Panama head coach Thomas Christiansen has expressed excitement and confidence as his team prepares to face England, Croatia, and Ghana in Group L at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, jointly hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Speaking ahead of the tournament, Christiansen, Panama’s longest-serving coach, said he views the group as an “interesting challenge,” noting the team’s recent progress against strong opponents in the region.
“Over the last five years, we’ve managed to hold our own against the big boys, and we’re no longer outclassed by Canada, Mexico, and the USA,” he said in an interview with FIFA.
Christiansen acknowledged that Panama has yet to beat Mexico during his tenure but highlighted successes against the USA and stressed the team’s ambition to compete strongly against Ghana, Croatia, and England.
“We know they’re tricky customers, but we want to go toe to toe with them and put Panama on the map. We’re keen for our fans to feel proud of the team. Scoring a consolation goal should no longer be a reason for Panamanians to celebrate. It’s time for us to up our game,” he added.
Panama will kick off their 2026 World Cup campaign against Ghana, followed by matches against Croatia and England in the group stage.
