Panama at the 2026 FIFA World Cup: Squad, Manager, Fixtures & Tournament History

Panama are heading to the FIFA World Cup™ for just the second time in their history — and the first since their debut appearance at Russia 2018. Los Canaleros arrive at the FIFA World Cup 2026™ in Canada, Mexico and the United States as the sole Central American representative at the expanded 48-team tournament, carrying the ambitions of a region and the determination to prove their 2018 campaign was only the beginning.

That first taste of the global stage — three group-stage defeats against Belgium, England and Tunisia — was not without its moments. Felipe Baloy's goal against England wrote his name into Panamanian football history. The mission in North America is to go further: secure a first-ever World Cup win and, for the first time, reach the knockout rounds.

The Coach: Thomas Christiansen

Christiansen's story with Panama is one of patience rewarded. Appointed head coach in July 2020 following previous spells with Leeds United and Belgian side Union, the early years were not without turbulence — a group-stage exit at the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup and a painful 5-1 defeat to the USA that ended Panama's hopes of qualifying for Qatar 2022 tested the federation's resolve.

They stayed the course. Semi-final finishes in the 2023 and 2024 Nations League, runs to the final of the 2023 Gold Cup and the 2025 Nations League followed, and a new generation began to flourish. Carlos Harvey and Adalberto Carrasquilla have emerged as key figures in Christiansen's system, while veterans like Cecilio Waterman, Anibal Godoy and Alberto Quintero continue to provide the bedrock on which the team is built.

Panama's 2026 World Cup Fixtures & Group

17 June: Ghana v Panama – Toronto Stadium

23 June: Panama v Croatia – Toronto Stadium

27 June: Panama v England – New York New Jersey Stadium

How Panama Qualified

Panama were confirmed as participants after finishing top of Group A in the third round of Concacaf qualifying — a campaign that ultimately required nerves of steel and goals at crucial moments.

After cruising through the second round with victories over Nicaragua, Guyana, Montserrat and Belize, the going got tougher. Drawn alongside Suriname, El Salvador and Guatemala in the third round, Panama opened with draws against Suriname away and Guatemala at home before finding their rhythm with a win in El Salvador. A last-gasp goal rescued a vital point at home to Suriname, and they closed with real authority — winning away to Guatemala and then rolling over El Salvador at home to leapfrog Suriname into top spot on the final matchday. Qualification confirmed in November 2025.

Panama's World Cup Record

Confederation: Concacaf

Best Finish: Group stage (2018)

Last Appearance: Russia 2018 (Group stage)

First Appearance: Russia 2018

Total Appearances: 2 (2018, 2026)

Overall Record: P3 W0 D0 L3 F2 A11

Panama's Only World Cup: Russia 2018

Panama's sole World Cup appearance to date came at Russia 2018, where they were drawn into Group G alongside Belgium, England and Tunisia — a baptism of fire for a nation appearing on the global stage for the first time. A 3-0 defeat to eventual semi-finalists Belgium opened the campaign, but it was the second match that produced a moment that will live forever in Panamanian football.

Trailing 6-1 to England, Felipe Baloy got on the end of Ricardo Avila's free-kick in the 78th minute and steered home to score his country's first-ever World Cup goal — sending the Panama supporters at Nizhny Novgorod Stadium into raptures. A Tunisia own goal added a second in a 2-1 defeat in the final group game, but the team returned home as pioneers, having made history simply by being there.

Panama's All-Time World Cup Top Scorer

Felipe Baloy stands alone at the top of Panama's World Cup scoring chart. His 78th-minute finish against England at Russia 2018 is the only goal a Panamanian has ever scored at a World Cup — and for a nation that had waited so long to reach the tournament, it meant everything.

Panama's Most Capped World Cup Players

Seven players appeared in all three of Panama's matches at Russia 2018: Jaime Penedo, Roman Torres, Fidel Escobar, Gabriel Gomez, Anibal Godoy, Edgar Barcenas and Jose Luis Rodriguez.

Panama's Most Memorable World Cup Moment

The Baloy goal will endure — but ask the players who lived it, and many will point to something that came even before a ball was kicked. In the moments before kick-off against Belgium, the Panamanian national anthem was played at a World Cup for the very first time. Players, coaches and fans stood in tears. For a country that had spent decades trying to reach this stage, that was the moment that made everything real.