Panamanian Forward Kadir Barría on 2026 World Cup Chance

Panamanian forward Kadir Barría, 18, is experiencing a special moment. He is training with the senior national team and has the opportunity to impress head coach Thomas Christiansen for a spot on the final player list for the 2026 World Cup. His focus is on continuing to work in the same way he has since he began his professional career. Barría says he spoke with Christiansen, who was a forward in his playing days, and received valuable advice from him, including "hitting the near post." "One cannot stop trying harder, wanting to be better every day. The truth is that has taken me to where I am," he stated. Called up for the second time to the Botafogo first team in Brazil, the forward spoke clearly and confidently in his contact with the Panamanian press. He stated that at his club in Brazil, they are prepared for big moments with psychologists. Barría is living his first call-up to the national team but is not losing sight of his goals. Now he looks at José Fajardo and Cecilio Waterman, "sometimes one has to understand the game, if you have to play the ball at your feet, or make a run into space," said Barría, who reiterated that he will take the opportunity in these friendly matches against Bolivia and Mexico. "The whole issue of the cameras, of professionalism, the truth is that there at Botafogo they prepare us, from the ground up, we always do things like that to improve, with the psychologists, in case one day I were to explode," he retorted. Kadir is a forward who can shoot with both feet, and he admits he used to watch the game of his godfather, the late Luis "Matador" Tejada. Barría knows he has a great opportunity, he thanks coach Thomas Christiansen, adds that he has to "know how to take advantage of it," and admits that if a World Cup spot comes, "it would be a dream."