In Russia in 2018, Panama played their first World Cup game against Belgium and lost 3-0. They played England three days later and lost 6-1. They played Tunisia in the final group game, lost 2-1, and went home having scored once and conceded 11 goals across three matches. They finished bottom of their group without a point.
None of that diminished what it meant. Panama had qualified for the World Cup for the first time in their history. They had stood in the tunnel alongside Belgium, England, Tunisia. The occasion was the point. The results were secondary.
Eight years later they are back. Thomas Christiansen — who was there in 2018 and is still there now — named his 26 on Monday at the Administration Building of the Panama Canal. A former Barcelona forward who came through La Masia, Christiansen has built Panama into one of CONCACAF's most possession-oriented sides: second in the qualifying field for ball retention at 61.5%, a number that reflects eight years of patient, progressive work. "We want to make history," he said. "We want to do something beautiful and improve on what we did before."
Carrasquilla
Carrasquilla: The Straw That Stirs the Drink
FIFA's framing of this squad leads with Adalberto Carrasquilla, and the framing is correct. The Pumas UNAM midfielder is the creative connection between Panama's defence and attack — the player who makes the build-up philosophy work in practice. He is appearing in his first World Cup despite being the team's most important outfield player. He arrived in the squad carrying an injury from Sunday's Liga MX final defeat to Cruz Azul. Christiansen judged him fit enough to travel. The decision will be tested in training camp.
Godoy and the Spine That Hasn't Changed
Aníbal Godoy is 36, plays in MLS for San Diego FC, and holds Panama's record for international appearances — 159 caps, accumulated over a career that has made him the constant thread through everything Christiansen has built. He is not the most glamorous player in this squad. That is not what he is for. He is the midfield anchor, the defensive platform, the player who slows matches down when they need slowing and disrupts opponents when they need disrupting. At 36, he is here again.
The defensive spine around him is recognizable from 2018: Fidel Escobar now at Saprissa, Eric Davis at Plaza Amador, Amir Murillo at right back — Beşiktaş now, after time at Anderlecht and Marseille — and goalkeeper Luis Mejía.
The Ghost of 2018
Alberto Quintero was supposed to go to Russia. He was in the squad, in the photograph, in the preparations — and then a fractured foot sustained on the eve of the tournament removed him. He missed Panama's first World Cup. He is now at Plaza Amador and lines up in midfield. He is in this squad. Some absences take eight years to correct.
José Córdoba of Norwich City is among the younger faces — 24, a right back who has established himself in the Championship. Tomás Rodríguez at Saprissa brings further attacking options alongside Ismael Díaz (León), Cecilio Waterman (Universidad de Concepción), and José Fajardo (Universidad Católica) — four forwards capable, per FIFA, of scoring in bunches when the counter-attacking moments arrive.
Group L
Ghana on June 17 in Toronto. Croatia on June 23 in Toronto. England on June 27 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford. The final group game against England — the pre-tournament favorites in this group — is in the same stadium as the World Cup final itself.
England are the pre-tournament favorites in this group and will be heavy favorites in that fixture. Croatia, who reached the final in 2018 and third place in 2022, bring Luka Modrić — still here at his fifth tournament — and a squad that has been to these stages before. Ghana are the third team, which makes the June 17 opener the realistic target for Panama's first World Cup point.
Whether they get it depends on how well the defensive structure Christiansen has spent eight years refining holds against opponents who will press for the opener. Panama conceded twice in qualifying on average when they were beaten — the defensive numbers suggest a team capable of staying in matches rather than being overrun. The 2018 comparison is less flattering. The 2026 squad is better than the 2018 squad. The groups are harder.
What Improvement Looks Like
The co-hosting of this tournament has changed the stakes for CONCACAF nations in ways that are mostly felt rather than stated. Panama and the United States are in the same region. Canada is a co-host. The infrastructure, the attention, the sponsorship — all of it has flowed into CONCACAF football in the four years since the bid was confirmed. Panama are a beneficiary. Their qualifying campaign was more assured than their path to Russia. Their squad is more experienced. Their coach knows his personnel better than any manager in world football knows theirs, having had eight years and over a hundred matches with the core group.
Improvement against England and Croatia means keeping it close. Against Ghana it might mean something more. Christiansen has earned the right to believe it is possible. His 26 players have been told as much.
Panama World Cup 2026 Squad
Goalkeepers: Orlando Mosquera (Al-Fayha), Luis Mejía (Club Nacional), César Samudio (CD Marathón)
Defenders: César Blackman (Slovan Bratislava), Jorge Gutiérrez (Deportivo La Guaira), Amir Murillo (Beşiktaş), Fidel Escobar (Saprissa), Andrés Andrade (LASK), Edgardo Fariña (Pari Nizhny Novgorod), José Córdoba (Norwich City), Éric Davis (Plaza Amador), Jiovany Ramos (Puerto Cabello), Roderick Miller (Turan Tovuz)
Midfielders: Aníbal Godoy (San Diego FC, captain), Adalberto Carrasquilla (Pumas UNAM), Carlos Harvey (Minnesota United), Cristian Martínez (Ironi Kiryat Shmona), José Luis Rodríguez (Juárez), César Yanis (Cobresal), Yoel Bárcenas (Mazatlán), Alberto Quintero (Plaza Amador), Azarías Londoño (Universidad Católica)
Forwards: Ismael Díaz (León), Cecilio Waterman (Universidad de Concepción), José Fajardo (Universidad Católica), Tomás Rodríguez (Saprissa)
Coach: Thomas Christiansen | Group L: Ghana · England · Croatia