT shows all Croatia matches free in Croatia, while Medcom and TVN Media stream Panama's matches free in Panama. For free English-language streams worldwide, BBC iPlayer in the UK and SBS On Demand in Australia both require a VPN from abroad. See the where-to-watch table above for full broadcaster details.
What time does Panama vs Croatia start?
Panama vs Croatia kicks off on June 23rd, 2026 at 7:00 PM ET / 4:00 PM PT in the United States, 12:00 AM BST (June 24th) in the UK, 1:00 AM CEST (June 24th) in Central Europe, and 9:00 AM AEST (June 24th) in Australia. The match takes place at BMO Field, Toronto, Canada as part of World Cup 2026 Group L matchday 2.
How can I watch Panama vs Croatia from abroad with my home subscription?
If you subscribe to Fox Sports, TSN, beIN Sports, or any other paid broadcaster at home, you can use a VPN for streaming to access your account while traveling abroad. Connect to a VPN server in your home country, then log in to your broadcaster's app or website as usual. This works for all major sports streaming services and is completely legal, as you're using your existing paid subscription.
Can I watch Panama vs Croatia for free?
Yes. HRT streams all Croatia matches free in Croatia, Medcom and TVN Media stream Panama's matches free in Panama, and Telemundo broadcasts the match free over-the-air in the United States (antenna required). For English-language free streams accessible worldwide via VPN, BBC iPlayer in the UK and SBS On Demand in Australia both carry the match at no cost with a free account.
Where can I watch highlights and replays?
FIFA+ publishes official highlights and short clips worldwide at no cost, and the FIFA YouTube channel posts goal compilations and post-match highlights. Tubi offers free on-demand replays of all 104 World Cup matches in the United States starting 30 minutes after the live broadcast. You can also watch replays on BBC iPlayer, SBS On Demand, or your home broadcaster's on-demand service via VPN.
What channel is Panama vs Croatia on in the United States?
Fox Sports carries Panama vs Croatia live in English on cable and via the Fox Sports app (cable login required). Telemundo broadcasts the match free over-the-air in Spanish (antenna required), and Peacock streams it in Spanish for $10.99/month. Tubi will offer the match as a free on-demand replay 30 minutes after the live broadcast ends, but it does not stream the match live.
How can I watch Panama vs Croatia in Spanish in the United States?
Telemundo broadcasts Panama vs Croatia free over-the-air in Spanish (antenna required, no subscription needed). Peacock streams the match live in Spanish for $10.99/month (Premium tier) or $16.99/month (Premium Plus, ad-free). All 104 World Cup matches are available on Peacock in Spanish, with 92 matches also airing on Telemundo's free OTA channel and 12 on Universo (cable).
What's at stake in Panama vs Croatia?
Both teams lost their opening Group L matches and are on zero points. England and Ghana lead the group with three points each. The loser of this match will almost certainly exit the tournament, as they would need to beat England in their final group game and rely on other results to qualify. Croatia must win to keep their knockout hopes alive after the shock 4-2 loss to England, while Panama needs their first-ever World Cup goal to have any chance of progressing.
