Panama national football team

The Panama national football team (Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Panamá) represents Panama in men's international football, which is governed by the Federación Panameña de Fútbol (English: Panamanian Football Federation) founded in 1937. It has been an affiliate member of FIFA since 1938 and a founding affiliate member of CONCACAF since 1961. Regionally, it is an affiliate member of UNCAF in the Central American Zone. From 1938 to 1961, it was a member of CCCF, the former governing body of football in Central America and Caribbean and a predeccessor confederation of CONCACAF, and also a member of PFC, the former unified confederation of the Americas, from 1946 to 1961.

Panama has qualified for the FIFA World Cup twice (2018 and 2026), it scored their first goal against England.^[4][5]

Panama has participated thirteen times in CONCACAF's premier continental competition, the team's best performance was finishing as runners-up three times in the CONCACAF Gold Cup (2005,^[6] 2013^[7] and 2023), and also finishing as runners-up in the CONCACAF Nations League in the 2025 finals. It participated twice in the Copa América (2016 and 2024).

Regionally, it won the CCCF Championship as hosts in 1951, and the Copa Centroamericana in 2009.

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.

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.

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.^[8]

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.

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,^[9] which meant that the United States, who lost to Trinidad and Tobago 2–1, failed to qualify for the first time since 1986.^[10] Román Torres, who scored the winning goal in the 87th minute, was subsequently considered a national hero.^[11] 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".^[12][13]

The national football team of Panama were drawn in Group G, together with European giants Belgium and England and the African side Tunisia.^[14] 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.^[15][16] 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.^[17] 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.

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

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixture

Caretaker managers are listed in italics.

The following players were called up to squad for the friendly matches against South Africa on 27 and 31 March 2026.^[18]

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

The following players have been called up within the past year.

As of 22 January 2026^[19]

Players in bold are still active with Panama.

Updated as of 22 January 2026.

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

• CCCF Championship¹
  • 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

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).

Last update was on 24 June 2025. Source:^[20]

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• Panama national under-23 football team
• Panama national under-20 football team
• Panama national under-17 football team
• Football in Panama

• Official website (in Spanish)
• Panama FIFA profile