Ronaldo and Modric lead Portugal-Croatia first World Cup meeting
Ronaldo and Modric met in Portugal-Croatia’s first World Cup clash as Toronto baked under dangerous heat and fans chased one last run from two icons.
Kickoff came at 7:00 p.m. Toronto time at Toronto Stadium, where Portugal and Croatia met for the first time in a FIFA World Cup knockout match. Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric were still carrying the center of the stage. The winner was set to move on to Spain or Austria in the Round of 16 on July 6 at Dallas Stadium. Portugal arrived after finishing second in Group K, while Croatia came through as Group L runners-up after opening with a loss to England.
FIFA featured Ronaldo and Modric as the featured captains, two former Real Madrid teammates who won four UEFA Champions League titles together. Portugal held a 7-2-1 record against Croatia in all competitions. The countries had met before at UEFA EURO 1996, UEFA EURO 2016, and in a UEFA Nations League match in November 2024, but never at a World Cup. Sportsnet said it could be the final World Cup game for either Ronaldo or Modric, both still chasing the one major title missing from their careers.
CBC forecast temperatures around kickoff at 31 to 34 C, with humidex readings near 39 to 42 C, and the forecasted WBGT was about 30 C, above FIFPRO’s 28 C threshold for delaying or postponing matches. The City of Toronto canceled its Nathan Phillips Square World Cup watch party because of the extreme heat, while the FIFA Fan Festival stayed open with misting stations and drinking-water trailers. The city also assigned paramedics and law enforcement to support fan and staff safety.
Thousands of Portugal supporters marched from Stanley Park to Toronto Stadium, drumming, chanting and singing in Portuguese, while large Croatia fan groups also turned out. Fans gathered near hotels and training sites to catch Ronaldo, whose last visit to Toronto came in August 2009 with Real Madrid. Ticket demand ran high: resale listings averaged roughly C$2,500 to C$3,500, with some reaching C$30,000, even as Ontario rules ban third-party sales above face value. It was the final World Cup game scheduled for Toronto Stadium.
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