Panama's World Cup: Joy, Politics, and the Future

The national team's qualification for the World Cup has sparked widespread celebration. The atmosphere is still charged with this success. The field smelled of sweat and blood, and at dawn, the streets were filled with joy, commotion, confetti, and happiness—a real carnival. Football once again proved to be the planet's most important social phenomenon; only this sport can unite so many hearts. That's why it's the most spectacular, the most thrilling, and the most massive—the passion of the masses. Panama is returning to the World Cup, the most inclusive and expanded tournament in history. For the first time, a record 48 countries will participate. Now, with a new heartbeat, courage, hope, and heart... the only team from Central America and the best. The author of this column represents Sertv Deports. Besides the Chepebomba issue, I'm told there are other situations that are truly concerning. They say that on Tuesday night at Rommel, Manuelito was smiling on the outside but crying on the inside, because if FIFA comes down hard, he'll have to watch 'Sele' matches on TV. More than one person left saying, 'So that's how it was.' Today, Genaro López, Sr., will have a hearing where the prosecution will argue to elevate the case to complex status. Yesterday, there was a rumor that the 'Sele' might play in the 2026 World Cup in Adidas uniforms. How shameless. I hear that, as of now, with the whole Taiwan trip, the only achievement of Betserai, 'Cocobolo' Cedeño, the street sweeper Gaitán, Cohen, and other deputies is creating a diplomatic crisis for the country. A 'Sele' fan told me some unbelievable stories about the questionable behavior of the Pandeportes golfer on the night of qualification. That night, we played five matches against El Salvador and won them all. Now I return to my reality; it pains me the marginalization of the LPF. If that were true, he would have won the last elections. Deputy Prado says she does not endorse or participate in the supposed shakedown being negotiated behind closed doors in the Budget Committee. If we hadn't qualified, it would have been Armageddon, a total failure. Some like to turn to the stars, that the planets aligned; I prefer to specify that we are made to suffer, until the last minute. With the 4 points lost at home in draws against Guatemala and Suriname, the celebration would not have been postponed so long. Trusting a victory against a battered and depleted rival is playing with fire, but the players' performance was excellent, we were superior to the Cuzcatlecos, and the fans, the thousand-headed monster, fully supported the team for the '90, 'yes we can,' the deafening shout echoed in Rommel. Before tactics and strategy, victory is first won in the mind; it was inspiring how an entire country came together for the World Cup ticket. Some Salvadorans blame Bolillo; they even shouted 'traitor, you qualified Panama twice' with blows and physical aggression. So much swimming to drown at the shore! A former Mides official, fired over a bottle, says that 'Muñeco' Martín has the respect and affection of the people. Dawn will tell. A joker reminds me that Robertito, the vice-mayor, when the 'Sele' was doing badly in October, was suggesting that investment should be made in sports like baseball and boxing. They say a model for water usage is good. His idea was slow to bloom, but the harvest was prosperous. Nothing fits in a speech; how much does it weigh to know how to wait and always insist? I'm told that all the rage of certain free candidates is because their suggested companies haven't gotten contracts. No one comes to take away; integrating is not resigning, it's adding talent; there is a kid at Botafogo in Brazil who is raising his hand. That image of the Hispanic-Danish, filling a page of glory, kneeling and with tears of resilience, in his temple, will remain intact in our memory, because football is better explained that way, when promises become a beautiful reality. The most important thing is that we entered through the main door, with the right to dream, that the draw, without nerves, dictates its sentence to fate; whoever comes, it will be the same, our name Panama will be there, as a protagonist; the others will be spectators. If weekends had 5% of the people who were on Calle 50, everything would be different; we would be contributing to creating a football culture. Christiansen's achievement is meritorious; he knew how to endure. Whoever hears him, he doesn't use the dollar. At Albrook Mall, the mandatory stop is not Santa, but the Cobre Panamá Christmas village. Be brave, and name names. The attitude of some Vamos and Seguimos deputies towards the head of MOP is characteristic of professional extortionists. There were times when they labeled him a failure, even 'pechi frío' to his players; he swallowed criticism, resisted with a wardrobe full of clothes, and believing that his process would get him out of a tangled beginning. Congratulations. In the case of the 'man' from Flow La Música, couldn't they have sent him a summons to save him the embarrassment of being shown in handcuffs on social media? Yesterday SENAFRONT celebrated its XVII Anniversary with a ceremony recognizing 35 outstanding units for their arduous work and commitment to the Homeland. It is the behavior of a typical opportunistic politician. In the Public Ministry, they should stop making arbitrary arrests and mounting 'shows' in cases where they don't even have clear from the start if a criminal act is configured or not. He won on nights where character originates and is forged, where he silenced with a 'Cuzcatlanazo'; then he wilted El Trébol, with unique victories, with faith that is not negotiable. Now, there is a simple but demanding path; we must prepare well and that the list of those who will go to the World Cup be made based on meritocracy and current performance; we have to integrate without prejudices; it's more important to know how much you are going to perform-contribute and then to know where you come from. Understood and without discussion that there is a base squad, but there are no bearer checks and fixed spots; that silent virus must be eradicated. They say that the trip to Taiwan by certain deputies increases dependence on Trump and that to be independent, ties must be strengthened with China, India, Brazil, etc. Just look! But from Reebok, they denied that they are going to sell the rights.