Panama

Panama, known as Los Canaleros, are CONCACAF's most improved side of the 21st century — a nation that missed out on World Cups for decades before qualifying for their first in 2018 and returning again in 2026.

Panama's football federation was established in 1937 and the team played their first international the following year, defeating Venezuela 2–1 in Panama City. Early success came at the regional CCCF Championship, which Panama won in 1951, but the country spent much of the twentieth century as a mid-table CONCACAF side without major impact on qualifying campaigns.

The programme's transformation accelerated in the 2000s under a series of strong coaches. Panama reached the CONCACAF Gold Cup final in 2005 and 2013, losing both on each occasion, and built a core generation of players — led by striker Luis Tejada — capable of challenging the region's heavyweights. Copa Centroamericana glory followed in 2009.

The watershed moment arrived when Panama qualified for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, their first-ever appearance on football's biggest stage. Felipe Baloy scored their historic first World Cup goal against England. With Aníbal Godoy — the country's most-capped player on 159 appearances — still leading the side, Panama secured a second consecutive World Cup berth for 2026 and finished as runners-up in the 2023 Gold Cup and 2025 CONCACAF Nations League.