Panama's national football team is preparing for its second World Cup appearance, sparking immense enthusiasm across the country. Head coach Thomas Christiansen emphasizes that the team is not afraid of strong opponents and aims to put Panama on the world football map. "We know they are tough, but we want to compete with them and we want to put Panama on the world map," he said. Panama topped the group only after the final matchday of the third round of qualifiers. Christiansen, who is the coach with the most matches in charge of Panama in history, feels extremely proud to have brought this joy to the nation. He also noted his special connection with the team and the country: "I feel super connected to the country, very grateful for the affection we have received, both me and the technical staff, from the people, the federation, and the fans...". Qualification was a dream come true for the entire nation. Now the team is eagerly preparing for a challenging Group L, where they will face Ghana, Croatia, and England. "It will be a historic moment," stated Christiansen. "Hearing the Panama anthem and being the coach of a country I love very much."
