Carrasquilla Still Raising Alarms But Panama’s Soccer Spirits are High
Panama’s national football team trained with 25 players at Nottawasaga Resort as they continue preparing for the crucial match against Croatia.
Adalberto “Coco” Carrasquilla raised major injury alarms after suffering a left adductor muscle tear, but Panama’s soccer spirits remain lifted by his miraculous recovery and his ability to contribute off the bench during their historic FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign. A few days after the painful 1-0 defeat against Ghana in their World Cup debut, the Panamanian national team showed a better face Friday during their morning training session at the Nottawasaga Resort, where they continue to fine-tune details to face Croatia next Tuesday in Toronto.
The 27-year-old midfielder Adalberto Carrasquilla stepped onto the grass of pitch number 2 at the Nottawasaga Resort this Saturday morning, where the national team continues its preparation for the crucial match next Tuesday against Croatia for the second day of Group L of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Carrasquilla’s presence took on particular significance after he was notably absent from Friday’s 15-minute open training session for the media.
His absence raised questions because just the day before, he had completed his first high-intensity session since suffering a muscle injury on May 24 during the Liga MX final between Pumas UNAM and Cruz Azul. Although the midfielder has not yet fully integrated into the team’s dynamics, his return to the field represents an encouraging sign for the fans of a team seeking to earn its first points in the tournament after the 1-0 defeat against Ghana.
The morning began with the staggered arrival of the players at the training ground. The first group appeared at 9:45 am, while Carrasquilla was the last to arrive, approximately 15 minutes later. Dressed in sneakers and after a lengthy conversation with a member of the Panamanian delegation, the midfielder joined the traditional group prayer and Thomas Christiansen’s opening talk. He then performed individual stretching exercises while the rest of the squad began jogging and ball work.
The player’s progress continues to be monitored carefully by the medical and technical staff, aware of his importance to the team’s performance. One of those who addressed Carrasquilla’s situation was veteran Alberto Quintero, who appeared before the media and conveyed a message of optimism about the Pumas player’s condition. “Regarding Carrasquilla, we see him doing well. He has made a good recovery and we believe he can be ready, but it also depends on him, on how he feels, because he is the one who actually suffered the injury,” Quintero stated.
Coco Carrasquilla Makes an Appearance Three days before Panama vs. Croatia
The atmosphere was different from the hours following the setback caused by Caleb Yirenkyi’s goal in the 90+5 minute. With a better demeanor and an attitude focused on the next challenge, 25 players participated in the training session led by Thomas Christiansen. Adalberto Carrasquilla returns to the pitch and fuels Panamanian hopes of seeing him play in the 2026 World Cup,
The striker explained that his absence on Friday should not necessarily be interpreted as a setback in his recovery process. “That day he trained after so long, and we need to look into that. The doctors have to see what happened, why he hadn’t been training. He might suddenly get overloaded, and it’s normal that they reduce his workload a bit because he hasn’t trained for a long time,” he commented. Beyond the physical aspect, Quintero highlighted the midfielder’s state of mind, a fundamental piece in Thomas Christiansen’s scheme and one of the references of the current generation of Panamanians.
“We see him doing very well, and he’s also very motivated. We all know what Carrasquilla can contribute one hundred percent. He knows he has our full support and that we’re waiting for him,” he stated. The possible recovery of Carrasquilla is encouraging news for a team that needs to strengthen its midfield ahead of a demanding match against a Croatia side accustomed to competing in the decisive stages of major tournaments. Panama is scheduled to resume training on Sunday and Monday mornings before moving to a hotel in downtown Toronto. There, they will be based to prepare for Tuesday’s match against two-time World Cup runner-up Croatia, a game that could be a do-or-die affair for both teams.
The main news of the day was the absence of midfielder Adalberto Carrasquilla. The Panamanian midfielder showed positive signs on Thursday when he trained alongside the substitutes and players who came on as a substitute against Ghana. That session represented Carrasquilla’s most intense training since the injury he suffered on May 24 and fueled expectations of a possible gradual reintegration into the team’s training.
Donaldo González works with Orlando Mosquera, Luis Mejía, and César Samudio.
However, this Friday the player did not leave the team hotel, something he had done on each of the previous days since the team’s arrival in Canada. At the time of writing, the Panamanian Football Federation had not issued any report on the midfielder’s physical condition nor explained the reasons for his absence from the morning training session. The situation raises questions just days before the match against a Croatian team that appears to be one of the favorites to advance from Group L.
While the coaching staff awaits news on Carrasquilla, the rest of the squad is working with the aim of recovering from the blow suffered against Ghana, a match that left mixed feelings due to the performance shown and the final result. The one who appeared before the media was goalkeeper Luis Mejía, who assured that the group has already put the defeat behind them and maintains intact confidence in their chances. “I think the team has processed the loss. Now we have to prepare for the next match. We know they are a tough team, with good players, but the team is excited about the possibility of making history,” said the goalkeeper for Nacional of Uruguay.
Mejía acknowledged that the match against Ghana provided important lessons on the need to better manage certain moments of the game. “At this level, concentration is important. The opposing team had a scoring chance and took advantage of it. These are details we have to correct because these kinds of players make you pay dearly for any advantage,” he said. Despite this, the experienced goalkeeper insisted that Panama will not renounce the identity that has characterized the team during Christiansen’s process.
Players from the Panama national team during training this Friday at the Nottawasaga Resort.
“Our ambition is to qualify. We know it will be difficult, but the mentality this group has always maintained is to play and take the initiative, no matter who the team is,” he stated. Panama’s preparation will continue this Saturday with a gym session and video analysis work focused on Croatia, the rival that will arrive in Ontario next Sunday afternoon after completing at least two more training sessions at their base camp located in the state of Virginia.
Adalberto “Coco” Carrasquilla Raised Major Injury Alarms after Suffering a Left Adductor Muscle Tear
Panama’s soccer spirits remain lifted by his miraculous recovery and his ability to contribute off the bench during their historic FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign.
The Injury Alarm
- The Incident: Carrasquilla suffered a worrying left adductor tear on May 24, 2026, while playing for his club, Pumas UNAM,in the Liga MX final.
- The Panic: As Panama’s core midfield playmaker and the reigning 2023–24 CONCACAF Male Player of the Year, his sudden injury threatened to rule him out of the entire World Cup.
- The Roster Gamble: Despite adverse initial medical forecasts, head coach Thomas Christiansen took a risk and named Carrasquilla to the final 26-man tournament roster.
Lifted Spirits and World Cup Debut
- Rapid Rehabilitation: Working closely with the medical staff of the Panamanian afootball Federation (FEPAFUT) at their base camp in Ontario, Canada, Carrasquilla drastically accelerated his recovery timeline.
- Cleared to Play: Just ahead of Panama’s opening match, Christiansen confirmed that while Carrasquilla was not quite at 100% fitness to start, he was medically cleared to serve as a high-impact weapon off the substitutes’ bench.
- Emotional Unity: Carrasquilla broke his silence with an emotional message to Panamanian fans, calling for national pride and unity, shifting the public mood from anxiety to celebration over making the sport’s biggest stage.
Current Tournament Outlook
Panama faces a monumental challenge in the “Group of Death” (Group L), navigating matches against heavyweights England, Croatia, and Ghana. Though they narrowly dropped their opening match 1-0 to Ghana on a heartbreaking 90th-minute goal, having a recovering Carrasquilla ready to log minutes keeps Panama’s hopes alive for hunting their first-ever World Cup points.
