
World Cup 2026
Los Canaleros Are Back — and They're Nobody's Easy Three Points
FutAve take
Panama return to the World Cup stage for only the second time, leaner and younger than 2018, with a tactically disciplined Thomas Christiansen side that topped CONCACAF qualifying unbeaten. Dropped into Group L alongside England, Croatia, and Ghana, they arrive not as tourists but as a team built to grind.
Panama swept through the CONCACAF final round without a single loss, topping Group A with three wins and three draws. Victories away at Guatemala and a commanding home demolition of El Salvador underlined their grit and cohesion. The mood in the camp is quietly confident — this is a young, composed squad with a point to prove, guided by a coach experiencing his first World Cup.
Neutrals who love an underdog with a genuine system will find Panama irresistible. Christiansen's side plays with possession discipline and lightning transitions, and their Group L slate — Ghana, Croatia, England — is appointment viewing. Every point Panama steal will feel like an event, and Los Canaleros have a habit of making those moments happen.
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