Panama and their third World Cup

Panama faces the 2026 FIFA World Cup with renewed hope of competing in its second historic participation. After their debut in Russia 2018, where they failed to score points in a demanding group with Belgium, England, and Tunisia, the team led by Thomas Christiansen arrives with more experience and the confidence granted by their recent results. In this World Cup, it is part of Group L and will face England, Croatia, and its next opponent, Ghana.

Mixed feelings

The Canaleros have recorded two victories, two draws, and one defeat in their last five friendlies. The defeat against Brazil exposed defensive flaws, but the victories against South Africa and the Dominican Republic, combined with the draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina, restored optimism to the team. The Danish coach, who took over in 2020 and led Panama to another World Cup qualification, is betting on a team that tries to keep possession and compete on equal terms against higher-ranked rivals.

Among the standout names in this selection is Adalberto Carrasquilla, a key piece in the midfield for managing the tempo and providing balance. Michael Amir Murillo, for his part, brings depth and solidity to the right side of the defense. Christiansen's proposal seeks to combine tactical order with offensive capability, trusting that players like José Luis Rodríguez, Édgar Bárcenas, and Cecilio Waterman can create danger in the final third.

The possible lineup against Ghana

The match against Ghana will be an immediate test to measure Panama's ability to uphold their idea against an opponent with a World Cup tradition. The expectation is to show competitiveness from the debut and leave behind the image of 2018, where the experience was more learning than success.

The possible lineup for Panama (3-4-2-1): Mosquera; Fariña, Escobar, Córdoba; Murillo, Harvey, Godoy, Davis; Díaz, Bárcenas; Fajardo.

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