The President of the Republic, José Raúl Mulino, received the players and coaching staff of the Panama Senior National Football Team at the Palace of the Garzas. The team qualified for the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday night. A press release from the Presidency of the Republic informed that during the event, players Erick Davis, Cristian 'El Fulo' Martínez, Alberto 'Negrito' Quintero, Edgardo Fariña, and Jovani Welch, who represented the national team, along with coach Thomas Christiansen, were congratulated for their efforts on the field. The team qualified undefeated after six matches in the final stage, results that have earned them a spot in the World Cup as group leaders and the only representative from Central America for this event. 'Their qualification is a great demonstration of their effort; they shone and this places them among the highest-ranked countries that will compete in the World Cup,' the president emphasized. He noted that in such crucial matches for World Cup qualification, no team gives up or cedes space; the position must be earned with victories. Meanwhile, Thomas Christiansen, the team's strategist, expressed that nothing is better than football to unite a country and that both the players and the coaching staff will prepare to give their best performance at the World Cup. 'They gave a tank of oxygen of happiness to the entire Panamanian people,' President Mulino expressed. The head of state also highlighted the positive cascading effect of this qualification on the economy by internationalizing the national team and the name of Panama through football. Likewise, he highlighted the government's efforts in building new sports facilities for our athletes. 'Negrito' Quintero, for his part, expressed his satisfaction at being part of the group of players who are giving this moment of joy to the Panamanian people and highlighted the strength of each of his teammates.
