Five Things To Know: Panama

In the team’s first match under new head coach Mauricio Pochettino, the USMNT will meet Panama in an international friendly at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas on Saturday, Oct. 12 at 9 p.m. ET (TNT, Telemundo, Universo, MAX, Peacock, FDP Radio).

The Americans, who were 18th in the latest FIFA rankings, are coming off of a 1-1 home draw with New Zealand on Sept. 10.

The Panamanians are 37th in the FIFA rankings and third in Concacaf. Their most recent match was a 5-0 quarterfinal loss to Colombia in Copa América on July 6.

Following Saturday’s contest, the USA will journey to Guadalajara to visit El Tri on Tuesday, Oct. 15 at 10:30 p.m. ET.

The Central Americans will meet Canada in their second friendly of the international window in Toronto on Oct. 15.

FOOTBALLING HISTORY

The Panamanians qualified for one FIFA World Cup - the 2018 competition in Russia – in which they dropped all three of their group-stage matches.

Regionally, Panama has acquitted themselves well in the Concacaf Gold Cup, finishing as the runner-up team in 2013 and 2023 and in third place in 2011 and 2015. They’ve additionally reached the knockout round of the tournament in 10 of the last 11 tourneys, losing to Mexico in the 2023 final, 1-0.

They also took fourth place in the Concacaf Nations League in 2023 and 2024, losing to Jamaica in the most recent competition, 1-0, in Arlington, Texas on March 24.

Panama finished in seventh place at 2024 Copa América.

Midfielder Gabriel Gómez has made the most appearances (148) wearing the Panama jersey, while the late Luis Tejada is the all-time leader in goals (43). Blas Pérez, a forward who competed with FC Dallas and Vancouver Whitecaps in MLS, is next on the list (42).

USMNT VS. PANAMA

The U.S. has recorded a 17-3-7 mark against their Central American counterparts.

In the first very meeting, the USA overcame a 1-0 halftime deficit to rally for a 2-1 win in Dallas on July 14, 1993. Eric Wynalda (68th minute) and Thomas Dooley (73rd minute) scored. Pércival Piggott found the net for Panama.

The teams wouldn't meet again for another 12 years, on July 24, 2005, in the Concacaf Gold Cup final. The U.S. emerged as champions, winning in penalty kicks, 3-1, after playing to scoreless draw in East Rutherford, N.J. Goalkeeper Kasey Keller saved one PK as two other attempts failed to hit the target. Brad Davis converted the game-winner after Santino Quaranta and Landon Donovan put theirs away.

The USMNT lost a Concacaf Gold Cup group stage match for the first time on June 11, 2011, suffering a 2-1 defeat in Tampa, Fla. Luis Tejada (19th minute) and Gabriel Gomez (36th-minute PK) gave Panama a 2-0 halftime advantage. Clarence Goodson pulled one back for the U.S. in the 66th minute. Eleven days later on June 22, the Americans exacted revenge as they registered a 1-0 semifinal triumph in Houston as Clint Dempsey put away a Donovan feed in the 77th minute. Tim Howard earned the shutout.

The Americans captured their fifth Gold Cup crown with a 1-0 triumph at Soldier Field in Chicago on July 28, 2013. Brek Shea's scored off a rebound in the 68th minute, while head coach Jurgen Klinsmann watched from a luxury suite while serving a suspension he incurred during the semifinals. Goalkeeper Nick Rimando backstopped the win.

In the 2015 Gold Cup third-place match in Chester, Pa., the teams played to a 1-1 deadlock, although the Panamanians walked away victors after winning the shootout, 3-2. Reserve goalkeeper Luis Mejia saved two penalty kicks, by DaMarcus Beasley and Bradley. Harold Cummings converted the winner. Roberto Nurse had given the Central America side a 55th-minute lead, but Clint Dempsey countered with his seventh goal of the competition 15 minutes later.

The teams split their two qualifying matches for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The Panamanians recorded a 1-0 home win behind Anibal Godoy's 54th-minute goal on Oct. 10, 2021, before the USA rolled to a 5-1 triumph in Orlando on March 22, 2022. Christian Pulisic led the way with a hat-trick, and Paul Arriola and Jesus Ferreira added single tallies.

The Central Americans reached the 2023 Gold Cup final, winning a shootout, 5-4, after a 1-1 tie in San Diego on July 12, 2023. Adalberto Carrasquilla converted the decisive penalty kick past goalkeeper Matt Turner. Panama keeper Orlando Mosquera denied attempts by Christian Roldan and Jesús Ferreira. Iván Anderson scored his first international goal in the ninth minute and Ferreira equalized six minutes later.

In their most recent encounter, Panama recorded a 2-1 win in a group stage match in Copa América in Atlanta on June 27 as José Fajardo scored the tie-breaking goal in the 83rd minute. Folarin Balogun lifted the USA into a 22-minute lead, but César Blackman equalized four minutes later.

PANAMA MANAGER

Denmark native Thomas Christiansen took over Panama's head coaching reigns on July 23, 2020, replacing Américo Gallego.

Christiansen, 51, played for several clubs in Denmark, Spain and Germany during a 15-year professional career. His teams included Barcelona, Sporting Gijon, Racing Santander, Oviedo and Villarreal in Spain and with Bochum and Hannover in Germany. He was the Bundesliga's joint-leading goal-scorer with Bayern Munich's Giovane Élber during the 2002-03 season. He played twice for Spain's national team, scoring once.

He turned to coaching, directing AEK Larmaca and APOEL in Greece, Leeds United in England and Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium.

During Christiansen's tenure, Panama is 31-19-13.

RECENT MATCHES

Since the start of the year, the Panamanians have recorded a 4-5-0 mark combined across the Concacaf Nations League, 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying, Copa América and a single friendly.

In the CNL semifinals in Arlington, Texas on March 21, Panama dropped a 3-0 decision to Mexico. Three days later in the third-place match, the Central Americans lost 1-0 to Jamaica, which prevailed on Dexter Lembikisa's 42nd-minute goal.

The Panamanians also registered a pair of WCQ wins. They started with a 2-0 home victory over Guyana on June 6, scoring their goals three minutes apart. Cristian Martínez found the net in the 62nd minute, José Luis Rodríguez in the 65th. In what was considered a Montserrat home game in Managua, Nicaragua on June 9, Panama secured a 3-1 triumph. Jovani Welch (40th minute), José Fajardo (61st minute) and Rodríguez (70th) minute scored. Goalie Luis Mejia backstopped both victories.

In its lone Copa América warm-up contest, Panama lost to Paraguay in Panama City, 1-0. Gustavo Velázquez connected for the lone goal in the 25th minute for the visiting side.

In their 2024 Copa América opener on June 23, the Panamanians dropped a 3-1 decision to Uruguay in Miami, Fla. Maximiliano Araújo scored in the 16th minute, and Darwin Núñez (85th minute) and Matías Viña (a minute into stoppage time) added late goals for the South Americans. Michael Amir Murillo tallied four minutes into injury time for Panama.

On June 27, Panama were 2-1 victors over the USMNT.

The Central Americans qualified for the knockouts with a 3-1 win over Bolivia in Orlando, Fla. on July 1. José Fajardo lifted them into a 22-minute lead. After the Bolivians equalized, Eduardo Guerrero snapped the tie in the 79th minute before César Yanis added an insurance tally in stoppage time.

Panama was eliminated by Colombia in the quarterfinals, 5-0, in Glendale, Ariz. on July 6.

ROSTER

Manager Thomas Christiansen selected 23 players on a veteran roster.

The entire Panamanian roster performs abroad in 19 countries. That includes Azerbaijan, Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, England, France, Honduras, Israel, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Peru, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Ukraine, United States and Venezuela.

Three Panama internationals play in the USA. That includes captain and midfielder Abibal Godoy (Nashville SC, Major League Soccer), who has accumulated the most caps (140) as the oldest player on squad (34). Godoy, who didn't play in Copa América, has a goal and two assists in 22 matches for Nashville.

Midfielder Adalberto Carrasquilla (Houston Dynamo, MLS) has collected three goals and seven assists with his club. Carrasquilla, who connected for the game-winner in the shootout win over the USMNT in the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup semifinals, was awarded the Golden Ball of that tournament.

Goalkeeper John Gunn (New England Revolution II, MLS NEXT Pro) is the lone player without an international appearance.

One other player that American soccer fans might be familiar with is defender Michael Amir Murillo, who performed with the New York Red Bulls (MLS) in 2017, and currently competes with Olympique Marseille.

Forward José Fajardo is the lone player with double digit goal tally, with 13 in 52 appearances. He’s followed by Murillo and Edgar Bárcenas with nine apiece.

Defender Edgardo Farina is the youngest player in the squad (23), having been born on Sept. 21, 2001.

PANAMA ROSTER BY POSITION

GOALKEEPERS (3): Orlando Mosquera (Al-Fahya FC/KSA; 29/0), César Samudio CD Marathon/HON; 4/0), John Gunn (New England Revolution II/USA; 0/0)

DEFENDERS (9): Jose Cordoba (Norwich City/ENG; 19/0), Eric Davis (Vila Nova FC/BRA; 94/7), Iván Anderson (Fortaleza/COL; 11/1), Michael Murillo (Olympique Marseille/FRA; 77/9); César Blackman (Slovan Bratislava/SVK; 25/1), Edgardo Fariña (FK Khimki/RUS; 7/0), Jiovany Ramos (Alianza Lima/PER; 14/0), Fidel Escobar (Deportivo Saprissa/CRC; 80/3), Roderick Miller (Turan Tovuz IK/AZE; 45/2)

MIDFIELDERS (8): Aníbal Godoy (Nashville SC/USA; 141/4), Adalberto Carrasquilla (Houston Dynamo/USA; 59/2), Cristian Martínez (Kiryat Shmona/ISR; 46/1), Jose Luis Rodriguez (FC Juarez/MEX; 49/6), Edgar Bárcenas (Mazatlán FC/MEX; 91/9), Freddy Gondola (FK Aktobe/KAZ; 22/1), Abdiel Ayarza (The Strongest/BOL; 31/4), Kahiser Lenis (Jaguares de Córdoba/COL; 6/2)

FORWARDS (3): José Fajardo (Universidad Católica/ECU; 52/13), Eduardo Guerrero (FC Dynamo Kyiv/UKR; 14/1), Tomás Rodríguez (Monagas SC/VEN; 3/0)