Panama Vs. Mexico—international Friendly: Preview, Predictions And Lineups

The Mexico nationalist squad makes its 2026 debut against Panama connected Thursday nighttime arsenic World Cup preparations resume pinch nan biggest tourney successful nan athletics little than six months away.

Mexico is looking to extremity a six-game winless streak that dates backmost to nan 2025 Gold Cup last past summer. The antagonistic tally of results has dampened nan temper surrounding El Tri heading into nan World Cup, and Javier Aguirre must lick nan glaring issues that compromised his broadside successful nan 2nd semester of 2025.

Given it’s not an charismatic FIFA world window, Aguirre’s walking roster is made up exclusively of Liga MX players—except for MLS prima Obed Vargas. The halfway of Mexico’s caller rosters remains intact, but nan lucifer against Panama presents an opportunity for fringe players to raise their position pinch nan World Cup accelerated approaching.

Similarly, Panama’s roster for nan friends is predominantly constructed of players from nan section league. Thomas Christiansen’s broadside will beryllium coming astatine nan 2026 World Cup, truthful this is besides a warm-up crippled wherever they’ll beryllium eager to proceed their unbeaten tally vs. El Tri astatine nan Estadio Rommel Fernández that dates backmost almost 20 years.

Here’s Sports Illustrated’s guideline to nan clash.

What Time Does Panama vs. Mexico Kick-Off?

• Location: Panama City, Panama
• Stadium: Estadio Rommel Fernández
• Date: Thursday, Jan. 22
• Kick-off Time: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT

Panama vs. Mexico Head-to-Head Record (Last Five Games)

• Panama: 0 wins
• Mexico: 5 wins
• Draws: 0

Current Form (All Competitions)

How to Watch Panama vs. Mexico connected TV and Live Stream

Panama Team News

Panama are coming disconnected a 1–1 tie distant against Bolivia astatine nan weekend, a affirmative consequence fixed nan dispute situation Christiansen’s broadside were competing in.

Despite not being astatine afloat strength, Botafogo halfway guardant Kadir Barría stands retired supra nan rest. The striker is Panama’s astir vulnerable attacker and scored nan lone extremity successful nan tie vs. Bolivia. Khaiser Lenis is Panama’s different main root of threat and remains 1 of nan champion players successful nan country’s top-flight.

Elsewhere, New England Revolution 2 goalkeeper JD Gunn is poised to commencement betwixt nan sticks, arsenic he intends to make a lawsuit to beryllium Panama’s 3rd goalkeeper travel nan World Cup.

Regardless of nan absences, Christiansen is expected to instrumentality pinch to his 3-4-2-1 system, which has delivered beardown results complete nan past World Cup cycle.

Panama Predicted Lineup vs. Mexico

Panama predicted lineup vs. Mexico (3-4-2-1): Gunn; Aspirilla, Aparicio, Rivera; Córdoba, Murillo, Welch, Gutiérrez; Phillips, Lenis; Barría

Mexico Team News

Aguirre will instrumentality to his preferred 4-3-3 statement but location are intriguing possibilities for which players he selects to return nan transportation connected Thursday night.

Mexico’s aggravated goalkeeper competition will reignite this week, pinch Chivas goalkeeper Raúl Rángel expected to commencement vs. Panama and Luis Malagón getting nan motion vs. Bolivia adjacent Sunday.

The brace of Club América halfway backs Israel Reyes and Ramón Juárez are successful statement to start, pinch erstwhile U.S. men’s nationalist team subordinate Richard Ledezma expected to fastener down nan correct flank successful his El Tri debut.

Up front, nan breathtaking Armando González will lead nan line, but pinch teenage wonderkid Gilberto Mora forced to time off El Tri’s campy due to injury, Diego Lainez could get nan motion connected nan near helping and Roberto Alvarado should commencement connected nan different flank.

Mexico Predicted Lineup vs. Panama

Mexico predicted lineup vs. Panama (4-3-3): Rangel; Ledezma, Reyes, Juárez, Gallardo; Romo, Lira, Ruiz; Alvarado, González, Lainez.

Panama vs. Mexico Score Prediction

The short clip to train will make it difficult for Mexico to afloat sorb nan style of play Aguirre wants his broadside to display. However, nan head is good alert of this imaginable issue, which is why he’ll trust connected nan synergy that players from Liga MX favorites Toluca and Chivas bring complete from their clubs to construe that chemistry pinch El Tri.

The Estadio Rommel Fernández is historically a venue wherever Mexico struggle to present its best. Still, moreover without cardinal players, Panama is besides acold from afloat strength, and nan spread successful value betwixt nan 2 "B” teams heavy favors Mexico.

It‘ll apt beryllium an disfigured game, perpetually interrupted by fouls and tightly contested successful midfield. But successful nan end, El Tri has a awesome talent advantage and will find a measurement to triumph its first lucifer successful complete 7 months.

Score Prediction: Panama 1–2 Mexico

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