Panama have been officially eliminated from the World Cup before even facing England, as the expanded 48-team tournament adopts a ruthless new tiebreaker rule.
The Central American side, Thomas Tuchel's next opponents in New Jersey on Saturday, are one of five nations now mathematically out despite having a final group stage fixture remaining. They join Tunisia, Turkey, Haiti and tournament newcomers Jordan on the sidelines after back-to-back defeats.
“Panama eliminated from World Cup before England match due to new head-to-head tiebreaker rule.”
Panama's fate was sealed not by goal difference but by FIFA's revised regulations, which prioritise head-to-head results over goal difference for sides level on points. Having lost narrowly to both Ghana and Croatia, Panama cannot climb off the bottom of Group L even if they pull off the greatest upset and topple England this weekend.
Croatia sit third on three points, with Ghana and England tied on four apiece at the top. Panama have zero points and, crucially, have already lost to the two sides directly above them. Under the new rule, head-to-head records mean Panama are destined for fourth place regardless of Saturday's result.
Jordan face a similar predicament in Group J. Even a shock victory over reigning champions Argentina on Sunday would not lift them off the foot of the table, having lost to both Austria and Algeria. Those two sides occupy three points each; Jordan could match that tally but cannot overtake either due to inferior head-to-head results.
The eliminations have confused some supporters, who assumed the expanded format — where eight of 12 third-placed teams join the top two from each group in the knockout stages — would keep more sides alive until the final whistle. However, FIFA's tiebreaker change has accelerated departures.
The concluding round of group fixtures begins on Wednesday, with Switzerland facing Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina taking on Qatar in Group B. In Group C, Morocco meet Haiti while Scotland face five-time champions Brazil in a battle for a place in the last 32.
For Panama, only pride remains at stake when they meet England. Their World Cup is over before it truly began.