Panama FIFA World Cup 2026 Preview: Los Canaleros look to improve from 2018

In its World Cup debut in 2018, Panama was the worst performing country, with three defeats and eleven goals. In 2026, under a new head coach and with commendable results under his belt, there will be renewed hope to improve on that run, closer to home.

When Thomas Christiansen took over, Panama was ranked 87th in the world. In the six years since, it has made steady progress, reaching the final of the CONCACAF Nations League last year.

Panama had a 100% record in the second round qualifiers and had a stuttering start in the next round with two draws. A 96th-minute equalizer from Ismael Diaz against Suriname last October kept the country alive before two wins sealed Los Canaleros an automatic World Cup place.

Panama is now ranked 33rd and enters the tournament as the highest-ranked Central American team. Christiansen has brought structure and a definitive playing style, with midfielder Adalberto Carrasquilla at the center.

Carrasquilla tops the charts for most games and minutes played under Christiansen since the Spaniard took over. However, there are injury concerns surrounding the Club Universidad Nacional player, who suffered a left adductor pull at the end of last month.

Christiansen has drawn on experience in his selection, with Panama’s squad having an average age of 31.1 years – the oldest in the tournament, and an average of 53.4 caps per player – the second highest after Argentina.

The team also has a good mix of goals spread across positions. Right winger Amir Murillo provides attacking enthusiasm from the flanks, while Diaz and Jose Rodriguez can expand the pitch with their speed and directness.

In the recent friendly against Brazil, Panama held their own in the first half, troubling the legendary South Americans before their attacking quality split the country in the second period.

Everything will come down to the opening match against Ghana if the work and progress under Christiansen in recent years can translate into meaningful results on the biggest stage.

Player to watch out for: Adalberto Carrasquilla

Carrasquilla will be hard to miss on the pitch, with his curly hair bouncing everywhere, but his skills on the ball also make him an unmissable player. The attacking midfielder has the quality to unlock the defense with his passing.

Coach

After brief coaching stints in Greece, England and Belgium, Christiansen took over the role at Panama in 2019 and is now the country’s longest-serving head coach. The Danish-born Spanish head coach is heavily influenced by his time at Barcelona under Johan Cruyff. Christiansen will likely use a 3-4-2-1 shape, aiming to use possession and shape to suppress coveted sides.

SQUADS

• Goalkeepers: Orlando Mosquera, Luis Mejia, Cesar Samudio.
• Defenders: Cesar Blackman, Jorge Gutierrez, Amir Murillo, ⁠Fidel Escobar, Andres Andrade, Edgardo Farina, Jose Cordoba, Eric Davis, Jiovany Ramos, Roderick Miller.
• Midfielders: Anibal Godoy, Adalberto Carrasquilla, Carlos Harvey, Cristian Martinez, Jose Luis Rodriguez, Cesar Yanis, Yoel Barcenas, Alberto Quintero, Azarias Londono.
• Forward: Ismael Diaz, Cecilio Waterman, Jose Fajardo, Tomas Rodriguez.

Published on June 12, 2026