Panamanian Music Takes Over Toronto with Samy & Sandra Sandoval and the Gaitanes
Samy and Sandra in Toronto Canada. The Fan Fest in Toronto thus became a true celebration of Panamanian identity, where music, culture and football came together to support the national team in their World Cup adventure.
Toronto, Canada: The rhythm, music and Panamanian pride were felt this Tuesday, June 23, during the Fan Fest in Toronto, where hundreds of fans gathered in the lead-up to the match between Panama and Croatia in the 2026 World Cup. The atmosphere was marked by the energy of a typical Panamanian band that ignited the day with the cry of “Long live Panama!”.
During that time, the attendees began to fill the space designated for the World Cup fan celebration. One of the highlights was the performance by the Latin Grammy-winning brothers pictured above and below, the Gaitanes, made up of Ricardo and Alberto Gaitán, who performed songs such as “Viva Panamá”, “Sube la Marea” and “La Murga de Panamá”, raising patriotic sentiment among those present.
Later, the stage was taken over by the renowned traditional music artists Samy and Sandra Sandoval pictured below, known as “The Patrons of Cumbia”, who got the audience dancing with songs like “The Rabbit Dance”, “Good Girl” and “The Patron”. During her performance, Sandra Sandoval interacted with the fans. Amidst the festive atmosphere, left open the possibility of a reunion after the game by saying: “Let’s get together there,” while thanking the organizers for the opportunity to bring her music to the World Cup. The artist also shared her excitement about her experience in Canada, a country she visited for the first time thanks to the tournament.
Before the event, the Sandoval siblings toured various locations in Toronto, including Niagara Falls, on a trip that combined sightseeing and cultural activities. “Coming to Canada was never on my radar. The World Cup and Panama brought me to this beautiful city,” said Sandra, who highlighted the country’s beauty from the moment she arrived. Regarding the match against Croatia, the singer stated that, beyond the result, the team has already achieved an important goal. That goal is representing the country in the biggest event in world football. “We already won. We already triumphed, we came to the World Cup, Panama shone,” she said, highlighting the team’s performance in their debut. The Fan Fest in Toronto thus became a true celebration of Panamanian identity, where music, culture and football came together to support the national team in their World Cup adventure.
