Under the leadership of head coach Thomas Christiansen, Panama‘s national team has seen a marked surge in competitiveness, rising to prominence as one of the top squads in Concacaf. As a result, fans carry high hopes for their team’s chances in the 2025 Gold Cup, eagerly anticipating a potential championship victory. However, Christiansen faces a significant challenge as he must navigate the team’s path without standout player Adalberto Carrasquilla, the MVP of the previous tournament.
Panama may be one of the top teams in Concacaf, but their path to the 2025 Gold Cup knockout stage will not be easy. Grouped with Jamaica and Guatemala, they will need to hit the ground running if they hope to contend for the title, especially with the USMNT underperforming and leaving the door open for challengers.
Head coach Thomas Christiansen is confident in his squad’s progress since he took over. “Our evolution has been good,” Christiansen said, as reported by La Estrella de Panama. “We’ve learned a lot over the years, made adjustments, and hopefully that will show. But we need to start strong and compete in every game. It’s going to be a tough tournament with a lot of quality teams.”
Why will Adalberto Carrasquilla not play in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup?
According to the Panama National Team, Adalberto Carrasquilla sustained a muscle injury on May 4 while playing for Pumas UNAM, his team. Although he remained under consideration for the Gold Cup roster, the medical staff ultimately prioritized his recovery and decided to leave him out of the tournament.
Adalberto Carrasquilla of Panama battles for the ball against Christian Pulisic (L) and Johnny Cardoso of United States (R) during the CONMEBOL Copa America USA 2024 Group C match between Panama and United States at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on June 27, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Carrasquilla’s absence is a significant blow for Panama. The midfielder serves as the team’s engine, playing a pivotal role on both ends of the pitch. Still, head coach Thomas Christiansen has built a cohesive and resilient squad. Panama have won their last two games without Carrasquilla, proving they can perform at a high level even without their star player.
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Expectations are high for the competition, but in a recent press conference, Christiansen emphasized the national team’s primary goal: securing a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The team will channel its energy into a strategic, long-term sporting project to achieve this objective.
