Panama had to wait until the final matchday to secure their spot in the 2026 World Cup, a challenge that seemed comfortable and accessible but was not, a point agreed upon by both the players and the coaching staff led by Thomas Christiansen.
Carrasquilla explained that Panama reached the final matchday of the qualifiers with nothing "concrete" secured. The current Coquimbo Unido player comes off being a champion with his team in Chile and has now also qualified for the next World Cup 2026 with the Panama national team. "A November to remember," expressed Waterman, who did not hide his joy at the strong end to the year in which he achieved both of his goals.
The forward expressed his satisfaction with the World Cup qualification, winning the Chilean league title with four games to spare, something "not easy to achieve," he replied.
"Coco" Carrasquilla also made a call to respect the teams of Central America: "They are making their history, and we are making ours," reiterated the Pumas de México player following the qualifier against El Salvador.
Panama secured their second qualification for a FIFA World Cup, with the entire team and the fans of the "Red Tide" celebrating, but the one who had a November to remember was forward Cecilio Waterman.
"I don't know any player who has more victories than defeats," said Waterman, justifying the setbacks he has had in his career but who ends the year with a league title and a ticket in hand for the 2026 World Cup in Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
The current Pumas de México player added that Panamanian football "is still growing and we are not superior to anyone."
"When it seems easy, it's not easy, and that's that," was the reflection of the Panamanian midfielder Adalberto 'Coco' Carrasquilla.
Waterman had not been considered in previous national team processes, but he did not speak of "revenge" for the qualification and that he had not been taken into account in other processes.
