Thomas Christiansen named Panama’s 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on May 26. The headline was a two-part verdict: 38-year-old Alberto Quintero, who missed 2018 through injury, gets his tournament at last. Kadir Barría, 18, was cut. Christiansen backed the experienced core over youth.
Panama arrive ranked 33rd as of April 2026, heading into their second-ever World Cup. Captain Aníbal Godoy holds 157 caps, a national record. The squad spans MLS, Latin American leagues, and clubs in Turkey, Austria, Slovakia, England, and Russia.
Here is your full Panama World Cup Squad 2026 list, schedule, and key player breakdown for the 2026 tournament.
Panama 26-Player Squad for World Cup 2026
| Position | Player | Club | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Luis Mejía | Nacional | 35 |
| GK | Orlando Mosquera | Al-Fayha | 31 |
| GK | César Samudio | Marathón | 32 |
| DF | Amir Murillo | Beşiktaş | 30 |
| DF | José Córdoba | Norwich City | 25 |
| DF | César Blackman | Slovan Bratislava | 28 |
| DF | Andrés Andrade | LASK | 27 |
| DF | Éric Davis | Plaza Amador | 35 |
| DF | Roderick Miller | Turan Tovuz | 34 |
| DF | Jiovany Ramos | Puerto Cabello | 29 |
| DF | Jorge Gutiérrez | Deportivo La Guaira | 27 |
| DF | Fidel Escobar | Saprissa | 31 |
| DF | Edgardo Fariña | Pari Nizhny Novgorod | 24 |
| MF | Aníbal Godoy (C) | San Diego FC | 36 |
| MF | Adalberto Carrasquilla | UNAM | 27 |
| MF | Cristian Martínez | Ironi Kiryat Shmona | 29 |
| MF | Carlos Harvey | Minnesota United | 26 |
| MF | José Luis Rodríguez | Juárez | 27 |
| MF | César Yanis | Cobresal | 30 |
| MF | Yoel Bárcenas | Unattached | 32 |
| MF | Alberto Quintero | Plaza Amador | 38 |
| MF | Azarías Londoño | Universidad Católica | 24 |
| FW | Ismael Díaz | León | 29 |
| FW | José Fajardo | Universidad Católica | 32 |
| FW | Tomás Rodríguez | Saprissa | 27 |
| FW | Cecilio Waterman | Universidad de Concepción | 35 |
For all 48 team rosters, see our World Cup 2026 squads page.
Quick Stats
The key numbers from Christiansen’s 26-man selection.
- Average age: 30.0 years
- Oldest player: Alberto Quintero (38)
- Youngest player: Edgardo Fariña (24)
- Most-capped player: Aníbal Godoy (157 caps)
- European-based players: 5 (Murillo, Córdoba, Blackman, Andrade, Fariña)
- MLS players: 2 (Godoy, Harvey)
- Liga MX players: 3 (Carrasquilla, Díaz, Rodríguez)
Key Players to Watch
Aníbal Godoy (C) | San Diego FC
Godoy is Panama’s record appearance holder with 157 caps and the squad’s defensive spine. The 36-year-old holding midfielder spent five years each at San Jose Earthquakes and Nashville SC in MLS before joining San Diego FC in 2025. He organises the press and keeps Panama compact without the ball. The system runs through him.
Adalberto Carrasquilla | UNAM
Carrasquilla is the creative engine and widely regarded as one of CONCACAF’s best midfielders. The 27-year-old Pumas UNAM player controls tempo and carries the ball past pressure. He suffered a groin injury in the Liga MX final days before the announcement. Christiansen included him anyway. His fitness for June 17 shapes everything Panama do with possession.
José Fajardo | Universidad Católica
Fajardo delivered Panama’s biggest qualifying moments. He scored the only goal away at El Salvador and the late winner that beat Guatemala 3-2 on the road in November 2025. The 32-year-old striker rises for Panama when the stakes are highest. He’s their most likely goalscorer against Ghana on June 17.
Amir Murillo | Beşiktaş
Murillo is Panama’s most established European defender and the team’s main right-flank threat. The 30-year-old right-back plays regularly in the Turkish Süper Lig and fits perfectly in Christiansen’s wingback-heavy system. He has been a fixture in the squad since Panama’s historic 2018 World Cup debut and brings irreplaceable tournament experience to the back line.
Alberto Quintero | Plaza Amador
Quintero is the squad’s emotional story. The 38-year-old winger was named in Panama’s 2018 World Cup squad before injury ruled him out just before the tournament. Eight years on, Christiansen handed him a second chance. He won’t start every game, but his dressing-room experience and ability to change a match from the bench give Panama a veteran card few opponents plan for.
Panama World Cup 2026 Schedule
Panama play two group matches in Toronto and the third in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Times are in Eastern Time (ET) and Panama Standard Time (UTC-5) for fans at home.
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Kickoff (ET) | Kickoff (Panama) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 17, 2026 | Ghana | Toronto Stadium (BMO Field), Toronto, Canada | 7:00 PM | 6:00 PM |
| Jun 23, 2026 | Croatia | Toronto Stadium (BMO Field), Toronto, Canada | 7:00 PM | 6:00 PM |
| Jun 27, 2026 | England | New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium), East Rutherford, NJ | 5:00 PM | 4:00 PM |
Panama doesn’t observe daylight saving time, so local times run one hour behind US Eastern throughout the tournament. Check the full 2026 World Cup schedule for knockout round dates.
How Panama Qualified for World Cup 2026
Panama swept the first CONCACAF qualifying round against Nicaragua, Guyana, Montserrat, and Belize: four wins from four, 12 points from 12. The final round placed them in Group A alongside Suriname, El Salvador, and Guatemala.
The campaign started poorly. Panama drew 0-0 away in Suriname in September 2025 and 1-1 at home against Guatemala days later. José Fajardo broke the stalemate with the winner at El Salvador in October, then struck again to win 3-2 in Guatemala in November. Ismael Díaz’s late equaliser in between saved a crucial home draw against Suriname.
On November 19, 2025, Panama beat El Salvador 3-0 at home while Suriname collapsed, losing 3-1 in Guatemala on the same matchday. Both results arrived together. Panama topped CONCACAF Group A and secured their place at 2026.
Head Coach: Thomas Christiansen
Thomas Christiansen was born in Hadsund, Denmark on March 11, 1973, but grew up in Spain and played his entire career there, including time at Barcelona. He earned two international caps for Spain in 1993. He was appointed Panama coach on July 23, 2020, making it his first senior international role.
He managed AEK Larnaca and APOEL Nicosia in Cyprus, winning the domestic title with APOEL in 2017, then took charge of Leeds United and Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium. With Panama he has set the national record for most international matches managed. His preferred system is a 4-2-3-1 or 3-4-3, built on physical pressing and fast transitions through the flanks. After naming the 2026 squad he said: “We want to make history, we want to do something beautiful and improve on what we did before.”
Group L at a Glance
Panama are in Group L alongside England, Croatia, and Ghana. Here’s how the group looks heading into the tournament.
| Team | FIFA Ranking | World Cup Appearances | Best Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | 4th | 16 (1930–2022) | Winner (1966) |
| Croatia | 10th | 6 (1998–2022) | Runner-up (2018) |
| Ghana | 72nd | 4 (2006–2022) | Quarterfinals (2010) |
| Panama | 33rd | 1 (2018) | Group stage (2018) |
England and Panama rankings from the April 1, 2026 FIFA update. Croatia and Ghana rankings from November 2025. World Cup appearances are pre-2026 figures.
England and Croatia are clear favourites to advance. Ghana is the realistic target for Panama’s first World Cup win. England beat Panama 6-1 at Russia 2018, Panama’s only previous World Cup encounter with any of these three opponents. Panama have never played Croatia or Ghana competitively. See the full breakdown at the 2026 World Cup groups hub.
FAQ About Panama World Cup Squad 2026
What is Panama’s nickname?
Panama’s national team is called Los Canaleros, a reference to the Panama Canal workers. The name has become a badge of national pride as the team grew into one of CONCACAF’s most consistent qualifiers.
What is Panama’s best-ever World Cup result?
Panama’s best result is the group stage at Russia 2018. They lost all three matches but scored the first goal in their World Cup history when Felipe Baloy netted in the 6-1 defeat against England, and added a second through José Rodríguez in the 2-1 loss to Tunisia.
How many times has Panama qualified for the World Cup?
Panama have qualified for the FIFA World Cup twice: Russia 2018 and the 2026 tournament in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The 2026 edition is their second-ever appearance.
What formation does Panama play under Thomas Christiansen?
Christiansen uses a 4-2-3-1 or flexible 3-4-3. Both systems use wingbacks for width in transitions. The midfield presses physically and Panama counter-attack quickly through the flanks when they win the ball.
What is Panama’s FIFA ranking going into the 2026 World Cup?
Panama are ranked 33rd as of the April 1, 2026 FIFA update. They enter Group L as the lowest-ranked side, behind England (4th), Croatia (10th), and Ghana (72nd).
Panama’s World Cup 2026 Hopes
The Panama World Cup Squad 2026 isn’t built to shock anyone. It’s organised, hard to break down, and capable of a goal when an opening arrives. Christiansen’s group won’t match England or Croatia for individual quality. It doesn’t need to. It needs to beat Ghana on June 17.
Eight third-placed teams advance to the Round of 32. One win could make history for this squad. Carrasquilla fit, Fajardo clinical, Godoy marshalling the press. That’s the formula. June 17 is where it starts.
