Sportstar·India·Friday, September 25, 2026 at 12:41 AM

Panama Coach Christiansen takes leaf out of his own’s team tale to explain how Indian football can grow

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Joan Mathew Jacob

While India’s growth has not been as exponential as Panama’s, Thomas Christiansen said that the addition of OCI player Ryan Williams has been an optimistic step.

Updated : Sep 25, 2026 07:30 IST , Bengaluru - 3 MINS READ

Panama head coach Thomas Christiansen underlined that the domestic league has to improve the national team to get better eventually. | Photo Credit: K. Murali Kumar

Panama head coach Thomas Christiansen underlined that the domestic league has to improve the national team to get better eventually. | Photo Credit: K. Murali Kumar

Thomas Christiansen took over Panama during a time of transition. The team was going through its post-2018 World Cup lean spell, with the players who secured the historic maiden qualification moving on from the national side.

He used the opportunity to identify his core players and build a structure for the team, which went on to reach the Copa America quarterfinals, the CONCACAF Gold Cup final, and a second-ever World Cup qualification in 2026.

Now, after an underwhelming end to the campaign in North America this summer, Christiansen will start all over again when Panama takes on India at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Friday.

“(Facing India) could be a good possibility also for our youngsters as we’re making a change to the national team,” he said on the eve of the game, adding that, “the older players who finished the World Cup have left, and we have to look for the new, who are pushing strongly.”

Christiansen, however, noted that the learning experience will not be just for his side, but for India as well. “One of the things that you’re doing well now is that you’re facing three teams in this FIFA window, who are participating in the World Cup. That gives you this experience to see where you are, where you have to go, if you want to reach a World Cup,” he said.

Despite the words of recognition, Christiansen admitted that he expects his side to win, just like its fans do back in Panama.

Despite the words of recognition, Christiansen admitted that he expects his side to win, just like its fans do back in Panama. | Photo Credit: AIFF Media

But when asked whether there is a blueprint for success, the 53-year-old offered a take that has been repeatedly stressed by many in the past. “The league has to be better, the facilities have to be better to give the players the best conditions to improve. Get good coaches to show the players what they need,” Christiansen said.

He further explained that Indian players need to “go abroad” to improve their level. He said this using his own squad as an example, which has just a handful of players playing in Panama while many have scattered across the globe in leagues like Major League Soccer, EFL Championship, Süper Lig, among others.

While India’s growth has not been as exponential as Panama’s, Christiansen said that the addition of an OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) player like Ryan Williams has definitely raised the level to some extent.

One of the similarities he found between Panama and India’s football scene is its competition with other sports. While cricket dominates the screens in India, baseball had the same effect in the Central American nation. “Cricket is sport number one here. We had (this situation) some years ago in Panama; it was all baseball-focused.”

“And this is one of the things that you have to go through; you have to fight against that to get football on a high level,” he encouraged.

Despite the words of recognition, Christiansen admitted that he expects his side to win, just like its fans do back in Panama.

“We know that we are the favourite on paper; we have to admit that. But I will not take the result too seriously; I will look at the players’ attitude and their communication,” he said.

“If we win, perfect, that is also our goal,” he concluded.

Published on Sep 25, 2026

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