Panama have qualified for the FIFA World Cup™ for the second time, having made their debut at the 2018 finals.
Their maiden campaign ended after the group stage following defeats to Belgium and England, both of whom went on to reach the semi-finals. In their final match, Panama led Tunisia 1-0 at half-time before conceding two second-half goals.
In March 2025, Panama celebrated a major achievement by reaching the final of the Concacaf Nations League. They were narrowly defeated by Mexico, who scored a decisive goal in second-half added time to seal a 2-1 victory.
Panama clinched their place at the FIFA World Cup 26™ on the final matchday, combining a 3-0 victory over El Salvador with Suriname’s 3-1 defeat to Guatemala to leapfrog their rivals in the standings. They completed qualifying unbeaten, recording seven wins and three draws.