Group: L — England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama

How they Qualified: Panama won CONCACAF third-round Group A to reach their second World Cup. Their campaign got tight in the fall but they finished strong with a 3-2 win at Guatemala and a 3-0 home win over El Salvador on the last matchday to jump Suriname and clinch the spot.

Best World Cup Finish: Group stage (2018)

Transfermarkt Roster Value: $37.24 M

FIFA Rank: 33

Odds to Win Group: 30-1

Odds to Advance: +220

Odds to Win Cup: 1000-1

Key Players:

  • Amir Murillo — Right Back — Beşiktaş (Turkey). Probably Panama’s most accomplished player, listed as their most valuable at $11M with 90 caps and 9 goals. He gives Panama experience, athleticism, and real quality from right back.
  • Adalberto Carrasquilla — Midfielder — Pumas UNAM (Mexico). The player who makes Panama function. He’s the midfielder who kept Panama’s shape together in the decisive qualifying stretch.
  • Cecilio Waterman — Striker — Universidad de Concepción (Chile). One of the main heroes of qualification, scoring twice at Guatemala in the must-win match. He has 50 caps and 14 goals.

Playing Style and Outlook

Panama are one of the more tactically flexible teams in this part of the field. Under Thomas Christiansen, they have not stuck to one shape. In the 2025 Nations League against the United States and Mexico, they used a 5-4-1. In the Gold Cup against Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Jamaica, and Honduras, they played a 4-2-3-1. Then in the decisive World Cup qualifiers they shifted again: 4-2-3-1 early in the round against Suriname and Guatemala, 5-4-1 in tougher October and November matches, and 3-4-2-1 in the final 3-0 win over El Salvador.

That tactical flexibility is probably the most important thing to understand about them. Panama are not a pure possession side, but they are not a generic bunker team either. Against Guatemala in the huge November qualifier, they had only 38.2% possession and just nine shot attempts, but they were clinical and won 3-2. Against Jamaica in the Gold Cup, they were much more front-footed and won 4-1 out of a 4-2-3-1. The common threads are a disciplined structure, aggressive wide play, and a midfield anchored by Carrasquilla that can help them change the rhythm depending on the opponent.

That makes Panama a tough out for the favorites in their group. They have recent experience in big regional matches, they are comfortable changing game plans, and they are better organized than a lot of the teams in this range. The draw is still rough with England and Croatia the obvious heavyweights, and Ghana also bringing more individual talent. But this is not a team that will be overwhelmed by the moment, and if the group gets messy, they are capable of being the side that takes advantage.