Panama flags improve rankings, finish seventh at Flag Football World Championship

Panama's flag football teams have concluded their participation in the 2026 World Championship held in Düsseldorf, Germany, securing seventh place in both the men's and women's divisions. This performance marks a notable improvement from their previous World Cup showings, signaling a growing strength in the sport for the nation.

The women's team advanced to the knockout stage with a 2-1 record in the group phase, defeating Japan and Brazil while only falling to Canada. In the quarterfinals, they faced a tough match against Great Britain, ultimately losing 26-20. Competing for placement from 5th to 8th, they finished their tournament with a decisive 38-27 victory over Spain, securing seventh place overall, a three-position jump from their 10th-place finish in the prior World Cup.

Similarly, the men's team secured a spot among the top eight teams with a 2-1 record in their group, notching wins against France and Great Britain, despite a loss to Italy. In a closely contested quarterfinal, they faced Mexico. Panama held a halftime lead of 19-14, but Mexico rallied in the second half to win 33-19. The Panamanian men's team concluded their tournament by defeating Germany 33-32, also earning them seventh place, a significant improvement from their 13th-place finish in the last World Cup.

The championship also served as a crucial qualifier for the flag football tournament at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Canada and Italy secured men's Olympic berths, while Mexico and Canada qualified on the women's side. The United States and Canada claimed the world championship titles in the men's and women's categories, respectively.