Panama will be competing in their second FIFA World Cup™ as one of the automatic qualifiers from the Concacaf region for the 48-team global showpiece.
Having only previously appeared at Russia 2018, Los Canaleros are back after establishing themselves as the top Central American team in recent years. They will be the lone representative from the region at the FIFA World Cup 2026™ and will be eager to show the world that they are ready to go a step further.
It was a tough slog through qualifying, but they showcased their quality when it mattered most, earning wins over Guatemala and El Salvador in the November 2025 window of the third round of qualifying to punch their ticket.
Panama coach: Thomas Christiansen
Panama’s patience and commitment to Christiansen have been rewarded handsomely with this qualification. Named head coach in July 2020 after previous spells with Leeds United and Belgian side Union, Christiansen experienced a few early bumps in his tenure, namely not advancing past the group stage of the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup and then losing 5-1 to USA on the penultimate matchday to be eliminated from qualifying for Qatar 2022.
But the Panamanian Football Federation stuck with Christiansen, and it’s been positive ever since, with semi-final finishes in the 2023 and 2024 Nations League and runs to the final of the 2023 Gold Cup and 2025 Nations League.
Along the way, younger players like Carlos Harvey and Adalberto Carrasquilla have begun to flourish in Christiansen’s set-up, while veterans such as Cecilio Waterman, Anibal Godoy and Alberto Quintero remain the bedrock.
World Cup 2026 fixtures and group
Panama will learn their group stage opponents when the Final Draw for the tournament takes place in Washington DC on 5 December at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The draw will commence at 12:00 local time (12:00 in Panama City).
Full World Cup 2026 match schedule
How Panama qualified for World Cup 2026
Panama were confirmed as participants in the expanded 48-team tournament after finishing in first place of Group A in the third round of Concacaf qualifying. The 2026 edition will be their second participation in the World Cup, and their first since Russia 2018.
After cruising through the second round of qualifying with victories over Nicaragua, Guyana, Montserrat and Belize, Panama found the going tough in the third round where they were drawn with up-and-coming Suriname and fellow Central American sides El Salvador and Guatemala.
They opened with draws against Suriname away and at home versus Guatemala before securing full points in a visit to El Salvador. It took a last-gasp goal just to rescue a point at home against Suriname, but they closed with aplomb, fending off a firm challenge away to Guatemala and then rolling at home against El Salvador to leapfrog Suriname into top spot on the final matchday.
Panama’s World Cup history
Panama’s last World Cup
Panama’s lone previous World Cup appearance came at Russia 2018, where they were drawn into Group G with Belgium, England and Tunisia. They were left frustrated in their first ever World Cup match, as they fell 3-0 to eventual semi-finalists Belgium.
Another team that reached the final four at Russia 2018, England, awaited in the next contest and while it ended 6-1 in favour of the Three Lions, Felipe Baloy made history by scoring their first World Cup goal. A Tunisia own goal earned the Central Americans their second goal at the global showpiece, but it was not enough in a 2-1 defeat.
Panama’s World Cup top scorer
Former defender Felipe Baloy’s goal against England ranks him as No1 on Panama’s scoring chart at the World Cup. In the 78th minute of that affair, Baloy got on the end of Ricardo Avila’s free-kick and steered home a shot to send the Panama fans at Nizhny Novgorod Stadium into celebration.
Panama’s record World Cup appearance maker
Seven players appeared in all three matches for Panama in 2018: Jaime Penedo, Roman Torres, Fidel Escobar, Gabriel Gomez, Anibal Godoy, Edgar Barcenas, Jose Luis Rodriguez.
Panama’s memorable World Cup moments
While the Baloy goal against England will forever live in Panamanian lore, the players who all stood at attention for the playing of the Panamanian national anthem for the opening match against Belgium will say that is the memory they hold closest. For the first time at a World Cup, the Panama anthem was played and not a dry eye could be seen from players, coaches and fans alike.
