Panama at World Cup 2026: Carrasquilla's Groin, 1,047 Caps, and the Weight of Experience

Group L analysis · OLTA.football

The squad

Thomas Christiansen named Panama's final 26 on May 26, 2026, and the first thing that jumps out is the age. This is a squad built on experience, not potential. Aníbal Godoy, the captain, is 36. Alberto Quintero, the winger, is 38. Eric Davis, the left-back, is 35. Luis Mejía, likely the starting goalkeeper, is 35. There are teenagers in this tournament who were not born when Quintero made his national team debut.

The construction is 3 goalkeepers, 10 defenders, 9 midfielders, 4 forwards. Christiansen has loaded the middle of the pitch, which makes sense given Panama's tactical identity: defend compactly, press selectively, and hope the veterans can manufacture a goal from set pieces or transitions.

Panama announced their squad with Adalberto "Coco" Carrasquilla included despite a groin injury suffered in the Liga MX final two days prior. The Pumas midfielder is the team's best player by a clear margin, and his availability for the opening match against Ghana on June 17 is the single biggest variable in Panama's tournament. Without him, the midfield loses its progressive passer, its press-resistant outlet, and the one player who can genuinely link defense to attack against high-quality opposition.

The Carrasquilla question

Strip everything else away and this is the decision that defines Panama's tournament.

Carrasquilla, 27, has been the heartbeat of this team since the 2022 cycle. At Pumas he plays as a single pivot in a 4-3-3, averaging 65 passes per 90 at 87% completion, with 7.2 progressive passes and 4.3 ball recoveries. Those are not spectacular numbers, but they are reliable numbers, and reliability is what Panama needs against Croatia and England.

The injury timeline is tight. A Grade 1 adductor strain typically requires 7-10 days. Panama play Ghana on June 17, six days after the squad announcement. Christiansen has gambled that Carrasquilla can recover in time, but even if he does, match fitness is a separate question. The Liga MX final was his first 90 minutes in three weeks after a calf issue in April.

If Carrasquilla cannot start, the pivot falls to Aníbal Godoy at 36, partnered with one of Carlos Harvey, Cristian Martínez, or José Luis Rodríguez. Godoy is still positionally sound — his 6.8 ball recoveries per 90 for San Diego FC lead the team — but his range has shrunk. He no longer covers the ground to screen a back four against Croatia's midfield rotation or England's vertical passing.

The veterans and what they have left

Godoy (159 caps) and Quintero (140 caps) are the emotional core of this squad. Between them they have 299 international appearances. The entire squad has 1,047 caps, an average of 40 per player. For context, England's squad averages 34.

But caps are not minutes, and minutes are not quality. Quintero at 38 plays for Plaza Amador in the Panamanian league. His last European stint ended in 2019. He is in the squad because Christiansen trusts him in high-pressure moments, but trust is not pace, and pace is what he will need against England's full-backs.

Eric Davis at 35 is a more interesting case. The left-back has 104 caps and 9 goals, many from set pieces. He remains Panama's primary dead-ball threat, and in a tournament where margins are thin, a well-delivered free kick or corner can flip a game. Davis's crossing accuracy has declined — from 34% in 2022 to 27% in 2025 — but his delivery from deep positions, 35-40 yards, is still precise. Against teams that defend zonally, his ability to find the back post or the six-yard box edge is Panama's most reliable attacking weapon.

Michael Amir Murillo, 30, is the defensive standout. The Beşiktaş right-back has 91 caps and has played Champions League football. He is quick, aggressive in 1v1s, and comfortable stepping into midfield. Against England's wide attackers — whether Foden, Saka, or Palmer — Murillo will be tested repeatedly. His performance in that match likely determines whether Panama leave the group with any points.

The one European and what he represents

José Córdoba, 25, plays for Norwich City in the Championship. He is the only member of the squad based in England, and his presence is symbolic of the gap between Panama's generation and the next.

Córdoba joined Norwich in January 2025 for £2.8 million, a record fee for a Panamanian defender. He has started 18 matches, mostly as a left-sided center-back in a back three. His numbers are solid rather than spectacular: 4.1 clearances per 90, 62% aerial duel success, 82% pass completion. What stands out is his comfort on the ball — he carries into midfield 3.2 times per 90, rare for a Panamanian defender at this level.

Christiansen has used Córdoba as the left-sided center-back in a 3-4-2-1 in recent qualifiers, with Davis as the left wing-back and Murillo on the right. That shape gives Panama defensive width without requiring the full-backs to overlap constantly. Against Croatia's patient buildup, it allows Panama to stay compact and force Modrić and Kovačić to play through crowded central zones.

The question is whether Córdoba can handle the physicality of tournament football. The Championship is robust, but World Cup group stage intensity is a step up. His partnership with Fidel Escobar (Saprissa, 96 caps) and Andrés Andrade (LASK, 47 caps) will be tested early.

The forwards: four players, one question

Ismael Díaz, Cecilio Waterman, José Fajardo, Tomás Rodríguez. Four forwards for three group games. None play in a top-five European league. None scored more than 12 goals in their domestic season.

Díaz, at León in Liga MX, is the most technically gifted. He can drop deep to link play and has a powerful shot from distance. But his movement off the ball is inconsistent, and against organized defenses he tends to drift wide rather than attack the box.

Waterman, 31, is the target man. He won 58% of his aerial duels for Universidad de Concepción in the Chilean second division and offers a physical presence that complements Díaz's technical approach. The two have started together in Panama's last six qualifiers, with Waterman as the focal point and Díaz as the secondary runner.

Fajardo, 30, is the wildcard. He has only 22 caps but scored 5 goals in 2025 qualifying, including the winner against Costa Rica that secured Panama's place. Christiansen trusts him in big moments, but his club form at Universidad Católica in Ecuador has been patchy — 4 goals in 1,847 minutes.

Rodríguez, 24, is the youth option. At Saprissa he plays wide right, but for Panama he has been used as a second striker. His pace is useful late in games, but his decision-making in the final third is raw. He is unlikely to start unless injuries force Christiansen's hand.

The group and the path

Panama were drawn into Group L with Ghana, Croatia, and England. It is arguably the most lopsided group in the tournament.

England are favorites to win the group, with a squad depth that allows Thomas Tuchel to rotate aggressively. Croatia, in their final tournament with Luka Modrić, have the midfield control to dominate possession against Panama. Ghana, the most athletic team in the group, match up physically with Panama's veterans but lack the tactical discipline of the European sides.

Panama's realistic target is third place and a potential path to the Round of 32 as one of the best third-placed teams. To get there, they likely need at least a draw against Ghana and to avoid heavy defeats against Croatia and England.

The schedule helps: Ghana first, then Croatia, then England. If Panama can take points from the opener, they approach the Croatia match with pressure reduced. If they lose to Ghana, the tournament effectively becomes about goal difference.

The bottom line

This Panama squad is not built to surprise. It is built to compete for 90 minutes, to stay organized, and to hope that set pieces or individual moments produce a goal. The average age (29.4) is the second-oldest in the tournament, behind only Croatia. The experience is genuine — 1,047 caps, nine players with 50+ appearances — but the legs are old and the depth is thin.

Carrasquilla's fitness is the swing factor. With him at 80%, Panama have a midfielder who can slow the game down, find the spare man, and relieve pressure. Without him, the ball comes back quickly, the defense drops deeper, and the veterans expend energy they do not have.

Christiansen has been honest about the challenge. In his squad announcement press conference he called the group "the hardest test we have faced" and said the target is "to show the world that Panama belongs on this stage." Belonging is not winning. But in a 48-team tournament, belonging might be enough.