Panama’s World Cup dream is over. The Central American squad finished last in Group L after suffering two consecutive 1-0 defeats in June 2026, with the loss to Croatia sealing their fate.
How Panama’s run ended
Panama entered the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the back of qualifying victories over Guatemala and El Salvador in November 2025. Those wins punched their ticket to the expanded tournament, which added 16 additional spots compared to the traditional 32-team format.
In Group L, Panama ran into exactly that wall. Two 1-0 losses, both in June 2026, left them with zero points and zero goals scored. The defeat to Croatia, coming around June 24, was the final nail. Panama packed their bags with a last-place finish confirmed.
The team’s 2018 World Cup debut in Russia ended similarly, with three group-stage losses. This time they conceded fewer goals, but the result was identical: an early flight home.
