World Cup 2026 calendar Panama vs Ghana | When and where to watch the debut for free

Panama's men's national football team has arrived in Toronto, Canada, ready to make their debut in the FIFA World Cup 2026. The team will face Ghana in their opening match of Group L at the Toronto Stadium. Prior to their arrival, the squad, managed by Thomas Christiansen, completed their final training session at their base camp in Nottawasaga.

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We have a lot of respect for Ghana. It is a team with World Cup experience. They have a new coach who has been there for a short time, but precisely that World Cup experience he possesses can serve him to transmit important information to his players.

Coach Christiansen and captain Aníbal Godoy attended the official pre-match press conference. Christiansen acknowledged Ghana as a formidable opponent with World Cup experience but conveyed confidence in Panama's readiness. "We have a lot of respect for Ghana. It is a team with World Cup experience. They have a new coach who has been there for a short time, but precisely that World Cup experience he possesses can serve him to transmit important information to his players," Christiansen stated.

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We also want to mark our territory. We know it will be a difficult match, but the team is very well, with a lot of spirit and with the confidence that we can win.

He also commented on the performance of other Concacaf teams in the tournament so far, noting that the United States, Mexico, and Canada have responded well. "We also want to mark our territory. We know it will be a difficult match, but the team is very well, with a lot of spirit and with the confidence that we can win," he added. Christiansen also extended gratitude to the Panamanian fans traveling to Canada, anticipating a strong presence in the stadium that will provide significant support.

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After seeing what we did in the last match against Bosnia, I think that is the perfect example of what we can do in this first match. We played a very serious game against a World Cup team, and that reflects the work we have been doing day by day in training and at the camp.

Captain Aníbal Godoy echoed the team's confidence, drawing parallels to their recent performance against Bosnia. "After seeing what we did in the last match against Bosnia, I think that is the perfect example of what we can do in this first match. We played a very serious game against a World Cup team, and that reflects the work we have been doing day by day in training and at the camp," Godoy said. He emphasized the team's motivation to "make history" and highlighted the tactical key to their debut: "The key will be to keep a clean sheet, be well-organized defensively."

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We have a group with human quality and technical quality. The motivation we have is to make history. I have a very big and deep feeling that when the day ends tomorrow we will make history.