Panama are returning to the FIFA U-20 World Cup™, and will be one of the four Concacaf representatives at Chile 2025 from 27 September to 19 October.
It marks Panama’s seventh appearance at the U-20 World Cup and their first since Poland 2019 where they achieved their best finish by reaching the Round of 16. Los Canaleros booked their spot in this year’s edition thanks to an excellent performance at the 2024 Concacaf Men’s U-20 Championship. After going toe-to-toe with eventual champions Mexico in the group stage, finishing even with them on seven points, Panama edged Canada 2-1 in extra-time in the quarter-finals to punch their ticket.
For a country that has experienced unprecedented success at the senior national team level in recent years with runs to the finals of the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup and 2024/25 Concacaf Nations League, opportunity knocks for the U-20s to leave their own legacy in South America.
Panama’s Group B fixtures
27 September
Paraguay v Panama (20:00 local time, Estadio Elias Figueroa Brander)
30 September
Panama v Ukraine (17:00 local time, Estadio Elias Figueroa Brander)
3 October
Panama v Korea Republic (17:00 local time, Estadio Elias Figueroa Brander)
The coach: Jorge Dely Valdes
Panama are in very good hands with the vastly experienced Dely Valdes, who has coached at all age levels for the Central American country. It was Dely Valdes who was on the touchline in 2019 when Panama collected their first victory in a U-20 World Cup match by defeating Saudi Arabia 2-1.
Dely Valdes also guided Panama at the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup™ and the 2023 Maurice Revello Tournament where their U-23 team defeated the likes of Japan, Australia and Mexico to claim the title.
The know-how of the 58-year-old in international tournaments will be one of Panama’s greatest assets in Chile, as they look to replicate their regional emergence on the global stage.
Star player: Rafael Mosquera
Mosquera is in line to become one of the next great attacking players in Panamanian football, following in the footsteps of Julio Dely Valdes, Blas Perez and Gabriel Torres. He was part of the Panama squad that barely missed out on Argentina 2023, but would not be denied a second time, scoring three goals in qualifying.
Mosquera is also on the rise at club level, having made his debut with the first team at the New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer (MLS). Playing for former USA international Michael Bradley at Red Bulls II, he has six goals and seven assists in the 2025 campaign.
A player who has already received his first senior national team cap and has designs on making Panama’s squad for the FIFA World Cup 26™ should they qualify, Mosquera recently told FIFA that he believes Los Canaleros have what it takes to excel in Chile.
“I think this group is up for grabs for any of the four,” said Mosquera. “The one that commits the fewest errors is the one that will advance. Our coach always reminds us that when we are playing well, we can take on anyone, so we have that well in mind.”
One to watch: Martin Krug
Born in Chicago in the USA to a Panamanian mother, Krug is one of the most promising centre-backs in the Concacaf region. The 19-year-old is on the verge of making his first team debut with Spanish side Levante and displays a maturity beyond his years on the pitch, exuding calm on the ball and precision when playing out of the back.
Krug has a healthy knack of anticipating danger and rarely puts a wrong foot forward when going in on a 50-50 challenge or elevating for aerial duels, leading many Panama fans to call for his inclusion on the senior team roster for September’s crucial World Cup qualifiers
He already boasts FIFA tournament experience, having been a part of the Panama team at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Indonesia in 2023 where he played with his twin brother Freddy. Another global stage awaits in Chile.
Photos courtesy of Concacaf and FEPAFUT
