Panamanian internationals Josué Vergara and Michael Amir Murillo secured their clubs' places in the UEFA competition league phases on Thursday, August 27, 2026. Both players started and played the full 90 minutes in their respective playoff second legs, sealing Gent's passage to the UEFA Conference League and Beşiktaş's to the UEFA Europa League.
This double European success comes as the Panama national team is deep in preparation for the 2026 World Cup. The side currently sits fourth in their qualifying group, with 0 points from three defeats. Their record shows 0 goals scored and 4 conceded, leaving them 7 points behind group leaders England. You can check the full picture on our standings page.
How did Vergara secure qualification with Gent?
The 19-year-old attacker, Josué Vergara, was key to the Belgian club overcoming Scotland's Hibernian. After a 0-0 draw in the first leg, the return match at Easter Road was decisive. Vergara opened the scoring in the 39th minute, receiving a pass from Portuguese teammate Tiago Araújo and beating goalkeeper Raphael Sallinger. Gent won the match 3-2 and the tie 3-2 on aggregate, with an own goal from Miguel Chaiwa in stoppage time sealing the victory. Vergara played the entire match and now prepares for the Conference League group stage.
What role did Murillo play for Beşiktaş?
For his part, full-back Michael Amir Murillo had done much of the work in the first leg. The Panamanian player scored one of the three goals in Beşiktaş's 3-0 thrashing of Lithuania's Kauno Žalgiris. In the return, although his team lost 1-0, the 3-1 aggregate was enough for qualification. Murillo, who according to UEFA records has played five matches in this Europa League edition, also completed the 90 minutes in Lithuania. His experience in the competition will be valuable for the Turkish side.
What does this mean for the Panama national team?
The regular participation of Panamanian footballers in top continental competitions is a significant asset for the national team project. These minutes of high-level competition contribute to the development of players who will later defend the national shirt. The current situation of the team, with a run of three consecutive losses and a record of 1 win, 1 draw, and 3 losses in their last five matches, requires players experienced in high-pressure scenarios. The next official fixture is a preparation match against New Zealand at home on October 1st, a game listed on our fixtures calendar.
When will the European opponents be known?
The immediate destiny of Vergara and Murillo will be decided this Friday, August 28th. The draws for the Europa League and Conference League league phases are scheduled for 6:00 a.m. Panama time. While they await their European opponents, local fan attention is also on the evolution of the national squad, which you can follow in the squad section. The performance of these internationals in Europe will be closely monitored by Panama's coaching staff, who are looking to reverse the poor run that includes a 0-2 defeat to England on June 27th.
