India vs Panama — All you need to know about Blue Tigers’ opponent that played in FIFA World Cup 2026

Panama — which faced England, Ghana and Croatia in the FIFA World Cup 2026 — will be the second CONCACAF nation India will play this year, having played Jamaica earlier.

Updated : Sep 24, 2026 09:25 IST , Chennai - 2 MINS READ

Jose Fajardo will be one of Panama’s strikers travelling to India for the international friendly. | Photo Credit: AP

The men’s senior football team of India returns to the international stage on Friday when it takes on Panama in a friendly in Bengaluru.

Though the match was initially scheduled for September 26, the Bengaluru Marathon saw the match get preponed. Panama will be the second CONCACAF nation India will play this year, having played Jamaica earlier, in the Unity Cup.

Where is Panama?

Panama is a transcontinental country located in Central America, situated on the narrow Isthmus of Panama that bridges North and South America. It borders Costa Rica to the west and Colombia to the southeast, connecting the Caribbean Sea to the North Pacific Ocean.

What is the FIFA ranking of Panama?

Panama is currently 44th in the FIFA Men’s World Ranking.

When did Panama last play its previous match?

Panama’s last official international match took place on June 27, 2026, during the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage, where it played England in a Group L match. The Three Lions won that match 2-0, with goals from Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham.

How many players from Panama play in the Premier League?

Currently, no players from the Panama national team play in the Premier League.

Has Panama played India before?

No. This upcoming friendly is the first-ever international fixture between India and Panama.

Who is the coach of Panama?

Former Spain forward Thomas Christiansen is the coach of Panama. He has been at the helm since July 2020 and recently signed a contract extension, keeping him in charge through the 2030 World Cup cycle.

Panama squad:

Goalkeepers: Orlando Mosquera, Marcos De León, Eddie Roberts

Defenders: César Blackman, Jorge Gutiérrez, Jair, Amir Murillo, Omar Valencia, Martín Krug, Jiovany Ramos, Joseph Jones, Eduardo Anderson

Midfielders: Carlos Harvey, Adalberto Carrasquilla, Cristian Martínez, José Luis Rodríguez, Victor Griffith, Daivis Murillo, Azarías Londoño, Rafael Mosquera, Giovany Herbert

Forwards: José Fajardo, Mijahir Jiménez, Tomás Rodríguez

Published on Sep 24, 2026

Latest on Sportstar

1. Live Blog 2026-09-24T09:19:03+05:30

   India vs Chinese Taipei Kabaddi LIVE, Asian Games 2026: Defending champion IND looks to progress to semifinal
2. India vs Panama — All you need to know about Blue Tigers’ opponent that played in FIFA World Cup 2026

3. Live Blog 2026-09-24T05:51:45+05:30

   Shooting LIVE updates from Asian Games 2026, September 24: Kedarling in action in 10m air pistol; Aakash, Kamaljeet out ; Anantjeet, Parinaaz's qualification in progress