Panama are on the verge of an unwanted record: a sixth straight World Cup defeat would equal the longest 100% losing streak in tournament history. Yet this time feels different. The side that lost 6-1 to England in 2018 has evolved, boasting the oldest and most-capped squad at the 2026 World Cup, and a Golden Ball winner from the 2023 Gold Cup. For a nation with only two World Cup appearances, the journey from humiliation to respect is a story worth understanding.
Panama are playing in only their second World Cup, having first qualified in 2018. That tournament ended in three group-stage defeats, including a 6-1 thrashing by England. Now in 2026, they have already lost their first two group games and been eliminated, making Saturday's match against England a contest for pride alone. The squad is both the oldest and most-capped at this World Cup, indicating a reliance on experienced players who have grown together since that 2018 disappointment.
“An explainer about Panama's World Cup team, their history, key players, and why their match against England matters.”
The roots of Panama's football story lie in the Concacaf region, where they have long been overshadowed by Mexico, the United States, and Costa Rica. Their first World Cup appearance in 2018 was a breakthrough, but also a reality check. Since then, progress has been measured. In 2023 they won the Gold Cup – the regional championship – and in 2024 they reached the Copa America quarter-finals. The current squad is led by players who have gained experience in Europe and Mexico, such as Norwich City defender Jose Cordoba and UNAM midfielder Adalberto Carrasquilla.
For UK readers, Panama are more than a footnote. England face them in a group-stage match that could decide top spot in Group L, after the Three Lions drew with Ghana. The match also carries echoes of 2018, when England won 6-1. But this Panama side is not the same. They have players who know English football – Cordoba plays for Norwich City in the Championship – and a midfield orchestrator in Carrasquilla who was named Concacaf men's player of the year in 2024. The match also forces England manager Thomas Tuchel to solve a selection headache after Reece James picked up a hamstring injury, with John Stones touted as a potential right-back replacement.
Q: Why are Panama at the World Cup if they keep losing? Panama qualified from the Concacaf region by finishing among the top teams in qualifying. Their second World Cup appearance in 2026 reflects steady progress, including winning the 2023 Gold Cup and reaching the 2024 Copa America quarter-finals.
Q: Who are Panama's key players to watch? The most important is midfielder Adalberto Carrasquilla, the 2023 Gold Cup Golden Ball winner and 2024 Concacaf men's player of the year, who missed the first two games with a thigh injury. Defender Jose Cordoba, who plays for Norwich City, is also vital – he averaged the most ball recoveries per 90 minutes among centre-backs in the 2025-26 Championship.
Q: How does this Panama team compare to the one that lost 6-1 to England in 2018? This squad is far more experienced – it is both the oldest and most-capped at the 2026 World Cup. They have since won a Gold Cup and performed well in the Copa America, suggesting significant improvement, though they have still lost their first two group games.
What happens next is straightforward: Panama face England on Saturday in New Jersey, their final group match. A win would give them their first World Cup point and avoid equalling the longest losing streak in tournament history. For England, the match is about securing top spot in Group L and fine-tuning their lineup ahead of the knockout stage, with Tuchel needing to decide how to replace the injured Reece James.