Disappointing start for Croatia and a draw for Portugal at the 2026 World Cup

The Croatian national team started their 2026 World Cup campaign with a disappointing defeat against England. The match ended with the score 4-2 for the English, who turned the tide in their favor in the second half after an exciting first part of the match, which ended in a 2-2 draw. Luka Modrić, the captain of the Croatian team, started his fifth World Cup but left the field in the 58th minute, making way for Kovacic. In the next match, Croatia will face Panama on June 24.  In turn, Portugal, with Rafa Leão in the squad, started the tournament with a 1-1 draw with DR Congo. Rafa Leão entered the field in the 70th minute, but he was unable to change the fate of the match. The next match for the Portuguese will take place on June 23, when they will face Uzbekistan. --- ## Related Articles 1. [World Cup 2026](https://azkalsgoal.com/fil/news/world-cup-day-9-maaari-bang-masigurado-ng-estados-unidos-ang-group-d-laban-sa-australia) 2. [USA Sets Record with Own Goals at World Cup 2026](https://pitchpulsemedia.com/en/news/usa-sets-record-with-own-goals-at-world-cup-2026)