Panama vs El Salvador: A Decisive Match for World Cup Qualification

Panama faces El Salvador in the final matchday of the Concacaf qualifiers this Tuesday (tomorrow) at 8:00 p.m. at the "Coloso de Juan Díaz". Panama has not been able to win at the Rommel Fernández Stadium in this qualifying phase, but Mejía warned that "no match is like another" and added that the national team has "players with hierarchy and that the national forwards are going through a good moment, as happened against Guatemala where the goals were scored". Panama is putting its last resort on the line against El Salvador to qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup or, at least, secure a spot in the "repechage" to keep their hopes alive of being at the Canada, USA, and Mexico tournament next year. "We don't depend on ourselves, but we have to do our job," reiterated the Nacional de Uruguay goalkeeper, making it clear that La Roja must go out on the field for the three points against the Salvadorans. Mejía's words come from the fact that Panama needs to win, and for Suriname to draw or lose, for La Roja to advance directly to the 2026 World Cup. "El Salvador is not playing for anything, which makes them a more dangerous opponent." At the same time, Suriname and Guatemala will face each other at the El Trébol stadium in Guatemalan lands in Group A. "Tuesday's match is fundamental, we can't go crazy, first the mentality is to go out to win, as the minutes go by, surely the goals will come," added Mejía. "We have to do our game, both offensively and defensively, not make mistakes," expressed Panamanian goalkeeper Luis "Manotas" Mejía during training yesterday at the Rommel Fernández Stadium.