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Croatia Beats Ghana; Modric Sets Assister Record, Attendance Soars

6/28/2026

27 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

**Modric Assists Victory**

Croatia beat Ghana 2-1 on June 27, 2026 at Philadelphia Stadium, with Petar Sucic scoring in the 31st minute and Nikola Vlašic heading the 83rd-minute winner to clinch second place and a round-of-32 spot.
Luka Modric, 40, delivered the 83rd-minute assist, becoming the oldest World Cup assister and earning his 201st cap.
The tournament set a new attendance record of 3,605,357 fans, surpassing the 1994 World Cup total.

Summary

**Croatia Needs Win**

Betting markets listed Croatia as a heavy favorite at -430, with Ghana at +300 and a draw at +240.
The match was the first competitive World Cup meeting between Croatia and Ghana.
Ghana entered after a 1-0 win over Panama and a goalless draw with England, making them an underdog.
Croatia needed a win to stay alive after a 4-2 loss to England.

History

Historical Context

FIFA’s 1994 World Cup in the United States broke every attendance record, drawing 3,587,538 fans across 52 matches and averaging 68,991 per game. Hosted in nine American cities, it introduced 24-team play, three-point wins and day-time scheduling for European TV. Those innovations and the massive crowds set a benchmark that the tournament’s 2026 expansion now seeks to exceed.

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**Modric Assists Victory**

Croatia beat Ghana 2-1 on June 27, 2026 at Philadelphia Stadium, with Petar Sucic scoring in the 31st minute and Nikola Vlašic heading the 83rd-minute winner to clinch second place and a round-of-32 spot.
Luka Modric, 40, delivered the 83rd-minute assist, becoming the oldest World Cup assister and earning his 201st cap.
The tournament set a new attendance record of 3,605,357 fans, surpassing the 1994 World Cup total.

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