Large fan crowds expected in sweltering Toronto for Portugal-Croatia World Cup match
The city kept the FIFA Fan Festival open with heat relief measures as a sold-out match is expected to draw waves of fans.
- Portugal faces Croatia in the FIFA men's World Cup round of 32 today, Thursday, at Toronto Stadium, with the match coinciding with the anniversary of forward Diogo Jota's death.
- One year has passed since Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva died in a car crash in Spain, an event that stunned Portugal and the football community.
- Portugal manager Roberto Martinez, who called Jota "our light," named him an honorary member of the World Cup squad. Defender Vitinha said Wednesday, "We have all the motivation, for our families, for Diogo Jota, for the whole country."
- Jota's widow, Rute Cardoso, urged Scotland captain Andy Robertson to carry Jota's memory onto the pitch, while fans in Toronto's Little Portugal find extra inspiration in the anniversary.
- Extreme weather poses a challenge, with humidity making temperatures feel like 42 C and a thunderstorm forecast for kickoff. The winner advances to face either Spain or Austria.
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One of the football senators of this century will be retiring from World Cups after the Portugal-Croatia match. It is hard to believe that 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo or 40-year-old Luka Modrić will persist or get a chance in 2030.
Portugal and Croatia had anything but easy group stages at this World Cup. In a battle of stars, the countries face each other in the Round of 32. Who will advance: Cristiano Ronaldo or Luka Modric? Follow it live here!
Portugal vs Croatia LIVE, World Cup 2026 Round of 32 Updates: Confirmed line-ups out; Modric, Ronaldo start; Kick-off imminent
Follow live coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2026 clash between Portugal and Croatia. Get POR vs CRO live score, confirmed line-ups, team news, goals, key moments, match stats and highlights as they happen.
Time waits for no one, and whether it's Cristiano Ronaldo or Luka Modric, one of them will play his last World Cup match after an impressive career.
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