Panama City (EFE) – Panama faces the 2026 World Cup with a combination of hope and realism.
The Canalera selection arrives consolidated as a competitive team in Concacaf, with a defined tactical identity and figures that sustain its growth, but still needs to make the leap to compete in a global tournament.
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El seleccionador de Panamá Thomas Christiansen, en una imagen de archivo. EFE/ Bienvenido Velasco
The coaching staff’s work and the physical condition of players like José Fajardo, Michael Amir Murillo, Adalberto Carrasquilla, and Ismael Díaz will be decisive in that challenge.
Paired in Group L alongside the selections of England, Croatia, and Ghana, Panama will face a major challenge from the initial phase: scoring goals against higher-ranked teams, without losing collective solidity.
Generational and Model Changes
CANALEROS COUNTDOWN
100
Days: The Canal Evolution
Panama CONCACAF CONSOLIDATED
Group LCHALLENGE MAYÚSCULO
Columns of La Roja
Adalberto Carrasquilla
Middle axis (Pumas, Mexico)
Ismael Díaz
Extreme with goal (U. Católica, ECU)
Michael Amir Murillo
Reference in defense (Marseille)
Eric Davis
Leader of the defense and set pieces
2020
Era Christiansen
3-0
vs El Salvador
2nd
Historic World Cup
2018
Debut in Russia
The New Model
STRENGTH
CENTRAL MIDFIELDER
Godoy, Carrasquilla, and Martínez: Solid balance.
CHALLENGE
CREATIVITY
Increase offensive production and scoring share.
Group L: World Elite
A major global hierarchy challenge
England
Croatia
Ghana
“Mark hierarchy selections”
Panama arrives in 2026 with a more technical and flexible model, ready to compete with greater aspirations.
PANAMA 2026 • 100 DAYS • EFE AGENCY • PANAMA 2026 • 100 DAYS • EFE AGENCY •
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Debut in Russia
