The Dangerous Ghana Soccer Team Playing Against Panama June 17
Panama finished last among the 32 participants in the 2018 World Cup in Russia, and did not qualify for Qatar 2022. But now that they are the sole representative of Central America for the 2026 World Cup, everyone wants to see them in the next phase, even hoping they will repeat what Costa Rica did in the 2014 World Cup. And anything goes when playing in a World Cup, because dreaming is allowed. If the big countries dream of adding another trophy to their collection, then smaller nations like Panama also have the right to dream of winning their first match in their second World Cup appearance. No one is exempt from dreaming.
All that enthusiasm is also felt within the national team. Recently, Ismael Díaz pictured below, unleashed the inner boxer that Panamanians carry within them, a legacy of their many world champions, when he stated that, given all that Panama has achieved, he was convinced they could compete against any team and “we fear no one.” However, amidst all the euphoria surrounding this first match in the 2026 World Cup, the national team players must remain grounded and not be mentally influenced by the wave of enthusiasm circulating on social media among fans, media outlets, former players, and journalists.
Unlike the 2018 World Cup, when Panama had to face Belgium and England first and Tunisia last, in this 2026 World Cup it was the other way around, first facing Ghana and then Croatia and England, in two groups that have also been “of death” for our team and especially this last one, which on paper is more difficult. The difference with this World Cup lies in the fact that on Wednesday the 17th, they start against Ghana, a weaker opponent compared to the two European teams. “More accessible,” to put it optimistically. Given this, Panama aims to fight for at least third place in their group against the African side. This tournament, being played for the first time with 48 countries divided into 12 groups, offers more opportunities for third-place finishers to qualify.
Now, the eight best third-place teams advance to the round of 32, where the remaining 32 countries will compete. The excitement surrounding Panama’s potential qualification has been heightened by Ghana’s recent winless streak in friendlies, their recent coaching change—although the new manager, Queiroz, is highly experienced—their lower ranking (34th to 73rd), and the recent visa denial of a key Ghanaian player pictured below. All of this has fueled hopes of achieving at least their first-ever World Cup victory. So far, so good. However, the worrying thing is that the players might indirectly get caught up in all the excessive enthusiasm circulating on social media and lose sight of what this first match truly represents.
Given everything that went into that game against Ghana, this first match feels like a final for Panama, even though it’s the first group game. A draw or a win would see the team make history in their second appearance after finishing last in 2018, but a loss would be a huge disappointment considering the high expectations, especially with matches against Croatia and England still to come. In World Cups, Ghana will play its fifth tournament; in its first four editions, this was its outlook. In 2006 they reached the round of 16, and in 2010 they came within a whisker of qualifying for the semifinals. In their last two appearances, they didn’t make it past the group stage, but they didn’t leave empty-handed.
In 2014, they secured a valuable point with a 2-2 draw against Germany, the eventual champions of that World Cup, and in their most recent appearance, in 2022, they only managed three points thanks to their 3-2 victory over South Korea. That’s why the Panamanian players cannot let themselves be overwhelmed by the enthusiasm circulating on social media; on the contrary, they must keep a clear mind and relieve themselves of all the pressure this first game has become, which, due to the magnitude of the tournament, is much more than the two Concacaf tournament finals combined that have been played under the direction of Thomas Christiansen below center.
Recently, when the United States thrashed Paraguay, Argentine coach Gustavo Alfaro lamented that his players had played emotionally charged, suggesting that this may have been one of the causes of the defeat. Panama is on the verge of facing its most important match of the 89-game era under Thomas Christiansen, with a squad where some players arrived with a heavy workload. This has led to some players not being consistent in recent training sessions and having to work separately, while the medical staff tries to get the team’s star player, Adalberto Carrasquilla pictured below, back on the field. Eight years ago, this situation of uncertainty didn’t exist, except for the case of “Negrito” Quintero, who was ruled out before the World Cup due to an injury sustained in a friendly match.
On Wednesday, the players need to believe in themselves and forget any pre-match triumphalism. First, they must recognize that Ghana is a formidable opponent, even more so than Tunisia was eight years ago. Therefore, all eleven players who take the field, including substitutes, must be at 100% fitness. Once on the pitch, they must show solidarity, watch their teammates’ backs and flanks, maintain intense concentration, and above all, instill that fighting spirit of a boxer, never backing down from their opponent, as Ismael Díaz expressed during a press conference. In terms of their footballing ability, the team is already well-known, a group that has been part of Christiansen’s process. We can’t go out there looking for the win thinking we fear no one; we have to be measured, even if we don’t play well, because Panama has had bad experiences when it comes out with too much intensity.
That’s when it’s easily vulnerable, both under Bolillo Gómez and with Christiansen himself. The desire to attack has always been with this team, but we have to know how to temper it on Wednesday, because it has betrayed us many times. Of course, Panama shares the same hopes as the Africans must have of winning this first match, but to do so, they need to be smarter than they have been so far. This isn’t a “little” Gold Cup or a “little” Nations League; this is the biggest tournament of all, which is a whole different ballgame. Fortunately, the team has the experience of seven players who were already in Russia, although this is the coach’s debut, unlike eight years ago. The team simply needs to focus on itself, on its current reality, not on preconceived notions of what might happen. This is a tough match, and Panama must act accordingly. Their bravery should be evident not only in their temperament on the field but also in their intelligence. Good luck to the team, regardless of what happens, we all hope it’s positive.
