Panama national football team

History

Before 21st century

2011 Gold Cup

In the 2011 Gold Cup, Panama was placed into Group C with Canada, United States, and Guadeloupe. They debuted with a 3–2 win over Guadeloupe. In the next match, they beat the United States 2–1. Then they tied 1–1 against Canada, winning their group for the first time in the Gold Cup. They played against El Salvador in the quarter-finals, beating them 5–3 on penalties. They played against the United States again, this time in the semi-finals, although they lost 1–0.

2013 Gold Cup

In the 2013 Gold Cup, Panama began with a 2–1 win over Mexico, with Gabriel Torres scoring both goals. In the second match, Panama beat Martinique 1–0 with Gabriel Torres scoring the only goal. With two victories, they secured their qualification to the knockout stages. Already being qualified, they tied 0–0 against Canada securing the first place in their group. They easily beat Cuba 6-1 and qualified for the semi-finals with Blas Pérez and Gabriel Torres scoring two goals each. They faced Mexico again in the semifinals and beat them 2–1 to advance to the final for the second time in the competition against the United States, which was their opponent in the 2005 final and beat them on penalties. The Panamanians could not get their revenge on them and lost 0–1 with a goal from Brek Shea.

2014 World Cup qualifying

Panama came close to advancing out of the fourth round of qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup. In their last match, which was against the United States, they led 2–1 after 90 minutes and were assured to advance to a play-off against New Zealand, but conceded two goals in stoppage time and were eliminated, with Mexico taking the playoff slot instead.

2015 Gold Cup

In the 2015 Gold Cup, Panama was drawn into Group A, along with the United States, Haiti, and Honduras. All of their games were a 1–1 draws. However this was enough to advance to the knockout stage as the best ranked third place. In the quarter-finals, they played against Trinidad and Tobago, drawing 1–1 after 90 minutes and defeating them 6–5 on penalties. They advanced to the semi-finals against Mexico; Roman Torres scored on behalf of Panama and Andres Guardado scored for Mexico. The first 90 minutes ended in a 1–1 draw; Panama was then defeated 2–1 in extra time after referee Mark Geiger gave Mexico a penalty, which Andres Guardado also scored. With this result, Panama earned the chance to play the third place playoff against the United States. The score was 1–1 after extra time and Panama won 3–2 on penalties, giving them third place. Mexico ended up defeating Jamaica in the final to crown themselves champions.

2018 World Cup qualifying

Four years after failing to qualify for the 2014 World Cup, Los Canaleros finally qualified for the World Cup after defeating Costa Rica 2−1 in their final qualifying match, which meant that the United States, who lost to Trinidad and Tobago 2–1, failed to qualify for the first time since 1986. Román Torres, who scored the winning goal in the 87th minute, was subsequently considered a national hero. The day after the match, the President of Panama Juan Carlos Varela declared a national holiday to commemorate the achievement, stating on his Twitter profile: "The voice of the people has been heard... Tomorrow will be a national holiday".

2018 World Cup

The national football team of Panama were drawn in Group G, together with European giants Belgium and England and the African side Tunisia. Their debut World Cup match was against Belgium, on 18 June 2018. Los Canaleros initially held on, with the score 0–0 at half-time, before eventually suffering a 3–0 loss. Six days later, Panama faced England, and this time succumbed to a 6–1 defeat; Felipe Baloy's late goal was the nation's first at a World Cup, but it was not enough to save them from elimination. A 2–1 loss to Tunisia in their final game meant that Panama finished bottom of their group - and 32nd and last in the tournament overall - having lost all three of their games and conceded eleven goals.

Team image

Kit sponsorship

Results and fixtures

Main article: Panama national football team results (2020–present)

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

• Jiménez
• Carrasquilla
• Escobar
• Guerrero
• Yanis
• Díaz
• Davis
• Martínez
• Díaz
• Guerrero
• T. Rodríguez
• Leborgne
• David
• T. Rodríguez
• Díaz
• T. Rodríguez
• Bell
• Díaz
• Lozano
• Escobar
• Díaz
• Godoy
• Harvey
• Davis
• Guerrero
• Palma
• Arriaga
• Rosales
• Maldonado
• Lozano
• Pineda
• Harvey
• Santis
• Fajardo
• Díaz
• Margaret
• Ordóñez
• Muñoz
• Waterman
• Fajardo
• Blackman
• Davis
• Rodríguez

2026

Coaching staff

Managers

:Caretaker managers are listed in italics.

• URU Romeo Parravicini (1938)
• PER Manuel Sánchez Durán (1941)
• PAN Emel Ospino (1946)
• CHI Óscar Rendoll Gómez (1946, 1951)
• PAN Óscar Suman Carrillo (1949)
• COL Gilberto Casanova (1950)
• AUT Moses Stern (1950)
• PAN Rogelio Díaz (1952)
• PAN Emel Ospino (1956)
• ESP José Bech Casablanca (1961, 1967)
• ARG Raúl "Che" Álvarez (1963–64)
• PAN Luis Carlos Ponce (1967)
• CHI Néstor Valdés (1969)
• CHI Renato Panay (1976)
• ARG Omar Muraco (1978)
• URU Edgardo Bone Baldi (1979)
• URU Luis Borghini (1980)
• PAN Rubén Cárdenas (1980)
• PAN Orlando Muñoz (1984, 1995)
• ARG Carlos Cavagnaro (1984)
• ARG Juan Colecchio (1986–1987)
• URU Miguel Mansilla (1987–1988, 1990, 1999–2000)
• URU Gustavo de Simone (1992)
• COL César Maturana (1995–96)
• COL Óscar Aristizábal (1999)
• PAN Ezequiel Fernandez (2000)
• PAN Leopoldo Lee (2000)
• ROU Mihai Stoichiță (2001)
• ENG Billy Stenning (2001–02)
• BRA Carlos Alberto da Luz (2002–03)
• COL José Eugenio Hernández (2004–05)
• PAN Julio Dely Valdés (2006)
• PAN Víctor René Mendieta (2006)
• CRC Alexandre Guimarães (2006–08)
• PAN Gary Stempel (2008–09)
• PAN Julio Dely Valdés (2010–13, 2019)
• COL Hernán Darío Gómez (2014–2018)
• PAN Gary Stempel (2018–2019)
• ARG Américo Gallego (2019–2020)
• ESP Thomas Christiansen (2020–present)

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up to the preliminary squad for the friendly matches against Bolivia and Mexico on 18 and 22 January 2026, respectively.

Caps and goals correct as of 22 January 2026, after the match against Mexico.

Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up within the past year. INJ Withdrew due to injury / absent form the national team due to injury.

COV Withdrew due to COVID-19

PRE Preliminary squad.

RET Retired from the national team.

SUS Serving Suspension.

WD Withdrew for personal reasons.

Player records

: :Players in bold are still active with Panama.

Most capped players

Top goalscorers

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

Main article: Panama at the FIFA World Cup

CONCACAF Gold Cup

Main article: Panama at the CONCACAF Gold Cup

CONCACAF Nations League

Copa América

Main article: Panama at the Copa América

Copa Centroamericana

CCCF Championship

Head-to-head results

Updated as of 22 January 2026.

Honours

Continental

• CONCACAF Gold Cup
  • Runners-up (3): 2005, 2013, 2023
  • Third place (1): 2015
• CONCACAF Nations League
  • Runners-up (1): 2024–25

Subregional

• CCCF Championship
  • Champions (1): 1951
  • Third place (1): 1948
• Copa de Naciones UNCAF / Copa Centroamericana
  • Champions (1): 2009
  • Runners-up (2): 2007, 2017
  • Third place (3): 1993, 2011, 2014
• Central American and Caribbean Games
  • Silver medal (1): 1946
• Bolivarian Games
  • Bronze medal (2): 1970, 1973

Summary

Only official honours are included, according to FIFA statutes (competitions organized/recognized by FIFA or an affiliated confederation).

;Notes

1. Official subregional competition organized by CCCF, direct predecessor confederation of CONCACAF and the former governing body of football in Central America and Caribbean (1938–1961).

FIFA World Ranking

Last update was on 24 June 2025. Source:

Best Ranking Worst Ranking Best Mover Worst Mover

References

References

1. Barrie Courtney. "Panama – International Results". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation.
2. (11 October 2017). "From agony to ecstasy: Panama's remarkable journey to the 2018 World Cup and a night they'll never forget". The Independent.
3. (11 October 2017). "The wildest night in CONCACAF history? How the U.S. exit played out". ESPN.
4. "CONCACAF Championship, Gold Cup 2005".
5. "U.S. MNT Wins CONCACAF Gold Cup with 1-0 Victory against Panama".
6. (16 October 2013). "USA Saves Mexico From World Cup Elimination In The Most Unbelievable Night In North American Soccer History". Business Insider.
7. "2018 FIFA World Cup Russia - Matches - Panama-Costa Rica".
8. (11 October 2017). "Trinidad and Tobago 2-1 USA". BBC Sport.
9. (24 March 2018). "Roman Torres: Panama's 'film star' footballer dreams of beating England at World Cup". BBC Sport.
10. (11 October 2017). "Panama gets holiday after World Cup win". BBC News.
11. "National holiday in Panama as World Cup place sealed {{!}} Goal.com".
12. "England get Belgium, Tunisia and Panama in World Cup draw". The Independent.
13. "2018 FIFA World Cup Russia - Matches - Belgium - Panama". FIFA.
14. (18 June 2018). "Romelu Lukaku double helps Belgium to winning World Cup start against Panama". The Telegraph.
15. Rathborn, Jack. (24 June 2018). "Panama fans wildly celebrate first ever World Cup goal vs England". The Mirror.
16. (8 January 2026). "Panamá Mayor: Legionarios convocados para los amistosos ante Bolivia y México". [[Panamanian Football Federation]].
17. (9 January 2026). "Panamá Mayor: Llamado a entrenamientos para jugadores de la LPF para los amistosos ante Bolivia y México". Panamanian Football Federation.
18. (12 January 2026). "Panamá Mayor: Arrancan los entrenamientos para los amistosos ante Bolivia y México". Panamanian Football Federation.
19. (14 January 2026). "La lista de convocados de Panamá Mayor para los amistosos ante Bolivia y México". Panamanian Football Federation.
20. "Panama".
21. "Panama in the FIFA World Ranking".