Panama have announced a 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as the Central American nation prepares for only the second World Cup appearance in its history.
The Canaleros head into the tournament hoping to improve on their debut campaign in Russia in 2018, where they failed to collect a point. This time, Panama will attempt to make a stronger impression under coach Thomas Christiansen despite being drawn into a demanding group featuring Croatia and England.
Christiansen has retained several experienced figures as Panama looks to compete more effectively on football’s biggest stage and pursue a first-ever World Cup victory.
Among the notable names included is defender Amir Murillo, who was also part of the squad that travelled to Russia eight years ago. The former Olympique de Marseille player is expected to play an important role in bringing leadership and experience to the team.
Midfielder Adalberto Carrasquilla has also been selected and is likely to be central to Panama’s hopes in midfield. Veteran forward Alberto Quintero completes the experienced spine of the squad as the Canaleros attempt to balance continuity with the ambition of achieving better results than during their first appearance.
Panama’s task at the tournament will not be straightforward. England and Croatia are expected to provide stern opposition in the group stage, presenting Christiansen’s side with one of the toughest challenges of the competition.
Despite the difficulty of the draw, Panama are approaching the tournament with the aim of showing progress since their appearance in Russia. The 2018 campaign proved difficult for the Central American nation as they exited the competition without earning a point, but the experience gained from that tournament is expected to help the squad this time around.
Christiansen’s side will rely heavily on its experienced players to guide the team through the pressure of the global tournament. Murillo’s previous World Cup involvement, combined with the presence of Carrasquilla and Quintero, gives Panama a core group familiar with high-level international football.
The announcement of the squad marks another milestone for Panama’s growing football profile as the nation prepares to return to the world stage. Expectations remain measured given the calibre of opponents in their group, but the Canaleros are determined to be more competitive and secure a historic first World Cup win.
With the tournament approaching, Panama now turns its focus to final preparations as Christiansen seeks to lead the nation to a more successful campaign than its difficult debut eight years ago.
