Eight years after hearing their national anthem on football’s grandest stage for the first time, Panama will have the chance to relive that surge of national pride at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.Having navigated a challenging qualification campaign, they return to the tournament as Central America’s highest ranked side, ready to test themselves against some of the world’s best nations.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of listIn the words of head coach Thomas Christiansen, Panama are determined to go toe-to-toe with their more illustrious opponents and firmly put the country on the map as a regional football power.Here’s all to know about Panama before the tournament kickoff on June 11: Panama will compete at only their second FIFA World Cup, returning to the grand stage after their appearance at Russia 2018 [File: Martin Bernetti/AFP]How did Panama qualify for the 2026 World Cup?Panama underwent two rounds of qualifying to punch their ticket to the World Cup.Their journey began in the second round of CONCACAF qualifying when they topped their group with a perfect record, beating Nicaragua, Guyana, Montserrat and Belize. During this run, Panama scored 10 goals and conceded just one.The next round posed a greater challenge. Drawn alongside Suriname, Guatemala and El Salvador, Panama had just six points after four match days but found their stride when it mattered most, posting a 3-2 win at Guatemala before a 3-0 triumph against El Salvador.The victory over El Salvador on the final match day on November 18 moved Panama above Suriname in the standings, thereby securing their spot at the world’s biggest football tournament. Advertisement How did Panama perform in their previous World Cup appearance?Panama made their World Cup debut at the 2018 edition in Russia, finishing bottom of their group after defeats to eventual …
