Panama
World Cup 2026 Group L — fixtures, standings, and knockout path
The 2026 spine: Murillo’s leadership and Waterman’s saves
Andrés Andrade (Arminia Bielefeld) anchors the defense, while Orlando Mosquera (Always Ready) and Luis Mejía (Nacional) battle for the starting keeper spot. Up front, 34-year-old Cecilio Waterman (Plaza Amador) remains a target man, but younger options like José Fajardo (Cusco FC) must step up. The midfield relies on Adalberto Carrasquilla (Houston Dynamo) – their most technically gifted player since Blas Pérez retired.
Group stage déjà vu with higher stakes
Panama’s 2018 campaign saw a 6-1 thrashing by England and losses to Belgium and Tunisia. In 2026, they’ll likely face similar firepower but benefit from CONCACAF-hosted games. Their Gold Cup 2023 semifinal run showed defensive grit – they held the US to 1-1 before losing on penalties. Manager Thomas Christiansen favors a compact 5-4-1, banking on set pieces and counters.
From Aníbal Godoy’s shove to 2026 redemption
Panama’s World Cup history is brief but fiery. Their 2018 campaign included Godoy’s viral shove on Harry Kane and Felipe Baloy’s emotional goal against England. Qualifying for 2026 was smoother – they finished fourth in the Octagonal, beating the US 1-0 in Panama City. Now they aim to prove 2018 wasn’t just a fluke.
Knockout route: top two qualify automatically; a third-place finish may still advance as one of the eight best third-placed teams. View Group L hub →
Group standings
Fixtures & results
| Match | Date | Group | Score | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Ghana vs PanamaEstadio Toronto | Thu, Jun 18, 2026 · 00:00 ET | l | – | Scheduled |
Panama vs  CroatiaEstadio Toronto | Wed, Jun 24, 2026 · 00:00 ET | l | – | Scheduled |
Panama vs  EnglandEstadio New York/New Jersey | Sat, Jun 27, 2026 · 22:00 ET | l | – | Scheduled |
Frequently asked questions
Has Panama ever won a World Cup match?+
No. They lost all three games in 2018 (vs Belgium, England, Tunisia).
Who is Panama’s all-time top scorer?+
Luis Tejada (43 goals), retired in 2021. Current leader is Gabriel Torres (22 goals).
Which MLS players are in Panama’s squad?+
Adalberto Carrasquilla (Houston Dynamo), Aníbal Godoy (Nashville SC), and Eric Davis (FC Dallas).
What stadium will Panama play in during 2026?+
Unconfirmed, but likely at least one game in Mexico due to CONCACAF scheduling.
How did Panama qualify for 2026?+
Automatically as CONCACAF hosts (USA/Mexico/Canada), but they also finished 4th in the 2022 Octagonal.