Panama's senior national football team is today obligated to seek a victory against Guatemala to keep their aspirations of qualifying directly for the 2026 World Cup alive. The match is scheduled for 9:00 PM (Panama time) at the Manuel Felipe Carrera Stadium, better known as El Trébol. Due to the narrow margin between the teams in Panama's group (A), today's match against the Guatemalans is crucial, as a draw or a loss would put them in a bad position to secure a direct spot to the World Cup. Currently, Group A is led by Suriname and Panama with six points and the same goal difference (+1), but the first team has one more goal. In third place is Guatemala with five points, and in fourth place, with fewer options but not eliminated, is El Salvador with three points. Previously (5:00 PM), Suriname will face El Salvador, so Panama and Guatemala will have a clearer picture of the standings. Panama will approach this match without the absence of winger Edgar Yoel Bárcenas. Additionally, it was unofficially learned that right-back Michael Amir Murillo has a discomfort, so yesterday Iván 'Colocho' Anderson, from Club Deportivo Marathón of Honduras, was called up. The team coached by Thomas Christiansen arrived in Guatemalan soil yesterday afternoon after training in the morning in Panama.
