World Cup 2026: Expectations of a historic "tide"

The Panamanian team, nicknamed "The Red Tide," is aiming for a bigger goal: to prove that they are capable of competing on equal footing with the top names in world football.

From being considered an "underdog" at the World Cup, Panama is entering the 2026 World Cup with the ambition to write a new chapter in its football history: to win its first match at the biggest tournament on the planet and to have hopes of advancing beyond the group stage.

According to the Vietnam News Agency correspondent in the Americas, after their first appearance at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the team nicknamed "The Red Tide" (La Marea Roja) has returned to the world's biggest football event thanks to an impressive qualifying campaign under the leadership of Danish-Spanish coach Thomas Christiansen.

The ticket to the 2026 World Cup becomes even more significant as Panama is the only representative from the Central American region to qualify for the tournament. Familiar names from the region such as Costa Rica, Honduras, Jamaica, and Suriname all failed to advance. Notably, Costa Rica ended their streak of three consecutive World Cup appearances, which had lasted since 2014.

Speaking to the press, Coach Christiansen stated that the current achievements are the result of a long-term development process and unwavering commitment to the team's strategic direction.

After missing out on the 2022 World Cup, the Panamanian Football Federation continued to place its trust in the 53-year-old coach. That decision is proving effective, as Panama has not only returned to the World Cup but is also gradually asserting its new position in the region.

In recent years, Coach Christiansen has rejuvenated the squad while developing a more modern and competitive playing style. Under his leadership, Panama finished as runners-up in the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup, runners-up in the 2025 CONCACAF Nations League, and made their mark by advancing from the group stage of the 2024 Copa America to the knockout round.

At the 2026 World Cup, Panama is in Group L along with highly-rated opponents England, Croatia, and Ghana. The Central American team will face Ghana on June 17th and Croatia on June 23rd in Toronto (Canada), before clashing with title contender England on June 27th in New Jersey (USA).

While their 2018 World Cup debut ended in three defeats against Belgium, England, and Tunisia, this return carries even greater expectations. Panama's immediate goal is to secure their first-ever World Cup victory and lay the groundwork for their ambition of advancing beyond the group stage.

According to Coach Christiansen, the current group, while challenging, also presents an opportunity for Panama to demonstrate its maturity. In particular, the opening match against Ghana is considered a crucial turning point that could determine the Central American team's chances of advancing.

Nearly a decade after their first appearance on the World Cup stage, Panama is no longer content with simply participating.

This team is aiming for a bigger goal: to prove that they are capable of competing on equal footing with the top names in world football.

(VNA/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/world-cup-2026-ky-vong-con-thuy-trieu-lich-su-post1114092.vnp