Defender Eduardo Anderson has returned to the Panama national football team squad after a two-year absence. The news comes as the national side, sitting fourth in World Cup Group B with 0 points from three losses, prepares for a friendly against India on September 26th.
Why is Eduardo Anderson back in the Panama squad?
The 23-year-old centre-back last wore the 'Marea Roja' shirt during the 2024 Copa América. His Russian club, Baltika, announced on social media on Saturday, September 5th, that Anderson had been called up by coach Thomas Christiansen for the upcoming friendly matches. The Russian club's statement came ahead of the official announcement expected from the Panamanian Football Federation.
Anderson's good form in the Russian Premier League earned him a recall. Panama has three preparation matches scheduled for September and October. The defender's last involvement was on July 6, 2024, though he did not feature on the pitch during the continental tournament.
What is the future of manager Thomas Christiansen?
The continuity of the Danish-Spanish coach is in doubt for financial reasons. The Fepafut Executive Committee decided not to renew his contract. The decision was made considering upcoming elections for a new board in November.
The federation will need to appoint an interim manager for September's fixtures, an Asian tour in October, and the Concacaf Nations League quarter-finals in November. Names linked with the interim role include former captain Felipe Baloy, currently coach of the U-17s, and Mario Méndez, three-time LPF champion with Plaza Amador. You can check the squad list's composition on our squad page.
How are Panamanian women players performing abroad?
Carina Baltrip-Reyes delivered a standout defensive performance for Olympique de Marseille Féminin in their 1-0 win over Le Havre. The Panamanian centre-back, starting with the number 6 shirt, received a 7.0 rating on platforms like FotMob for her marking and coverage.
Meanwhile, Swiss-Panamanian forward Noémie Potier Serrano is preparing for her official debut with FC Nantes Féminines. The 20-year-old, who signed until 2028, aims to establish herself in the French top flight while progressing with paperwork to play for the Panama senior women's team coached by Toña Is.
Which other Panama players moved clubs after the World Cup?
A FIFA report highlighted that 267 players from 47 countries who featured at the 2026 World Cup changed clubs between June 1st and September 2nd. Of Panama's 26 World Cup squad members, four made moves in the transfer market.
Jorge Gutiérrez, Tomás Rodríguez, Cristian Martínez and Yoel Bárcenas were the players who switched clubs. The most notable move was Martínez's, who left Israeli football to sign for Slovan Bratislava in Slovakia, where he will play in the UEFA Champions League for the first time. Bárcenas, 31, moved to newly-promoted Greek side Iraklis.
What is the current state of the national team?
Panama enters this friendly window on a run of three consecutive defeats, including a 0-2 loss to England on June 27th. Their World Cup Group B record stands at 0 points, 0 goals scored and 4 conceded, leaving them 7 points behind leaders England. Their form across the last five matches shows one win, one draw and three losses.
Christiansen's team, or that of his eventual interim replacement, will face India on September 26th as part of their preparation. Full details of the preparation schedule are available in our fixtures section. The national team will look to improve their form ahead of the official year-end commitments.
