Christiansen stays on as Panama coach through 2026
Panama have extended Thomas Christiansen’s contract as head coach until the 2026 World Cup. The move comes after the national team’s latest setback: on May 31, La Marea Mía lost 6-2 to Brazil in a warm-up friendly.
Christiansen, 50, is into his third season in charge. His new deal includes performance clauses tied to the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, which kick off in under two years.
Why the Danish boss keeps the job
The @Fepafut board stood by Christiansen despite the poor run. Panama have now lost two straight - after the 6-2 loss to Brazil, they fell 1-0 to Mexico on June 12 - and their last win came on May 25 against Nicaragua (2-1).
The technical staff pointed to the defensive solidity Christiansen built during the 2025 Gold Cup, where La Marea Mía reached the quarter-finals. «The process isn’t stopping,» federation president Pedro Rodríguez said.
The next hurdle: the qualifiers
With two consecutive defeats in June, Panama face a crucial window. Their next match is August 15 against Costa Rica in the Nations League, a game that will shape their 2026 qualifying path.
Christiansen fielded players like Aníbal Godoy and José Fajardo in the last friendly. «We need to start collecting points fast,» the coach warned. The @Fepafut leadership is backing the project.
What changes with the extension?
The contract extension includes a pay rise and performance bonuses. The federation is chasing stability after years of coaching carousel.
Panama’s last result was Brazil 6-2 (2026-05-31). Their recent form reads two wins, one draw and two losses in the last five games (LLDWW).
