Croatia scraped past Panama 1-0 on June 23, earning their first three points in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The match was decided by substitute Ante Budimir, who found the net in the 63rd minute. Goalkeeper Dominik Livaković did the rest, making several key saves to preserve the clean sheet.
Prediction markets are having their World Cup moment
Polymarket, the blockchain-based prediction platform, has recorded trading volumes exceeding $2 billion across various World Cup-related contracts during the 2026 tournament. The platform allows users to bet on match outcomes, group stage qualifications, and tournament winners using crypto. Every goal, every red card, every upset creates a ripple through these markets in real time.
After losing 4-2 to England just five days earlier on June 18, Croatia’s odds of advancing from Group L had cratered. Budimir’s goal would have shifted those contracts instantly, with traders who bet on a Croatian recovery collecting their winnings.
Croatia’s tournament context
