Panama at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
La Marea Roja compete in Group C at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Manager Thomas Christiansen, captain Aníbal Godoy. CONCACAF qualifier.
Panama's outlook at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
At #41 in the FIFA Ranking, Panama will look to advance from the group and then play a free-swinging knockout match where anything can happen.
Panama face a stacked Group C: the average opponent ranking is #20, -21 places above them on paper. Realistically they are battling for one of the eight best third-placed slots.
The 2026 tournament uses an expanded 48-team, 12-group format with a new Round of 32. That changes the maths for Panama: the top two from each group plus the eight best third-placed teams advance, so even a third-place finish in Group C is often enough to reach the knockouts. The first Panama match of the World Cup is scheduled for Saturday, June 13 against South Korea at Lumen Field.
Group C draw analysis
FIFA Ranking, confederation, and last-appearance finish for every team Panama face in Group C.
| Team | FIFA Rank | Confederation |
|---|---|---|
| Panama (this page) | #41 | CONCACAF |
| United States | #16 | CONCACAF |
| Denmark | #21 | UEFA |
| South Korea | #22 | AFC |
Panama 2026 World Cup fixtures
Players to watch
Get every player's stats - goals, assists, cards, minutes, xG - via the player stats endpoint for competition_id={COMPETITION_ID}.
Panama World Cup history
Panama have appeared at 2 previous FIFA World Cups. Their best finish remains Group stage. Across the last five tournaments they recorded: Group, DNQ, DNQ, DNQ, DNQ, including 4 occasions when they failed to qualify.
Get Panama data via API
// Fetch Panama World Cup 2026 matches
const response = await fetch(
'https://api.thestatsapi.com/api/football/matches?competition_id={COMPETITION_ID}&team=panama',
{ headers: { 'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY' } }
);
const { data } = await response.json();Frequently Asked Questions
What group is Panama in at the 2026 World Cup?
Panama is in Group C alongside United States, Denmark, South Korea. The average opponent FIFA ranking in Group C is #20.
Who is Panama's manager at the 2026 World Cup?
Thomas Christiansen manages Panama at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Aníbal Godoy as captain.
What is Panama's best World Cup finish?
Panama's best FIFA World Cup finish is Group stage. They have appeared in 2 previous World Cup tournaments. Recent form: Group, DNQ, DNQ, DNQ, DNQ.
Who are Panama's key players at the 2026 World Cup?
Captain Aníbal Godoy leads a squad whose standout names include Aníbal Godoy, Adalberto Carrasquilla, José Fajardo. The full 26-player squad is named approximately one week before the opening match.
How did Panama qualify for the 2026 World Cup?
CONCACAF qualifier. They came through the CONCACAF qualifying pathway.
What is Panama's current FIFA Ranking?
Panama are ranked #41 in the world by FIFA at the time of the 2026 World Cup draw. At #41 in the FIFA Ranking, Panama will look to advance from the group and then play a free-swinging knockout match where anything can happen.
What are Panama's chances of winning the 2026 World Cup?
Panama face a stacked Group C: the average opponent ranking is #20, -21 places above them on paper. Realistically they are battling for one of the eight best third-placed slots. At #41 in the FIFA Ranking, Panama will look to advance from the group and then play a free-swinging knockout match where anything can happen.
How can I get Panama fixtures and stats via API?
Use TheStatsAPI matches endpoint with competition_id={COMPETITION_ID} and filter by team_id to get all Panama World Cup 2026 fixtures, lineups, live scores, in-play events, xG, and player-level stats. The same endpoint also returns historical World Cup data for Panama going back to their first tournament.
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