Panama: The Unknown Opponent That Could Disrupt the Big Teams' Plans in the World Cup

Although the Croatian and Ghanaian teams are seen as the most dangerous competitors for England in Group 12 of the 2026 World Cup, the Panamanian team might be the one capable of causing an upset.

The team from Central America has significantly developed in recent years under the leadership of coach Thomas Christiansen, who enjoys exceptional popularity within the country. Some Panamanian journalists even assert that his popularity now rivals that of major political figures.

The transformation witnessed by Panama was not limited to results alone, but also included the style of play and the professional structure of the team. Since taking over in 2020, Christiansen has introduced modern training techniques such as GPS player tracking systems and video analysis, and has contributed to improving the conditions for players within the national team. Many in Panama believe that the Danish-Spanish coach is largely responsible for elevating the team to a new level of tactical organization and professionalism.

Observers point out that one of Panama's main strengths compared to England lies in technical stability. The players have been working with Christiansen for almost six years, which has given them a deep understanding of his tactical ideas and great confidence in his system.

During this period, he led the team to two continental finals and raised its FIFA ranking by over 40 places. He also achieved several notable victories against the United States, making it one of the most developed teams in the CONCACAF region.

Despite this progress, offensive effectiveness remains a clear weakness for Panama. Some analysts describe the team as a "storm without precision," referring to the numerous attacking attempts compared to the poor execution in front of the goal.

However, England will not easily forget their resounding 6-1 victory over Panama in the 2018 World Cup, but they also recognize that the current Panamanian team is quite different from that squad, making their encounter in the 2026 World Cup more complex and dangerous than names and history might suggest.