The final individual World Cup preview for the teams competing in New Jersey: Panama, who will close out their group stage campaign against England at NYNJ Stadium on Sunday, June 27. This post, like all of our World Cup team previews, is free to read, but we'd appreciate it if you contributed to our site's sustainability by becoming a paid subscriber, or by making a one-time donation.
"We're not afraid of anyone. We want to compete against whoever is in front of us."
Those are the words of Panama forward Ismael Diaz, speaking to reporters at the team's training camp in Ontario, Canada ahead of their 2026 World Cup opener.
After a disastrous debut on the world stage in the 2018 tournament, Panama is back for a second try. A win, or even a draw, would mean an improvement after going winless in Russia and scoring only two goals across three games while allowing 11, the worst of any nation at that tournament (including a 6-1 loss to England that was the largest for the European nation, with a Harry Kane hat trick helping him secure the Golden Boot at that tournament).
Manager Thomas Christiansen has helped develop The Canal Men (Los Canaleros) into a CONCACAF presence since joining, with runner-up results in the 2023 Gold Cup and 2024-25 Nations League. He and his experienced squad will need to play near perfectly to escape a difficult group featuring a former champion, runner-up, and a high-performing African power.
ELO Rating: 37th (one spot above the USMNT)
Group L: Panama, England, Croatia, Ghana
Group Schedule
vs Ghana, Wednesday, June 17, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 7:00 pm ET
vs Croatia, Tuesday, June 23, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 7:00 pm ET
vs England, Saturday, June 27, East Rutherford, New Jersey, 5:00 pm ET
At their last World Cup: Russia 2018, Group stage. 4th place in Group G, losses to Belgium, England, and Tunisia, -9 goal differential
Record in CONCACAF qualifying: 7W-3D-0L, +14 goal differential (19 gf/5 ga), 1st in both groups during the Second and Third Rounds of qualifying
Head Coach: Thomas Christiansen
Record with Panama: 49W-18D-24L
Preferred formation: 3-4-2-1
Nickname: Los Canaleros (The Canal Men), La Marea Roja (The Red Tide)
Pre-tournament vibe check
According to BetMGM, Panama's odds to win the World Cup are +250000 (2,500-1), meaning a successful $100 wager pays out $250,000. They are not viewed favorably by the oddsmakers. That said, the only Central American team in the World Cup's field of 48 does have positive momentum.
Since joining Panama in 2020 as manager, Thomas Christiansen has developed Los Canaleros into a tight defensive unit. The structure of Christiansen's 3-4-2-1 shifts into a 5-4-1 when defending, compacting itself and frustrating opponents. That requires discipline, and allows for Panama to break out on quick counters.
It's not the sexiest football, but it works. Going undefeated in a CONCACAF qualifying cycle held sans the three host nations, plus recent high-level wins in the Gold Cup have given fans hope this won't be a repeat of the disastrous 2018 World Cup debut. And Panamanians are traveling in high numbers according to The Guardian, who reported that "Copa Airlines – who flew the team out in a red and white plane – are putting on special flights to the US, Canada and Mexico."
There's also the fact that the US president has made public overtures about "taking back" the Panama Canal in recent years, which did not go over well with the country's populace. So this tournament in the United States brings with it that extra bit of unease and temptation to prove something.
Who to watch
Former Red Bull New York right-back Michael Amir Murillo has 94 caps with Panama and experience playing professional soccer in Central America, North America, and Europe. When he joined MLS in 2017, he quickly became one of the best wingbacks in the league and earned a spot on Panama's 2018 World Cup team.
He's still stellar at overlapping runs and his 1-v-1 defending against opposing offenses in the box will make it challenge to attack from the sides. On the ball, he's creative and provides the width and quick attacking transitions that can catch bigger teams off guard, not unlike what they did to the USMNT in the 2023 Gold Cup semifinals. His quickness from his RBNY days isn't all there, but he can still burst out at times.
Murillo also has some things to prove. Earlier this year while with Olympique de Marseille in France, then head coach Roberto De Zerbi openly blasted the defender to the press and eventually paved the way for his transfer to Beşiktaş in Türkiye.
X-factors
Midfielder Adalberto "Coco" Carrasquilla is a key part of the midfield, better described as the heartbeat of the entire Panama Starting XI, playing a huge role in progressing play forward.
After just over three seasons spent with Houston Dynamo FC, Coco made the jump south of the boarder to join Pumas UNAM of Liga MX in 2025. Since then, he's developed into one of the key players on a squad that reached the final of the 2026 Liga MX Clausura. He's fluid with the ball, dribbling around opponents on attack and sticking next to them while defending. The dude also has some of the best hair in this tournament.
The two things that will be key factors for Panama: Can the 2024 CONCACAF Player of the Year stay out of the referee's books, and is he at 100% fitness? Carrasquilla has committed more fouls than any of his teammates since joining Pumas, and finished in the top 10 for most fouls across all of Liga MX. He was also shown a red card when playing against the USMNT during the 2024 Gold Cup.
Carrasquilla is also listed as questionable for Panama's opening match against Ghana on Wednesday, June 17, recovering from a groin injury that he suffered in the Clausura final. However, he was recently spotted participating in team training up in Canada, so his availability could set the tone for Panama in the group stage.
The full 26-player roster
Goalkeepers: Orlando Mosquera (Al-Fayha FC), Luis Mejía (Club Nacional), César Samudio (CD Marathon)
Defenders: César Blackman (Slovan Bratislava), Jorge Gutiérrez (Deportivo La Guaira), Amir Murillo (Besiktas), Fidel Escobar (Deportivo Saprissa), Andrés Andrade (LASK), Edgardo Fariña (FC Pari Nizhniy Novgorod), José Córdoba (Norwich City), Eric Davis (CD Plaza Amador), Jiovani Ramos (Academia Puerto Cabello), Roderick Miller (Turan Tovuz)
Midfielders: Aníbal Godoy (San Diego FC), Adalberto Carrasquilla (UNAM Pumas), Carlos Harvey (Minnesota United FC), Cristian Martínez (Ironi Kiryat Shmona), José Luis Rodríguez (FC Juarez), Cesar Yanis (CD Cobresal), Yoel Bárcenas (Mazatlan FC), Alberto Quintero (CD Plaza Amador), Azarías Londoño (CD Universidad Catolica)
Forwards: Ismael Díaz (Club Leon FC), Cecilio Waterman (Universidad de Concepcion), José Fajardo (CD Universidad Catolica), Tomás Rodríguez (Deportivo Saprissa)
Predicted Starting XI
