The Panamanian soccer team have recorded consecutive second-place finishes in CONCACAF competition.
Maybe the third time will be the charm.
Panama finished second to Mexico in the 2023 Gold Cup. In March, Panama again lost to Mexico, this time in the CONCACAF Nations League finals.
Monday, Panama will take aim at a first Gold Cup title, when it opens Group C play at Dignity Health sports park against Guadeloupe (7 p.m.). The opening game of the doubleheader features Jamaica against Guatemala (4 p.m.)
Since taking over in 2020, Thomas Christiansen has helped Panama become one of the teams to watch in CONCACAF
Panama has never won the tournament.
“I think they have been adapting to what we want in the national team, the way of playing,” Christiansen said in an interview last year to FIFA.com. “They are following instructions well and are assimilating to our ideas. They learn quickly and I think that has helped them improve a lot.”
Panama is also vying for a return to the World Cup. Panama’s last appearance came in 2018, which is its only trip to the tournament. With the U.S., Mexico, and Canada already in as hosts, Panama will be looking to secure its spot through qualification.
“It would be massive,” Christiansen said of qualifying. “I’ve seen the highlights of when they reached the World Cup, I saw the highlights of the goal against England, which was their first goal in a World Cup. … The celebrations, the happiness, the people crying. Imagine a situation that makes you cry and experience such emotions, getting to another World Cup would be a great achievement and would be a great joy for all of the Panamanian people.”
The final round of qualifying begins in September, until then, Panama will have to take care of a challenging Group C.
After Monday’s opener against Guadeloupe, Panama also faces Guatemala (Friday in Austin, Texas) and concludes group stage June 24 against Jamaica, also in Austin.
Jamaica figures to cause Panama some problems with several players based in either the the Premier League or the Championship.