Panama at the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Panama finished first in CONCACAF Final Round Group A with a 3-3-0 record, qualifying directly alongside co-hosts Canada, Mexico and USA and the other group winners. The campaign was built on defensive solidity — they conceded only one goal in the second round, going 4-0-0 — and clinical finishing when it mattered most.

The decisive moments belong to José Fajardo. He scored the only goal in a crucial away win at El Salvador and then struck a late winner at Guatemala in November 2025 to keep Panama's qualification on course. Cecilio Waterman added two goals of his own. The squad also drew on momentum from the 2024 Copa América, where Panama beat the United States 2-1 in the group stage — one of their most celebrated results — with Fajardo again finding the net.

Christiansen, in charge since July 2020, has built the qualification squad around chemistry and experience rather than youth. The same core that got Panama to 2026 has been selected for the tournament, with only one significant omission drawing widespread reaction: 18-year-old Botafogo midfielder Kadir Barría, widely considered one of Panama's most exciting emerging talents, was left out in favour of experienced players who had contributed to the qualifying campaign.

The goalkeeping unit is led by Orlando Mosquera of Al Fayha in Saudi Arabia, with Luis Mejía of Nacional and César Samudio of Marathón providing cover. Mosquera has been Panama's first-choice keeper throughout the qualifying campaign and arrives at the tournament in form.

The defence of 13 players is the largest positional group in the squad, reflecting Christiansen's priority of defensive organisation. Amir Murillo anchors at right-back from Beşiktaş — the first Panamanian in the club's history. Fidel Escobar at Saprissa and Andrés Andrade at LASK bring additional European experience. César Blackman, José Córdoba at Norwich City and Édgar Fariña complete a defensive unit that Christiansen will ask to do the heavy work in games against England and Croatia.

Adalberto Carrasquilla holds the midfield together from Pumas UNAM, with Aníbal Godoy as the defensive anchor at 36. Carlos Harvey of Minnesota United and Yoel Bárcenas of Mazatlán provide width. César Yanis at Cobresal in Chile, Alberto Quintero at Plaza Amador and Azarias Londoño at Universidad Católica round out a midfield group that reflects how much of Panama's talent base sits in Central America and Liga MX rather than European football.

The attack is led by Ismael Díaz of León, who began his career with a trial at PSV and a loan at Porto before building his way through Ecuadorian and Mexican football to become the squad's most versatile forward option. Cecilio Waterman — whose late winner against the United States in the CONCACAF Nations League semifinal sent Panama to their first-ever Nations League final — and José Fajardo complete a forward group of four that is compact but functional. Quintero, the emotional heart of the squad at 38, is the fourth forward and the one the Panama public will want to see on the pitch.