Panama loses 6-2 to Brazil in World Cup prep friendly at Maracanã
Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Panama lost a friendly match 6-2 to Brazil in preparation for the 2026 World Cup.
- Despite the loss, midfielder Carlos Harvey was Panama's highest-rated player with a 7.6 score from Sofascore, scoring a spectacular goal.
- Harvey's performance included strong passing accuracy, key passes, and defensive contributions.
Panama suffered a 6-2 defeat against football powerhouse Brazil in a friendly match at the historic Maracanã Stadium as part of their 2026 World Cup preparations. Despite the loss, several Panamanian players delivered notable performances, with midfielder Carlos Harvey earning the highest rating of 7.6 from the specialized platform Sofascore.
Harvey's solid performance was highlighted by a spectacular goal that drew applause from the fans in Rio de Janeiro. He played 84 minutes, demonstrating strong offensive and defensive capabilities. Harvey completed 85% of his passes (47 of 55), including 71% of passes in the opponent's half. He also generated two key passes and scored a goal from his only shot. In defense, he made three tackles, won two, blocked a shot, and was successful in four of his eight ground duels.
Other players also received positive mentions. José Luis Rodríguez earned a 6.5 rating after 66 minutes, completing 93% of his passes and having two shots on target. Édgar Yoel Bárcenas also received a 6.5 rating for his 66-minute performance, showcasing 97% passing accuracy and contributing defensively with an interception and two clearances. Both Rodríguez and Bárcenas demonstrated commitment in both offensive and defensive phases of the game.
Originally published by TVN Panamá in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.