Panama World Cup 2026: Big underdogs unlikely to shock Group L

Panama are giant underdogs in Group L, but they are not World Cup debutants, having featured at the competition for the first time in Russia 2018.

With three teams progressing from eight groups, one win could be enough to take Panama through. Below are my Panama World Cup 2026 predictions, including a detailed look at their squad.

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Goalkeepers: Orlando Mosquera (Al-Fayha), Luis Mejia (Nacional), Cesar Samudio (Marathon)

Defenders: Cesar Blackman (Slovan Bratislava), Jorge Gutierrez (Deportivo La Guaira), Amir Murillo (Besiktas), Fidel Escobar (Saprissa), Andres Andrade (LASK), Edgardo Farina (Pari Nizhny Novgorod), Jose Cordoba (Norwich City), Eric Davis (Plaza Amador), Jiovany Ramos (Puerto Cabello), Roderick Miller (Turan Tovuz)

Midfielders: Anibal Godoy (San Diego FC), Adalberto Carrasquilla (UNAM), Carlos Harvey (Minnesota United), Cristian Martinez (Ironi Kiryat Shmona), Jose Luis Rodriguez (Juarez), Cesar Yanis (Cobresal), Yoel Barcenas (Mazatlan), Alberto Quintero (Plaza Amador), Azarias Londono (Universidad Catolica)

Forwards: Ismael Diaz (Leon), Cecilio Waterman (Universidad de Concepcion), Jose Fajardo (Universidad Catolica), Tomas Rodriguez (Saprissa)

Thomas Christiansen has been a steady hand in charge of Panama since 2020, and having missed out on the Qatar World Cup, they are now back on the world stage.

Just like in 2018, they have been paired with England in the group, and it is a tough group for the CONCACAF qualifiers. It also is worth noting that they topped their qualification group, winning three and drawing three in their final group stage, against El Salvador, Suriname and Guatemala.

World Cup Odds

It remains the weakest segment of FIFA qualification for the World Cup, but they got the job done and will hope to cause a few more shocks in North America. 

Their squad is one that has plenty of experience, and some quality, I mean they are ranked 33rd in the world after an unbeaten qualification campaign. 

Norwich’s Jose Cordoba is included, along with 38-year-old Alberto Quintero, 35-year-old Cecilio Waterman and 36-year-old captain Anibal Godoy. This is certainly a squad packed with experience and know-how, but potentially lacking in top talent. 

Group L Fixtures:

17 June 7pm local (18 June 12am BST) - vs Ghana (Toronto)

23 June 7pm local (24 June 12am BST) - vs Croatia (Toronto)

27 June 5pm local (10pm BST) - vs England (New Jersey)

Key Player: Amir Murillo

I’m fairly excited about seeing Amir Murilo on the world stage. He’s had a decent season, having played seven times in this season’s Champions League for Marseille, before a £5m move in January to Besiktas. 

The right-back is set to play a key role for his country here, possibly at right wing-back, and will have to get through a lot of work in the USA heat. He’s already got 91 caps for his country, and is the only one of this Panama side playing in a top European league.

Football Odds

Prediction: Bottom of the group

They are the minnows of this group, and it would take something special for them to pick up even a point in North America. They scored twice at the 2018 World Cup and if they can bag another two goals here it would be a major success. 

It would be a massive shock to see them pick up a point, let alone make it out of the group up against England, Croatia and Ghana. For me, it looks like 0 points for Panama.

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