Panama
Panama arrive at their second tournament, having debuted in 2018 with a winless group stage. Thomas Christiansen, the Spanish-Danish coach who has built Panamanian football into a regional force, leads a squad with newfound depth. José Fajardo, Édgar Bárcenas (Panama-based) and Adalberto Carrasquilla (Pumas) provide attacking options; Aníbal Godoy anchors midfield; goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera offers experience. Panama reached the 2024 Copa América quarter-final, beating the USA en route — a result that shocked CONCACAF and signalled real arrival. Group L with England, Croatia and Ghana is the toughest possible draw — survival to the round of 32 demands a draw with Ghana and a competitive showing against either elite side. The country has come a long way since the 2018 group-stage debut; this tournament tests whether the progress is structural.