Croatia vs Ghana: World Cup 2026 Predictions, Betting Tips & Odds (27.06.2026)

Croatia start as the narrow favourites at around 4/5, with the draw available at about 5/2 and Ghana out at roughly 9/2. Our expert view is that the goals market offers the sharper angle here, with under 2.5 goals quietly the standout play.

Croatia Recent Form

Zlatko Dalic’s side go into this match with three points from two games, having lost their opener 4–2 to England before grinding out a 1–0 win over Panama. That result leaves them with a goal difference of –1 and means only a victory guarantees their place in the knockout rounds. Croatia’s only goal of the tournament so far has come from the penalty spot, a sign that they have struggled to create clear-cut chances against well-organised opposition, despite dominating their qualifying group with seven wins from eight games. Defensively, the back line marshalled by Josko Gvardiol kept a clean sheet against Panama but was caught out repeatedly by England’s pace in behind, and Dalic will need his full-backs to show more discipline against a Ghana side built to counter-attack. Luka Modric, who carried a minor knock into the tournament, has continued to start and dictate Croatia’s tempo from midfield.

Croatia Key Players

Ghana Recent Form

Carlos Queiroz has Ghana sitting above Croatia in Group L on goal difference, unbeaten through their opening two games. A win over Panama was followed by a goalless draw against England, a result that underlines how well-drilled this side is defensively: Ghana have not conceded at this tournament and let in just a single goal across their entire qualifying campaign. Regular goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi is a doubt through injury, which would hand the gloves to his understudy, but the bigger story is in midfield, where Thomas Partey is expected to screen the back four while Mohammed Kudus, who only recently overcame a serious quad problem, looks to provide the spark in behind Iniaki Williams and Antoine Semenyo. Expect Queiroz to set his side up to defend in numbers and pick off Croatia on the break, much as they did against England.

Ghana Key Players

Head-to-Head Record

There is very little history between these two nations to draw on. Croatia and Ghana have met just once before at senior level, a 2006 friendly that Ghana edged, and they have never previously faced each other at a World Cup. With no competitive rivalry to speak of, this match will be decided purely on current form and the permutations in Group L.

Last 5 Matches

Croatia’s sequence reads most-recent-first: a 1–0 win over Panama, the 4–2 defeat to England, and three wins in their final qualifying matches against Montenegro, the Faroe Islands and Gibraltar. Ghana’s run shows their draw with England, the win over Panama, and three further wins to close out their unbeaten qualifying campaign.

Tactical Breakdown

This is a clash of styles. Croatia like to dominate the ball and probe patiently through Modric and Kovacic, but they have shown they can be got at on the counter, as England demonstrated. Ghana, by contrast, are happy to sit deeper, stay compact, and break with real pace through Semenyo and Williams, with Kudus floating to link the lines if he starts. The key battle is whether Croatia’s full-backs can support their attack without leaving space for Ghana to exploit in behind. Philadelphia in late June should bring warm, humid conditions, which could take its toll in the closing stages, particularly on Croatia’s more experienced legs.

Predicted Line-ups

Dalic is expected to stick with the system that has carried Croatia through qualifying and the group so far, with Livakovic behind a back four anchored by Gvardiol, and Modric and Kovacic given license to dictate play through the middle, with Kramaric or Petar Musa leading the line. For Ghana, Queiroz is likely to retain the defensive solidity that has underpinned their two clean sheets, with Partey screening the back line and Mensah offering balance from left-back, while Semenyo, Williams and a fit-again Kudus look to provide the attacking threat on the break.

Where to Watch: UK TV & Streaming

Croatia vs Ghana is being shown live in the UK on ITV, with streaming available via ITVX. Coverage is expected to begin well before the 22:00 BST kick-off, with build-up and analysis ahead of what is the final round of Group L fixtures.

Odds Comparison & Betting Analysis

These prices imply Croatia are roughly 56% likely to win on bookmakers’ assessments, with the draw priced at around 29% and Ghana at about 18%, figures that line up closely with the underlying form. The real value, in our view, sits in the goals market rather than the result: Ghana have not conceded once at this tournament and Croatia have managed only a single goal, from the penalty spot, so backing the under at 5/7 looks the shrewder play than chasing the draw or an upset. As always, odds move quickly in the run-up to kick-off, so it is worth checking the latest prices with a UK-licensed bookmaker of your choice before placing anything.