- Wed, Jun 17 — Ghana vs Panama — Toronto Stadium, Toronto · Group L · 7:00 PM ET
- Tue, Jun 23 — Panama vs Croatia — Toronto Stadium, Toronto · Group L · 7:00 PM ET
- Sat, Jun 27 — Panama vs England — New York/New Jersey Stadium, New York · Group L · 5:00 PM ET
Panama World Cup 2026 Kickoff Times
All Panama kickoff times are shown in your local timezone, auto-detected from your browser. Panama play their group stage matches in Toronto and New York. Use the timezone selector above to convert match times to ET, GMT, CET, IST, AEST, or any timezone. Set your available hours to see which Panama matches fit your schedule. For the full tournament schedule, the printable schedule, or a custom calendar, pick the tool that fits.
About Panama at World Cup 2026
Panama are making their second World Cup appearance after a debut in 2018 that captured hearts despite producing three defeats. That tournament was less about results and more about what it meant for a country of four million people to compete on football's biggest stage. When Felipe Baloy scored their first-ever World Cup goal against England, it was celebrated like a title despite coming in a 6-1 defeat. That moment told the world everything about what this means to Panama.
The path here was opened by the expanded 48-team format and the absence of the US, Canada, and Mexico from CONCACAF qualifying as co-hosts. With the traditional powerhouses removed, Panama dominated their group, finishing top and earning direct qualification. The campaign wasn't always convincing, with draws against Suriname taking some shine off, but they got the job done and earned their place.
Coach Thomas Christiansen has built a team around physical intensity and defensive organization rather than individual brilliance. Panama won't outplay anyone technically, but they'll make every match a contest through effort, aggression, and set-piece quality. The team reflects the country's football culture: hard-working, passionate, and unwilling to accept they're beaten until the final whistle.
The squad lacks the star power of their group rivals, with most players competing in Central American and lower-tier European leagues. There's no single player that casual fans will recognize from Champions League nights. But the collective is greater than the sum of its parts, and the understanding between teammates, many of whom have played together for years, compensates for the gap in individual quality.
Group L with England, Croatia, and Ghana is the toughest possible draw for a team at Panama's level. All three opponents have more talent, more experience, and more resources. The Ghana match is the realistic chance at a result, a game between two teams likely competing for third place. England and Croatia will be heavy favorites, though Panama's 2018 experience of competing against England means they know what to expect.
Avoiding three defeats would represent progress from 2018. Getting a point against Ghana would be a strong performance. And if Panama can somehow produce a result against England or Croatia, it would be one of the stories of the tournament. They're not here to win the World Cup. They're here because reaching the World Cup is an achievement in itself for a nation this size, and every competitive performance on this stage grows the sport domestically. The goal celebrations will be joyful, the support will be passionate, and Panama will give everything they have regardless of the scoreline.