Panama vs El Salvador at Estadio Rommel Fernández on Tuesday evening in a decisive Group A clash of the FIFA World Cup 2026 CONCACAF third-round qualifiers. Los Canaleros sit second on 9 points from five matches, trailing only Suriname by goal difference, and remain unbeaten despite drawing three matches.
The situation is significantly more desperate for La Selecta, who have been mathematically eliminated after collecting just 3 points from five games and suffering devastating defeats including a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Suriname last time out.
However, El Salvador can still influence the outcome as either Panama or Suriname requires favorable results to secure direct 2026 tournament qualification on the final day
Panama’s unbeaten record masks underlying inconsistency, with three draws among their five matches indicating they have left points on the table that could have already sealed their World Cup berth.
Coach Thomas Christiansen’s side demonstrated character in their last outing, fighting back from 2-0 down against Guatemala to secure a dramatic 3-2 victory through José Fajardo’s 78th-minute strike. The defensive solidity has been impressive with three clean sheets from six group matches, but the attack has at times lacked the cutting edge needed to put matches to bed early.
Striker Cecilio Waterman, who scored twice in the Guatemala win before being replaced by Fajardo for the crucial winner, faces selection competition following his impressive performance.
El Salvador have struggled dramatically throughout the third round, managing just one win and no points from their last four outings while conceding eight goals and scoring merely two—a damning statistic that underscores their offensive impotence and defensive fragility.
Manager Hernan Dario Gomez’s side face the additional headache of suspensions, with both Brayan Gil and Jefferson Valladares ruled out after accumulating second yellow cards in qualifying matches.
Despite their mathematical elimination, expect El Salvador to approach this fixture with nothing to lose, potentially allowing them tactical freedom to play more expansively.
Panama defeated El Salvador 1-0 when these teams met on October 10 through a José Fajardo goal, and the hosts will fancy another victory against an opponent possessing minimal attacking threat.
Panama vs El Salvador Match Information, Prediction, H2H and Where to Watch
Table of Contents
Match INFO
- Tournament: 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifying – CONCACAF Third Round.
- Match Date: Wednesday, November 18, 2025 (Europe – 19 November)
- Venue: Estadio Rommel Fernández, Panama City.
- Panama are unbeaten in this round and occupy a strong position in Group A.
- El Salvador are bottom of the group with just three points and their qualification hopes are effectively over
Panama vs El Salvador Starting XI Lineups
Panama Predicted XI:
- Mosquera; Harvey, Escobar, Andrade; Blackman, Godoy, Carrasquilla, Davis; Londono, Waterman, Martinez
El Salvador Predicted XI (4-3-3):
- Gonzalez; Claros, Sibrian, Gomez, Climaco; Landaverde, Diaz, Cerritos; Tejada, Ordaz, Henriquez
Key Points & Prediction:
- Panama have a stronger squad, better form and home advantage. — They’ve drawn too many games but remain unbeaten.
- El Salvador have struggled defensively, scored very few goals, and look likely to finish the campaign low.
- Prediction: Panama 3–0 El Salvador – A comfortable home win expected given the clash context.
