Panama's open training footage goes viral ahead of England World Cup game
Footage of one of Panama’s training sessions ahead of the World Cup has gone viral, and it’s got fans talking.
The North American nation will take part in just their second-ever World Cup this summer, with the side set to take on Croatia, Ghana and England in Group L.
Of course, in 2018, Panama also faced England, with the Three Lions coming out 6-1 winners courtesy of a John Stones brace, a Harry Kane hat-trick and a Jesse Lingard strike.
Panama took part in a pre-tournament friendly against the Dominican Republic in the nation’s capital, Panama City, on Thursday (June 4), with the home side running out 4-2 winners.
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And despite winning the match comfortably, it’s fair to say some fans don’t have high hopes for their prospects at the upcoming tournament after clips of the team’s training session have gone viral on social media.
During the footage, several players misplace simple passes, miss chances, struggle to control the ball and generally don’t look like top-level footballers ready to take on the best international teams on the planet.
A few clips from Panama’s team training session just before the World Cup begins…
— george (@StokeyyG2) June 3, 2026
Don’t you dare mess this up England. pic.twitter.com/WfAs4BRQLj
After watching the footage, one fan said: “What’s the first shot? I’ve seen enough. How is this expanded World Cup possibly a good idea? It is pathetic.”
Another added: “That training session looks like organised chaos. Panama really said, ‘Come watch us cook… or burn’ before the World Cup.”
A third claimed: “Harry Kane will run through them like a freight train.”
While a fourth commented: “Money-grabbing FIFA will kill the excitement with so many teams now involved. So many average teams.”
Another shared a different view: “They’re living their dream. World Cup finals. Lots of players never get to play at this level. I say good luck to them.”
Panama came through a challenging qualifying campaign, with Los Canaleros winning Group A of the third round of CONCACAF qualifying.
In their last match during qualification, Panama beat El Salvador 3-0 to secure just their second appearance at the World Cup. The team will be hoping to register their first win this time around, having lost all three of their matches – against England, Belgium and Tunisia – in 2018.
The squad is made up mostly of little-known players, although some ply their trade in Europe, with defender Edgardo Farina currently at Championship side Norwich City, while Amir Murillo plays his club football for Turkish giants Beşiktaş.
Panama World Cup squad
Luis Mejía — Nacional
César Samudio — Marathón
Orlando Mosquera — Al-Fayha
César Blackman — Slovan Bratislava
José Córdoba — Norwich City
Edgardo Fariña — FC Pari Nizhniy Novgorod
Roderick Miller — Turan Tovuz
Fidel Escobar — Saprissa
Jiovany Ramos — Puerto Cabello
Eric Davis — Plaza Amador
Andrés Andrade — LASK
Jorge Gutiérrez — Deportivo La Guaira
Amir Murillo — Beşiktaş
Cristian Martínez — Ironi Kiryat Shmona
José Luis Rodríguez — Juárez
Adalberto Carrasquilla — UNAM
Yoel Bárcenas — Mazatlán
Carlos Harvey — Minnesota United
Aníbal Godoy — San Diego
César Yanis — Cobresal
Azarías Londoño — Universidad Católica de Chile
Alberto Quintero — CD Plaza Amador
Tomás Rodríguez — Deportivo Saprissa
Ismael Díaz — León
José Fajardo — Universidad Católica
Cecilio Waterman — Universidad de Concepción
Topics: FIFA World Cup
Luke Davies