Panama U-17 coach Felipe Baloy sees Spain tour as key test before World Cup

Panama's U-17 national football team is gearing up for the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar with a significant preparatory tour in Spain. From September 21 to October 1, the team will compete in Salou against three fellow World Cup qualifiers: Australia, Morocco, and Vietnam.

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Without a doubt that it is a beautiful opportunity to see the level and potential of each player, how we are and the real level of each one and of the team itself. We are going to face teams that will be in the U-17 World Cup and are among the strongest in this category like Morocco.

Head coach Felipe Baloy emphasized the tour's importance, calling it a "beautiful opportunity to see the level and potential of each player." He aims to gauge the team's current standing and identify areas for improvement against strong international competition. "We are going to face teams that will be in the U-17 World Cup and are among the strongest in this category, like Morocco," Baloy stated.

The friendly matches are strategically scheduled to help the team prepare for the diverse playing styles they might encounter in the World Cup. "This is an important part of starting to face rivals who play similarly to the teams we will face in the World Cup," Baloy explained. He added that the experience would allow the team to "work, observe, analyze, and try to counter their strengths in different situations."

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It will be a beautiful experience, a beautiful opportunity to measure ourselves and see how the team is at the moment.

Baloy also highlighted the significance of these matches for player development and selection. "It is important for us to have this opportunity to go to Spain, to play in a quadrangular tournament with great teams, and the boys have to take advantage of it," he said. "We have to get the most out of it to see what we need to improve. Without a doubt, it will be a beautiful opportunity to see how we are and these matches will allow us to see which players are ready to compete and reach a World Cup."

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This is an important part of starting to face rivals who play similarly to the teams we will face in the World Cup to obviously work, observe them, analyze them and try to counter their strengths in different situations.

The team recently concluded its sixth training camp, with Baloy noting the players' improving condition and the benefits of extended time together. The tour in Spain represents a critical step in their journey toward the global tournament.

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I think it is important for us to be able to have that opportunity to go to Spain, to play in a quadrangular tournament with great teams and the boys have to take advantage of it. We have to get the most out of it to see what we have to improve. Without a doubt, it will be a beautiful opportunity to see how we are and these matches will allow us to see which players are ready to compete and reach a World Cup.