Panama starting lineup vs England confirmed for FIFA World Cup 2026 match
(Courtesy : Getty)
Los Canaleros are already eliminated from the expanded 48-team World Cup.
Panama take on England in their final Group L fixture in the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on June 27. The Central American side are playing for pride in tonight’s game as they are already out of knockout contention.
Los Canaleros began their campaign with a 1-0 loss to Ghana, with Caleb Yirenkyi scoring deep in stoppage time for the Black Stars. The Red Tide then suffered another 1-0 loss in the next game against Croatia, with Ante Budimir scoring the decider.
The back-to-back losses mean that Thomas Christiansen’s side will finish bottom of the group. However, they are still searching for their first point in the quadrennial tournament, and also their first-ever win over England.
Their only previous meeting in the 2018 World Cup ended in a 6-1 win for the Three Lions. A win for Los Canaleros tonight can deny England top spot in the group.
Also Read: Panama vs England: Five key battles to watch out for in FIFA World Cup 2026
Let’s look at the Panama confirmed lineup for the FIFA World Cup 2026 match against England:
Panama (5-4-1): Orlando Mosquera; Amir Murillo, Fidel Escobar, Jose Cordoba, Andres Andrade, Jorge Gutierrez; Yoel Barcenas, Cristian Martinez, Carlos Harvey, Jose Luis Rodriguez; Tomas Rodriguez.
Substitutes: Luis Meija (gk), Cesar Samudio (gk), Cesar Blackman, Adalberto Carrasquilla, Eric Davis, Ismael Diaz, Jose Fajardo, Edgardo Farina, Anibal Godoy, Azarias Londono, Roderick Miller, Alberto Quintero, Jiovany Ramos, Cecilio Waterman, Cesar Yanis.
Thoughts on the lineup
Adalberto Carrasquilla is still nursing an adductor injury and will not feature tonight. Other than that, Christiansen continues with a largely unchanged side fielded in a defensively solid formation.
Besiktas player Amir Murillo is one of the most accomplished players in the squad and starts at right-back, with Jorge Gutierrez starting on the left. Fidel Escobar and Andres Andrade are joined by Norwich City’s Jose Cordoba in a three-man central defence.
Minnesota United’s Carlos Harvey plays as a defensive screen in midfield, and he is paired with Cristian Martinez. San Diego FC midfielder Anibal Godoy, who is the side’s all-time leading goalscorer, is not fit enough to start.
Yoel Barcenas, who wears the captain’s armband, and Jose Luis Rodriguez start on the wings. The latter had a training-ground confrontation with striker Cecilio Waterman, but Christiansen keeps his faith in the winger. Jose Fajardo is replaced by Tomas Rodriguez as the team’s lone striker.
When is Panama vs England FIFA World Cup 2026 match?
The Group L clash is scheduled for Saturday, June 27, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. In India, the match will kick off at 2:30 AM IST on June 28.
How to watch Panama vs England FIFA World Cup 2026 in India?
Fans in India can watch live on Zee5 (premium subscription required) or on Unite8 Sports TV channels.
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Sushruta has spent over two years covering football, with a particular focus on Indian and international competitions. Alongside football, he has reported on a variety of sports, bringing curiosity and perspective to every story. When he’s not following the action, he can usually be found binge-watching movies or getting lost in a good book.