Croatia fans unfurl 100-metre flag as their fan march to Toronto Stadium begins. LIVE updates here.

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Both Panama and Croatia say tonight’s FIFA World Cup game in Toronto is a must-win.

Panama dropped its opening match to Ghana 1-0 in the Group L opener. Croatia also fell to England 4-2.

FULL COVERAGE:

• The GTHA has the largest Croatian community in North America. Tuesday’s World Cup stop in Toronto will be ‘emotional,’ fans say
• Panama, Croatia face must-win game tonight in Toronto
• Thousands of Croatia supporters could be coming to Toronto and bringing a 100-metre flag with them

Croatia, ranked 15^th, enters tonight’s contest as the favourite to the Panamanian underdogs (ranked 40^th).

This is the fourth World Cup game hosted at Toronto Stadium this tournament, with kickoff set for 7 p.m.

CTV News Toronto and CP24 will have live updates leading up to and throughout the game. Follow along here:

5:01 p.m. - 100-metre Croatia flag unfurled

Croatia supporters have unfurled a 100-metre flag ahead of a march to the stadium along Saskatchewan Road.

Thousands appear to be here, some carrying red flares.

- Chris Fox, Managing Digital Producer for CP24 and CTV News Toronto

4:49 p.m. - Croatia supporters get ready for march

Croatia supporters have gathered south of the Dufferin Gate, where they are expected to soon unfurl a 100-metre flag that was also carried through the streets ahead of the team’s match against England in Dallas last week.

The march is not expected to interrupt traffic, as it will largely take place along closed roads near Toronto Stadium.

- Chris Fox, Managing Digital Producer for CP24 and CTV News Toronto

4:42 p.m. - Party at Croatia House ahead of kickoff

Supporters gathered at Croatia House, which is located at the Toronto Event Centre, are singing and dancing hours before kickoff.

4:25 p.m. - Toronto Stadium gates open

It’s still three hours to kickoff. But the gates have opened at Toronto Stadium and fans are already starting to head inside.

A steady stream of fans appears to be making their way to the stadium from Exhibition Station, most of them wearing the distinct red and white jerseys of Croatia. The GTA is home to the largest Croatian community in North America, according to the Canadian-Croatian Chamber of Commerce. About 130,000 Croatians call Canada home.

- Chris Fox, Managing Digital Producer for CP24 and CTV News Toronto

4:10 p.m. - Portugal fans in Toronto react to win

Portugal supporters at the FIFA Fan Festival in Toronto are rejoicing following their team’s dominant win over Uzbekistan.

- Phil Perkins, CP24 anchor and reporter

4:02 p.m. - Panama march concluding

Here is the view as the tail end of the Panama fan march makes its way south to Toronto Stadium. The march seems to be dismantling as it makes its way towards Exhibition Place, though traffic remains fully blocked south of Wellington.

- Chris Fox, Managing Digital Producer for CP24 and CTV News Toronto

3:49 p.m. - Sights and sounds from Panama fan march

Panama fans are in a celebratory mood as they continue to make their way to Toronto Stadium. There is singing, dancing, jumping and chanting.

3:40 p.m. - A sea of red, blue and white

This is the scene at Strachan Avenue and Ordnance Street where Panama supporters have again stopped and are singing in the intersection.

Thousands appear to have gathered here, with previous police estimates pegging the number at 3,000.

- Chris Fox, Managing Digital Producer for CP24 and CTV News Toronto

3:32 p.m. - Significant police presence during march

A significant police presence lines Strachan Avenue as the Panama march heads south of Wellington Avenue.

Strachan Avenue has now reopened north of King Street.

- Chris Fox, Managing Digital Producer for CP24 and CTV News Toronto

3:30 p.m. - Friendly exchanges with Croatian fans

A small number of Croatian supporters are present along the march route and some good-natured exchanges have taken place between supporters.

The Croatia fan march is set to begin at 5 p.m. at the Toronto Event Centre on Saskatchewan Road.

- Chris Fox, Managing Digital Producer for CP24 and CTV News Toronto

3:55 p.m. - Inside of a Portugal watch party

The energy was through the roof at Bairrada Churrasqueira in Toronto’s Little Portugal neighbourhood.

From grandkids to grandparents, fans of every generation flooded the patio to watch Portugal take on Uzbekistan, who thwarted the team 5-0. Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo scored early, becoming the first player to score a goal in six different World Cups.

- Jessica Smith, CTV News Toronto

3:27 p.m. - Intersection blocked for celebration

Traffic is fully blocked at Strachan Avenue and King Street as Panama supporters holding the national flag and wearing team scarves celebrate in the intersection, many stopping to sing and chant in circles.

- Chris Fox, Managing Digital Producer for CP24 and CTV News Toronto

3:19 p.m. - Huge crowd for Panama march

The Panama fan march is so large that it has taken about 15 minutes for the crowd to fully clear Trinity Bellwoods Park.

The march is making its way south of Queen Street and Strachan Avenue now and the intersection should be reopening soon, though traffic will remain blocked along the remainder of Strachan Avenue.

- Chris Fox, Managing Digital Producer for CP24 and CTV News Toronto

3:15 p.m. - Panama flag unfurled

Panama supporters have unfurled a giant flag along Strachan Avenue. As they make their way to Coronation Park, the fans are chanting “olé, olé,” and the mood is decidedly festive.

Currently the crowd spans from Queen Street West to King Street along Strachan Avenue.

- Chris Fox, Managing Digital Producer for CP24 and CTV News Toronto

3:13 p.m. - What roads are closed

Traffic is currently blocked on Strachan Avenue south of Queen Street West as Panama supporters march to the stadium.

- Chris Fox, Managing Digital Producer for CP24 and CTV News Toronto

3:11 p.m. - 3K participating in Panama march

An estimated 3,000 Panama supporters have begun their march down Strachan Avenue.

Almost all of them are singing and chanting in unison, led by a minivan clad in the Panama flag that is providing the soundtrack.

- Chris Fox, Managing Digital Producer for CP24 and CTV News Toronto

3:09 p.m. - Panama march about to get underway

Police are beginning to assemble at the front of Trinity Bellwoods Park and the Panama fan march down Strachan Avenue appears to be moments from starting.

- Chris Fox, Managing Digital Producer for CP24 and CTV News Toronto

3:05 p.m. - Why this Panama resident

Alfred Hernandez travelled to Toronto from Panama with his family to see the national team take the pitch twice at Toronto Stadium. He plans to travel to New York for the team’s final match.

He says the people of Toronto are “good” and “very charming.”

- Chris Fox, Managing Digital Producer for CP24 and CTV News Toronto

2:50 p.m. - Crowd of Panama fans grows to the thousands

More and more Panama supporters are filing into Trinity Bellwoods ahead of the fan march.

Toronto police say as many as 3,000 fans are expected to take part.

- Chris Fox, Managing Digital Producer for CP24 and CTV News Toronto

2:45 p.m. - ‘Ole, ole, ole, Panama, Panama’

“Ole, ole, ole, Panama, Panama” chants are breaking out at Trinity Bellwoods Park as supporters prepare for the fan march.

This is Panama’s second-ever World Cup appearance. The Central American squad has only scored twice and hasn’t picked up a point in four previous World Cup matches.

- Chris Fox, Managing Digital Producer for CP24 and CTV News Toronto

2:30 p.m. - Panama fans flock to Trinity Bellwoods

Panama supporters have begun gathering in Trinity Bellwoods Park prior to a 3 p.m. march to Coronation Park.

Hundreds of supporters are already here and police say they expect an estimated 3,000 people to march down Strachan Avenue.

Panama is the only team to play twice in Toronto, having lost to Ghana 1-0 at Toronto Stadium last week.

- Chris Fox, Managing Digital Producer for CP24 and CTV News Toronto

2 p.m. - Road closures in effect

The city has shut down much of the area surrounding Toronto Stadium at Exhibition Place and the FIFA Fan Festival at Fort York.

Lake Shore Boulevard West from Bathurst Street to British Columbia Road is now closed. This closure takes effect on all of Toronto’s game days, starting five hours before kickoff and ending three hours after the final whistle. Roads are expected to reopen at midnight.

Manitoba Drive and most of Strachan Avenue is also closed. Traffic between Dufferin Street and Strachan, north of the Gardiner Expressway, is limited to local traffic only.

Toronto police have said that additional road closures may take effect as fan marches get underway this afternoon.

In addition to the World Cup-related road closures, Bremner Boulevard is also closed between Lower Simcoe Street and Navy Wharf Crescent for the Toronto Blue Jays home game at Rogers Centre. That closure will lift at 8 p.m.

- Phil Tsekouras, CTV News Toronto Journalist

1 p.m. - More than 3,000 Panama fans expected at march

Toronto police say they’re expecting as many as 3,000 people to take part in the Panama fan march.

The group will meet at Trinity Bellwoods Park for 3 p.m. before marching south on Strachan Avenue. The march will end at Coronation Park.

Road closures will be in effect for the march and police said motorists should expect traffic delays in the area.

Last week, an estimated 5,000 Panama supporters marched to Toronto Stadium ahead of the team’s match with Ghana.

- Phil Tsekouras, CTV News Toronto Journalist

12:45 p.m. – Croatia fans spotted near Toronto Stadium

A handful of fans donning Croatia’s red-and-white checkers were seen outside Toronto Stadium hours before kickoff.

Most will head to the Toronto Event Centre, temporarily dubbed “Croatia House,” for a pre-party before the fan march at 5 p.m.

- Rahim Ladhani, CTV News Toronto Video Journalist

12:20 p.m. - Ghanaian fans set to take over Sankofa Square again

In other Group L action, Ghana will take on England at 4 p.m. in Boston, and fans of the African Black Stars are planning on taking over Sankofa Square a second time.

Members of the Ghanaian diaspora braved the rain and flooded the downtown square last week following Ghana’s victory over Panama in stoppage time.

“Just days after Ghana’s dramatic victory over Panama sparked celebrations that spilled into the streets around Sankofa Square and prompted temporary road closures, the Square is poised to come alive again,” organizers of today’s rally said in a news release describing today’s watch party.

The event starts at 2 p.m.

- Phil Tsekouras, CTV News Toronto Journalist

12:15 p.m. – Match appears to be sold out

Fans hoping to grab a last-minute ticket to tonight’s game might be out of luck.

As of 12 p.m., there are no tickets available for the match through FIFA’s official ticketing platform and only a single $805 seat listed for sale on FIFA’s resale platform.

There are still a small number of tickets available for purchase on other resale platforms but prices mostly start at $1,000.

The first two World Cup games in Toronto were not officially sold out, though they came close. Saturday’s Germany-Ivory Coast match was an official sold out, with more than 43,000 fans inside Toronto Stadium.

- Chris Fox, Managing Digital Producer for CP24 and CTV News Toronto

12 p.m. – ‘Picture perfect’ conditions for kickoff‘

“Picture perfect.”

That is CP24 Meteorologist Bill Coulter’s forecast for the conditions during tonight’s game.

After rain interrupted another match featuring Panama last week in Toronto, Coulter says tonight’s conditions will be decidedly better with sunny skies and no chance of precipitation.

“We are hitting a high this afternoon of 25 C and by game time at 7 p.m. it will probably be 23 C with a dry breeze out of the northwest. So it will be comfortable and that is great news for the players and for spectators, even if you are not at the stadium but at many of the watch parties around town,” Coulter says.

Environment Canada says that there will be winds of 20 km/h that will gust up to 40 km/h tonight, likely making it feel a touch cooler at Toronto Stadium than it otherwise would.

The temperature will dip down to a low of 14 C overnight.

- Chris Fox, Managing Digital Producer for CP24 and CTV News Toronto

11:45 a.m. – ‘Leave the drone at home’: Toronto police

Toronto police are reminding the public that drones are prohibited over Toronto Stadium and the FIFA Fan Festival.

“Flying a drone in this area comes with serious penalties. Leave the drone at home,” they said in a social media post.

• READ MORE: ‘No drones. No exceptions,’ say Toronto police after 2 more people charged for flying devices at FIFA sites

Police said that as of June 10, at least 15 people have been charged for unauthorized drone use.

- Phil Tsekouras, CTV News Toronto Journalist

11:30 a.m. - 511 Bathurst bypassing some stops post-match

The TTC says transit riders taking the 511 Bathurst post-match should know some stops won’t be serviced.

“After each match, northbound 511 Bathurst streetcars will bypass all stops on Bathurst Street between Fleet Street and King Street West,” the TTC said in a tweet Tuesday.

Customers with accessibility needs will be accommodated as requested.

- Phil Tsekouras, CTV News Toronto Journalist

11 a.m. – Rush-hour fan marches could cause headaches for drivers

Thousands of fans of both squads are expected to hit the streets in the hours leading up to kickoff.

The Panama fan march will start at 3 p.m., beginning at Trinity Bellwoods Park. The group will then walk southbound on Strachan Avenue to Coronation Park.

The Croatians will start at the Toronto Event Centre, temporarily rebranded as “Croatia House,” at 5:30 p.m., before walking along Saskatchewan Road to Princes’ Blvd to Manitoba Drive to Nova Scotia Avenue.

Road closures will be in effect.

Last week, an estimated 5,000 Panama supporters marched to Toronto Stadium ahead of the team’s match with Ghana.

An estimated 130,000 people of Croatian descent live in Canada, with many of them residing in the GTA.

- Phil Tsekouras, CTV News Toronto Journalist