Panama at the World Cup, From Debut to the Road to 2030

GUIDES · PANAMA

The Panama World Cup story covers two tournaments eight years apart: six matches, six defeats and two regional finals in between. Panama reached its first finals in 2018 and returned for the 2026 edition co-hosted by the United States. For American readers there is a direct link. The night Panama qualified for Russia, the United States was eliminated.

Panama World Cup Record at a Glance

Panama has played six World Cup matches and lost all six. It scored twice in 2018 and not at all in 2026. It conceded 11 goals in Russia and four in North America, according to FIFA’s match data.

The only goal by a Panamanian player at a World Cup is still Felipe Baloy’s against England in 2018. Panama’s other goal, against Tunisia, was an own goal.

Those numbers hide a real change. In Russia Panama was outclassed in two of three games. In 2026 it lost by a single goal to Ghana and Croatia, and England only broke through after the hour.

Between the two tournaments Panama also became a regular finalist in its own region. It reached the 2023 Gold Cup final and the 2025 Nations League final, losing both to Mexico at SoFi Stadium in California.

Both competitions are run by Concacaf, the confederation for North America, Central America and the Caribbean. FIFA, the world governing body, runs the World Cup itself.

The 2018 Debut in Russia

Panama qualified for its first World Cup on Tuesday 10 October 2017. It beat Costa Rica 2-1 at the Estadio Rommel Fernández in Panama City. Defender Román Torres scored the winner two minutes from the end of normal time, Concacaf’s match report records.

FIFA noted at the time that Panama had been trying to reach the finals since the qualifiers for 1978. Before that last matchday, Panama had never sat in one of the automatic places in the final round.

The same night the United States lost to Trinidad and Tobago in Couva. That defeat ended the US team’s campaign. Panama finished third in the six-team final round, known as the Hexagonal, with 13 points.

Under coach Hernán Darío Gómez, Panama opened against Belgium on Monday 18 June 2018 at the Fisht Olympic Stadium in Sochi. It lost 3-0 in front of 43,257 people.

Six days later England won 6-1 in Nizhny Novgorod. Harry Kane scored three, John Stones two and Jesse Lingard one. Baloy then scored Panama’s first World Cup goal in the 78th minute.

The last game, on Thursday 28 June 2018 in Saransk, came closest to a result. Panama led Tunisia through a Yassine Meriah own goal after 33 minutes. Fakhreddine Ben Youssef and Wahbi Khazri then scored to win it 2-1.

How Panama Qualified for 2026

The three co-hosts, Canada, Mexico and the United States, qualified automatically. That left three direct places for the rest of Concacaf, decided in a three-group final round.

Panama won all four games of its second-round group, beating Guyana 2-0, Montserrat 3-1, Belize 2-0 and Nicaragua 3-0. It conceded only one goal in the process.

In the final round Panama shared Group A with El Salvador, Guatemala and Suriname. September 2025 brought a goalless draw in Suriname and a 1-1 home draw with Guatemala.

On Friday 10 October 2025 José Fajardo scored the only goal in San Salvador. Concacaf called it Panama’s first qualifying win in El Salvador. A 1-1 home draw with Suriname followed.

November decided it. Panama won 3-2 in Guatemala City on Thursday 13 November, its first win on Guatemalan soil. Cecilio Waterman scored twice and Fajardo got the late winner.

On Tuesday 18 November 2025 Panama beat El Salvador 3-0 at home. César Blackman, an Eric Davis penalty and José Luis Rodríguez scored the goals.

Panama topped Group A unbeaten, with three wins and three draws for 12 points. Suriname’s defeat in Guatemala the same night sealed the direct berth, and Panama joined Curaçao and Haiti as Concacaf’s qualifiers.

The 2026 World Cup in Group L

The draw placed Panama in Group L with England, Croatia and Ghana. Two games were at the venue FIFA calls Toronto Stadium in Canada and one at the New York/New Jersey Stadium.

Ghana 1-0 Panama

On Wednesday 17 June 2026 in Toronto, before 42,942 spectators, Panama held Ghana until stoppage time. Caleb Yirenkyi then scored in the fifth added minute to win it for Ghana.

Panama 0-1 Croatia

On Tuesday 23 June Panama returned to Toronto and lost to Croatia in front of 43,036. Ante Budimir scored the only goal after 54 minutes, which left Panama out with a game to spare.

Panama 0-2 England

On Saturday 27 June, 80,663 people watched in New Jersey, the largest crowd of Panama’s six World Cup matches. Panama held England to 0-0 at half-time.

Jude Bellingham scored from a corner after 62 minutes. Harry Kane headed the second five minutes later and became England’s record scorer at World Cups. A late Fajardo goal was ruled out for offside, England’s Football Association reported.

The FA’s pre-match notes showed how tight Panama’s games were. Its first two matches produced 32 shots in all, 19 by Panama, the joint-lowest of any team after two matchdays.

Panama finished fourth with no points and no goals. It was the only side at the 2026 finals not to score, a gap in attack that now frames the next cycle.

Thomas Christiansen and the Road to 2030

Christiansen, the Spanish-Danish coach, took charge in 2020. He missed out on the 2022 World Cup before guiding Panama to 2026. In between he reached the 2023 Gold Cup final, the 2025 Nations League final and the 2024 Copa América quarter-finals, Panama’s first.

His contract expired on 30 June 2026. On 9 July the executive committee of the Panamanian Football Federation (FPF), the national governing body, declined to renew it for now. It cited its own election in December.

On Monday 13 July the FPF announced an agreement running from 1 August 2026 to the end of the 2030 cycle. It lets the committee elected in December decide whether to continue “without putting the federation’s finances at risk”.

Christiansen set out his plan on Wednesday 9 September 2026. “I am going to work from now until 2030,” he said. After a World Cup and two finals, he added, the next step was to try to win a title.

The plan centres on generational change. Christiansen said his squad for an October tour of Asia would include seven or eight uncapped players. Spaniard Pedro Morilla Pineda took over the men’s youth teams.

The road to 2030 starts in the Concacaf Nations League. As one of the region’s top four ranked teams, Panama went straight into the quarter-finals. These are played over two legs between 9 and 17 November 2026.

The four winners reach the finals at SoFi Stadium in March 2027 and qualify directly for the 2027 Gold Cup. The losers drop into a Gold Cup qualifying round.

The 2030 World Cup will be hosted by Morocco, Portugal and Spain, with three centenary matches in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. FIFA’s member associations confirmed that plan on Wednesday 11 December 2024.

Panama’s Current Stars

FIFA’s squad lists show seven players in both World Cup squads. They are Michael Amir Murillo, Fidel Escobar, José Luis Rodríguez, Ismael Díaz, Eric Davis, Aníbal Godoy and Edgar Yoel Bárcenas. All seven were born between 1990 and 1998, which is why renewal is now on the agenda.

• Orlando Mosquera, goalkeeper, born 1994. He started all three 2026 games and made several saves against England, including from Marcus Rashford and Kane.
• Michael Amir Murillo, defender, born 1996. He played at both World Cups and started all three games in 2026.
• José Córdoba, defender, born 2001. He started every 2026 match in defence.
• José Luis Rodríguez, midfielder, born 1998. He was in the 2018 squad, scored the third goal against El Salvador and started all three 2026 games.
• José Fajardo, forward, born 1993. He scored the decisive goals in San Salvador and Guatemala City during qualifying.
• Cecilio Waterman, forward, born 1991. He scored twice in the 3-2 win in Guatemala City.
• César Blackman, defender, born 1998. He opened the scoring in the 3-0 win over El Salvador that sealed qualification.
• Adalberto Carrasquilla, midfielder, born 1998, and part of the 2026 squad. Alberto Quintero, born in 1987, was its oldest member.

Christiansen has said the change “cannot be done lightly” and that new players must be brought in gradually. Former goalkeeper Jaime Penedo, now advising the federation, is working on a shared method from youth level upwards.

What It Means for US Readers

For travelling fans, the next chance to see Panama in a US stadium is the Nations League finals. They run from 25 to 28 March 2027 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, if Panama wins its quarter-final.

Panama’s two regional finals, against Mexico in 2023 and 2025, were both played in Inglewood, California. Its biggest World Cup crowd, 80,663, came in New Jersey.

For US soccer followers the 2017 night still matters. Panama beat Costa Rica on the same night as the US defeat in Couva. That loss ended the American campaign for 2018.

For expats in Panama, home matches are played at the Estadio Rommel Fernández in Panama City, where both qualifying campaigns were clinched.

What Is Not Known

Panama’s quarter-final opponent. As the fourth seed it meets the best-placed group winner. That depends on the final League A group standings in early October 2026.

Whether Christiansen stays to 2030. His agreement lets the FPF executive committee elected in December 2026 confirm or end the project.

How Panama will qualify for 2030. Concacaf’s published 2026/27 calendar runs only as far as the 2027 Gold Cup. The format of the 2030 qualifiers and the region’s number of places are still to be announced.

Whether new players are ready. Christiansen himself has said the change will need time. A team that scored no goals in 2026 still has to find a new source of them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Has Panama ever won a World Cup match?

No. Panama has played six World Cup matches, three in 2018 and three in 2026, and lost all six. It scored two goals, both in 2018, and conceded 15.

When did Panama first qualify for the World Cup?

On Tuesday 10 October 2017, with a 2-1 home win over Costa Rica. Román Torres scored the winner late on, and Panama made its debut against Belgium in Sochi on 18 June 2018.

How did Panama do at the 2026 World Cup?

It lost 1-0 to Ghana and 1-0 to Croatia in Toronto, then 2-0 to England in New Jersey. Panama finished fourth in Group L without a point and was the only team at the finals not to score.

Who scored Panama’s first World Cup goal?

Felipe Baloy, in the 78th minute of the 6-1 defeat by England in Nizhny Novgorod on 24 June 2018.

Who coaches Panama?

Thomas Christiansen, the Spanish-Danish coach in charge since 2020. His new agreement covers 1 August 2026 to the end of the 2030 cycle, subject to review by the federation leadership elected in December 2026.

Where is the 2030 World Cup?

Morocco, Portugal and Spain host it, with three centenary matches in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. FIFA confirmed the hosts on 11 December 2024.

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