Panama at the FIFA World Cup

Panama national team at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Panama has qualified twice for the FIFA World Cup, in 2018 and 2026. In 2018, they directly qualified after securing the third spot in the hexagonal on the final round. This meant that after 10 failed qualification campaigns, Panama appeared at the World Cup for the first time in their history.^[1]

Overall record

FIFA World Cup record										Qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Squad	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1930	Not a FIFA member									Not a FIFA member
1934	Not a FIFA member									Not a FIFA member
1938	Did not enter									Declined participation
1950
1954
1958
1962
1966
1970
1974
1978	Did not qualify									6	1	1	4	7	21
1982										8	0	1	7	3	24
1986										2	0	0	2	0	4
1990										2	0	1	1	1	3
1994										2	1	0	1	2	5
1998										8	3	2	3	14	13
2002										10	3	1	6	9	19
2006										18	4	4	10	19	32
2010										2	1	0	1	2	3
2014										20	8	7	5	31	18
2018	Group stage	32nd	3	0	0	3	2	11	Squad	16	6	5	5	16	15
2022	Did not qualify									20	11	4	5	38	21
2026	Group stage	43rd	3	0	0	3	0	4	Squad	10	7	3	0	19	5
2030	To be determined									To be determined
2034	To be determined									To be determined
Total	Group stage	2/21	6	0	0	6	2	15	—	124	45	29	50	161	183

*Draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out.

Russia 2018

Following a 2–1 home win over Costa Rica in the final round of the hexagonal, Panama secured their spot in Russia 2018, finishing third in the CONCACAF qualification.^[2]^[3] Panama finished 32nd (last) in the World Cup.

Group stage

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Belgium	3	3	0	9	2	+7	9	Advance to knockout stage
2	England	3	2	1	8	3	+5	6	Advance to knockout stage
3	Tunisia	3	1	2	5	8	−3	3
4	Panama	3	0	3	2	11	−9	0

Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers

18 June 2018

18:00 MSK (UTC+3)

Belgium	3–0	Panama
Mertens 47' Lukaku 69', 75'	^{[Report 1]}

Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi

Attendance: 43,257

Referee: Janny Sikazwe (Zambia)

24 June 2018

15:00 MSK (UTC+3)

England	6–1	Panama
Stones 8', 40' Kane 22' (pen.), 45+1' (pen.), 62' Lingard 36'	^{[Report 2]}	Baloy 78'

Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod

Attendance: 43,319

Referee: Gehad Grisha (Egypt)

28 June 2018

21:00 MSK (UTC+3)

Panama	1–2	Tunisia
Meriah 33' (o.g.)	^{[Report 3]}	F. Ben Youssef 51' Khazri 66'

Mordovia Arena, Saransk

Attendance: 37,168

Referee: Nawaf Shukralla (Bahrain)

United States/Canada/Mexico 2026

Cristian Martínez from Panama was voted Most Valuable Player in the match against Croatia.^[4] Panama gave a daring fight against all opponents, which were incumbents in the World Cup.^[5] Dalic from the Croatia team recognized Panama as a difficult team.^[6] Panama finished 43rd in the World Cup, and was the only team in the World Cup to not score any goals.^[7]

Group stage

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	England	3	2	1	0	6	2	+4	7	Advance to knockout stage
2	Croatia	3	2	0	1	5	5	0	6
3	Ghana	3	1	1	1	2	2	0	4
4	Panama	3	0	0	3	0	4	−4	0

Source: FIFA

June 17, 2026

7:00 p.m. UTC−4

Ghana	1–0	Panama
Yirenkyi 90+5'	^{[Report 4]}

BMO Field, Toronto

Attendance: 42,942

Referee: Glenn Nyberg (Sweden)

June 23, 2026

7:00 p.m. UTC−4

Panama	0–1	Croatia
	^{[Report 5]}	Budimir 54'

BMO Field, Toronto

Attendance: 43,036

Referee: Pierre Atcho (Gabon)

June 27, 2026

5:00 p.m. UTC−4

Panama	0–2	England
	^{[Report 6]}	Bellingham 62' Kane 67'

MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford

Attendance: 80,663

Referee: Abdulrahman Al-Jassim (Qatar)

Player records

Most appearances

Román Torres captained Panama in all three of their matches at the 2018 World Cup.

Yoel Bárcenas and José Luis Rodríguez were both fielded in all six of Panama's FIFA World Cup matches in 2018 and 2026, making each of them record World Cup players for their country.

Rank	Player	Matches	World Cups
1	Yoel Bárcenas	6	2018 and 2026
1	José Luis Rodríguez	6	2018 and 2026
3	Michael Amir Murillo	5	2018 and 2026
4	Eric Davis	4	2018 and 2026
	Fidel Escobar	4	2018 and 2026
	Aníbal Godoy	4	2018 and 2026
7	Gabriel Gómez	3	2018
	Jaime Penedo	3	2018
	Román Torres	3	2018
	Andrés Andrade	3	2026
	José Córdoba	3	2026
	Ismael Díaz	3	2026
	José Fajardo	3	2026
	Carlos Harvey	3	2026
	Azarias Londoño	3	2026
	Cristian Martínez	3	2026
	Orlando Mosquera	3	2026

Goalscorers

On 24 June 2018, while trailing 6–0 to England, Felipe Baloy scored off of a long free kick by Ricardo Ávila to record Panama's first ever World Cup goal.

Player	Goals	2018	2026
Felipe Baloy	1	1
Own goals	1	1
Total	2	2	0

References

↑ "The wildest night in CONCACAF history? How the U.S. exit played out". ESPN. 11 October 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
↑ "Phantom goal helps Panama beat Costa Rica, qualify for WC over U.S." ESPN. 10 October 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
↑ "Final-day drama leaves Panama smiling, USA despairing". FIFA.com. 10 October 2017. Archived from the original on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
↑ https://www.prensa.com/deportes/cristian-martinez-fue-mvp-en-la-derrota-de-panama-ante-croacia-en-el-mundial-2026/
↑ https://www.laestrella.com.pa/amp/deportes/futbol/medios-ingleses-elogian-a-panama-pese-a-la-derrota-contra-equipos-mejores-seras-castigado-LE23639828
↑ https://www.espn.com.pa/futbol/mundial/nota/_/id/16865570/zlatko-dalic-errores-croacia-y-aspectos-a-mejorar-ante-panama
↑ https://www.espn.com.pa/futbol/mundial/nota/_/id/16919759/panam-despedida-mundial-2026-sin-anotar-gol-y-sin-puntos÷

Reports

↑
- "Belgium vs Panama | First stage | 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia". FIFA. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
- "Match report – Group G – Belgium v Panama" (PDF). FIFA. 18 June 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 April 2026. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
↑
- "England vs Panama | First stage | 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia". FIFA. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
- "Match report – Group G – England v Panama" (PDF). FIFA. 24 June 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 April 2026. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
↑
- "Panama vs Tunisia | First stage | 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia". FIFA. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
- "Match report – Group G – Panama v Tunisia" (PDF). FIFA. 28 June 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 April 2026. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
↑
- "Ghana vs Panama | First Stage | FIFA World Cup 2026". FIFA. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
- "Match Report – Group L – Ghana v. Panama". FIFA. June 18, 2026. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
- "Post match summary report – Group L – Ghana v. Panama". FIFA. June 18, 2026. Retrieved June 19, 2026.
↑
- "Panama vs Croatia | First Stage | FIFA World Cup 2026". FIFA. Retrieved June 24, 2026.
- "Match Report – Group L – Panama v. Croatia". FIFA. June 24, 2026. Retrieved June 24, 2026.
- "Post match summary report – Group L – Panama v. Croatia". FIFA. June 24, 2026. Retrieved June 25, 2026.
↑
- "Panama vs England | First Stage | FIFA World Cup 2026". FIFA. Retrieved June 27, 2026.
- "Match Report – Group L – Panama v. England". FIFA. June 27, 2026. Retrieved June 27, 2026.
- "Post match summary report – Group L – Panama v. England". FIFA. June 28, 2026. Retrieved June 28, 2026.

External links

Panama at FIFA.com

[1] "The wildest night in CONCACAF history? How the U.S. exit played out". ESPN. 11 October 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2017.

[2] "Phantom goal helps Panama beat Costa Rica, qualify for WC over U.S." ESPN. 10 October 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2017.

[3] "Final-day drama leaves Panama smiling, USA despairing". FIFA.com. 10 October 2017. Archived from the original on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2017.

[7] ttps://www.prensa.com/deportes/cristian-martinez-fue-mvp-en-la-derrota-de-panama-ante-croacia-en-el-mundial-2026/

[8] ttps://www.laestrella.com.pa/amp/deportes/futbol/medios-ingleses-elogian-a-panama-pese-a-la-derrota-contra-equipos-mejores-seras-castigado-LE23639828

[9] ttps://www.espn.com.pa/futbol/mundial/nota/_/id/16865570/zlatko-dalic-errores-croacia-y-aspectos-a-mejorar-ante-panama

[10] ttps://www.espn.com.pa/futbol/mundial/nota/_/id/16919759/panam-despedida-mundial-2026-sin-anotar-gol-y-sin-puntos÷

[4] 
"Belgium vs Panama | First stage | 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia". FIFA. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
"Match report – Group G – Belgium v Panama" (PDF). FIFA. 18 June 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 April 2026. Retrieved 18 June 2018.

[mwAnc] "Belgium vs Panama | First stage | 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia". FIFA. Retrieved 1 May 2026.

[mwAn4] "Match report – Group G – Belgium v Panama" (PDF). FIFA. 18 June 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 April 2026. Retrieved 18 June 2018.

[5] 
"England vs Panama | First stage | 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia". FIFA. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
"Match report – Group G – England v Panama" (PDF). FIFA. 24 June 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 April 2026. Retrieved 24 June 2018.

[mwAo4] "England vs Panama | First stage | 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia". FIFA. Retrieved 1 May 2026.

[mwApU] "Match report – Group G – England v Panama" (PDF). FIFA. 24 June 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 April 2026. Retrieved 24 June 2018.

[6] 
"Panama vs Tunisia | First stage | 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia". FIFA. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
"Match report – Group G – Panama v Tunisia" (PDF). FIFA. 28 June 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 April 2026. Retrieved 28 June 2018.

[mwAqU] "Panama vs Tunisia | First stage | 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia". FIFA. Retrieved 1 May 2026.

[mwAqw] "Match report – Group G – Panama v Tunisia" (PDF). FIFA. 28 June 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 April 2026. Retrieved 28 June 2018.

[11] 
"Ghana vs Panama | First Stage | FIFA World Cup 2026". FIFA. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
"Match Report – Group L – Ghana v. Panama". FIFA. June 18, 2026. Retrieved June 18, 2026.
"Post match summary report – Group L – Ghana v. Panama". FIFA. June 18, 2026. Retrieved June 19, 2026.

[mwArw] "Ghana vs Panama | First Stage | FIFA World Cup 2026". FIFA. Retrieved June 18, 2026.

[mwAr4] "Match Report – Group L – Ghana v. Panama". FIFA. June 18, 2026. Retrieved June 18, 2026.

[mwAsA] "Post match summary report – Group L – Ghana v. Panama". FIFA. June 18, 2026. Retrieved June 19, 2026.

[12] 
"Panama vs Croatia | First Stage | FIFA World Cup 2026". FIFA. Retrieved June 24, 2026.
"Match Report – Group L – Panama v. Croatia". FIFA. June 24, 2026. Retrieved June 24, 2026.
"Post match summary report – Group L – Panama v. Croatia". FIFA. June 24, 2026. Retrieved June 25, 2026.

[mwAsg] "Panama vs Croatia | First Stage | FIFA World Cup 2026". FIFA. Retrieved June 24, 2026.

[mwAso] "Match Report – Group L – Panama v. Croatia". FIFA. June 24, 2026. Retrieved June 24, 2026.

[mwAsw] "Post match summary report – Group L – Panama v. Croatia". FIFA. June 24, 2026. Retrieved June 25, 2026.

[13] 
"Panama vs England | First Stage | FIFA World Cup 2026". FIFA. Retrieved June 27, 2026.
"Match Report – Group L – Panama v. England". FIFA. June 27, 2026. Retrieved June 27, 2026.
"Post match summary report – Group L – Panama v. England". FIFA. June 28, 2026. Retrieved June 28, 2026.

[mwAtQ] "Panama vs England | First Stage | FIFA World Cup 2026". FIFA. Retrieved June 27, 2026.

[mwAtY] "Match Report – Group L – Panama v. England". FIFA. June 27, 2026. Retrieved June 27, 2026.

[mwAtg] "Post match summary report – Group L – Panama v. England". FIFA. June 28, 2026. Retrieved June 28, 2026.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[Report 1]

[Report 2]

[Report 3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[Report 4]

[Report 5]

[Report 6]

Panama national football team
General	Federation History Managers
Stadiums	Estadio Rommel Fernández
Statistics	World Cup Gold Cup Copa América Honours
Players	Squad By appearances International players
Rivalries	Colombia Costa Rica Honduras
World Cup	2018 2026
Gold Cup	1963 1993 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 2021 2023 2025
Nations League Finals	2023 2025
Copa América	2016 2024
Other tournaments	Copa Centroamericana Pan American Games
Matches	2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup final 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup final 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup final 2025 CONCACAF Nations League final
Panamanian teams	Men's team U-23 U-20 U-17 U-15 Women's team WU-20 WU-17 Futsal Beach soccer

Countries at the FIFA World Cup
Team appearances All-time table
AFC	Australia¹ China Indonesia² Iran Iraq Japan Jordan Kuwait North Korea Qatar Saudi Arabia South Korea United Arab Emirates Uzbekistan²
CAF	Algeria Angola Cameroon Cape Verde DR Congo² Egypt Ghana Ivory Coast Morocco Nigeria Senegal South Africa Togo Tunisia
CONCACAF	Canada Costa Rica Cuba Curaçao El Salvador Haiti Honduras Jamaica Mexico Panama Trinidad and Tobago United States
CONMEBOL	Argentina Bolivia Brazil Chile Colombia Ecuador Paraguay Peru Uruguay
OFC	New Zealand
UEFA	Austria Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Czech Republic² Denmark East Germany³ England France Germany² Greece Hungary Iceland Israel¹ Italy Netherlands Northern Ireland Norway Poland Portugal Republic of Ireland Romania Russia² Scotland Serbia² Slovakia² Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine² Wales
¹ Have been member of multiple confederations. ² Considered a successor team by FIFA, or have competed under another name(s). ³ Team and national federation no longer exist.

Overall record

Russia 2018

Group stage

United States/Canada/Mexico 2026

Group stage

Player records

Most appearances

Goalscorers

See also

References

Reports

External links