Team profile
Panama
Projected squad breakdown, formation notes, and match context for Panama heading into the 2026 World Cup.
Projected XI
4-3-3Projected starters with position context.
Team analysis
Panama enters the 2026 World Cup under the guidance of Thomas Christiansen, ranked #35 by FIFA. This marks a significant achievement for a nation that continues to develop its footballing identity on the global stage. With a squad that blends domestic league talent with players plying their trade in various international leagues, Panama is poised to make a competitive showing in Group L. The team faces formidable opponents in Croatia, England, Ghana, and Ukraine, each presenting unique challenges. Christiansen's experience and tactical acumen will be crucial as Panama looks to navigate this tough group. The squad's composition reflects a mix of youthful exuberance and seasoned veterans, providing a balanced approach to the tournament. Panama's journey to the World Cup has been marked by resilience and strategic growth, and they will aim to leverage this momentum against some of the world's best teams.
Tactical breakdown
Panama is likely to adopt a 4-3-3 formation, which allows them to maintain defensive solidity while offering flexibility in attack. Under Christiansen, Panama has emphasized a disciplined defensive structure, relying on the central defensive partnership of Andrés Andrade and José Córdoba to provide stability. The full-backs, Amir Murillo and Omar Valencia, are expected to support the attack, offering width and crossing opportunities. In midfield, Aníbal Godoy's experience will be pivotal in orchestrating play and breaking up opposition attacks. The midfield trio will likely focus on maintaining possession and transitioning quickly to exploit spaces left by opponents. Offensively, Panama will look to utilize the pace and creativity of Rafael Mosquera and Azarias Londoño on the wings, with Eduardo Guerrero spearheading the attack. The team will aim to capitalize on set-pieces and counter-attacks, leveraging their physicality and speed.
Key players
Eduardo Guerrero will be a crucial figure for Panama, leading the line with his goal-scoring prowess and ability to hold up play. His performances will be vital in breaking down tough defenses. Aníbal Godoy, with his wealth of experience, will anchor the midfield, providing leadership and tactical awareness. His ability to read the game and distribute the ball effectively will be essential. In defense, Andrés Andrade's composure and aerial ability will be key in organizing the backline and thwarting opposition attacks. Amir Murillo's versatility as a right-back will allow him to contribute both defensively and offensively, making him a vital component in Christiansen's tactical setup. These players will need to perform at their best to help Panama navigate the challenges of Group L.
Group stage outlook
Panama faces a challenging group stage in the 2026 World Cup, drawn alongside Croatia, England, Ghana, and Ukraine in Group L. Each opponent presents a unique set of challenges, with England and Croatia boasting world-class talent and tournament experience. Ghana's physicality and Ukraine's technical prowess add further complexity to Panama's task. For Panama to advance to the knockout stages, they will need to secure points against at least two of these teams, likely requiring a combination of disciplined defending and opportunistic attacking. A realistic path to the knockout round would involve securing a win against Ghana or Ukraine and potentially drawing against one of the group favorites. Panama's chances hinge on their ability to execute their game plan effectively and capitalize on any opportunities that arise.
Full squad

C. Samudio
Panama

E. Roberts
Panama

Eddie Roberts
Estudiantes de Mérida

JD Gunn
New England Revolution

L. Mejía
Panama

Luis Mejía
Club Nacional de Football 2024

Marcos Antonio de León Reyes
Panama

O. Mosquera
Panama

Orlando Mosquera
Al Fayha 2024

A. Andrade
Panama

A. Arroyo
Panama

A. DÃaz
Panama

A. Herbert
Panama

A. Modelo
Panama

A. Murillo
Panama

Amir Murillo
Beşiktaş JK 2026

Andrés Andrade
LASK Linz 2023

C. Blackman
Panama

C. Harvey
Panama

Carlos Harvey
Minnesota United FC 2024

É. Davis
Panama

E. Fariña
Panama

F. Escobar
Panama

G. Brown
Panama

I. Anderson
Panama

J. Córdoba
Panama

J. Gutiérrez
Panama

J. Hall

J. Ramos
Panama

J. Rivera

José Córdoba
Norwich City 2024

K. Galván

Martín Wilhelm Krug
Levante UD 2025

O. Córdoba
Panama

O. Davis
Panama

Omar Valencia
New York Red Bulls 2024

R. Peralta

R. Perdomo
Panama

Á. Caicedo

A. Carrasquilla
Panama

A. Godoy
Panama

A. Knight

Aimar Sánchez
New York Red Bulls II

Aníbal Godoy
San Diego FC 2024

C. Martinez

Cristian Jesús Martínez
Panama

D. Aparicio

Daniel Aparicio
Real CD España

Diego Ezequiel Valanta Del Busto
Panama

E. Carrasquilla
Panama

E. Cedeño
Panama

Edward Cedeño
Albacete Balompié 2026

G. Herbert
Panama

I. Gudiño
Panama

J. Rodríguez
Panama

J. Welch
Panama

Javier Rivera
CD Marathón

Jorge Gutiérrez
Deportivo La Guaira

Juan Hall
Sporting San Miguelito

Kevin Galván
San Francisco FC

L. Morales
Panama

Luis Asprilla
Tauro FC

M. Sanchez

O. López
Panama

Orman Davis
CA Independiente

R. Mosquera
Panama

R. Phillips
Panama

Richard Peralta
Monagas SC

V. Griffith
Panama

Vlair Simmons
Panama

A. Frías
Panama

A. Herman
Panama

A. Londoño
Panama

A. Quintero

Amable Pinzón
Panama

Azarias Londoño
Universidad Católica del Ecuador 2025

C. Waterman
Panama

C. Yanis
Panama

E. Guerrero
Panama

E. Rose
Panama

Eduardo Guerrero
Dynamo Kyiv 2024

Everardo Rose
Universidad Católica del Ecuador 2026

G. Herrera
Panama

H. Hurtado
Panama

I. Díaz
Panama

J. Fajardo
Panama

J. Murillo
Panama

José Fajardo
Universidad Católica del Ecuador 2025

K. Barria

K. Lenis
Panama

O. Browne
Panama

O. Castillo
Panama

Rafael Mosquera
New York Red Bulls 2025

Reymundo Enrique Williams Araúz
Panama

T. Rodríguez
Panama

V. Ávila
Panama

Y. Bárcenas
Panama
Match context
Scheduled matches (earliest first)Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos, Santiago de Chile
SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California
SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California
Q2 Stadium, Austin, Texas
Qualification snapshot
Preparation and route context
Recent warm-up form plus the qualification path that led Panama into the tournament.
- Route
- FIFA World Cup Qualifying - Concacaf
- Qualification record
- 5W-3D-0L
- Latest qualifier
- Wednesday, November 19, 2025
- Latest friendly
- Friday, January 23, 2026
W vs El Salvador
L vs Mexico
Recent friendlies
International warm-up record: 0W-1D-4L
Friday, January 23, 2026
PanamavsMexico
L0-1Sunday, January 18, 2026
PanamavsBolivia
D1-1Saturday, February 8, 2025
PanamavsChile
L1-6Tuesday, October 15, 2024
PanamavsCanada
L1-2Sunday, October 13, 2024
PanamavsUnited States
L0-2
Partner picks
Fan shop
Official kits, accessories, and fan gear for Panama supporters.