Today, Friday, the Panama senior national football team will play the first of two friendlies against South Africa. These matches are important to clear up doubts that coach Thomas Christiansen has ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026. Today's match is scheduled for 12:00 PM (Panama time) at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, South Africa. A total of 23 players have been called up for this two-match tour against the 'Bafana Bafana', so Christiansen will be able to give game time to all the players and thus draw conclusions to define his final squad for the World Cup. Prior to the match, yesterday coach Thomas Christiansen stated in a press conference the importance of these two matches against South Africa. 'These are two key matches in our preparation. Two matches to see how the players are coming along, because here we want people who compete, who are focused on what's ahead,' expressed Christiansen. Christiansen insisted on the opportunity that both matches represent for making the final squad. 'These matches for us, although they are friendlies, are very important for that preparation, because after these two matches there is little left until the World Cup starts and so they have to be given more importance, good conclusions have to be drawn and see what one is looking for,' he indicated. One of the expectations for this first match is whether the coach will start the Botafogo forward, Kadir Barría, or opt for the forwards who were part of the World Cup Qualifying process.
