Overview
Football in Panama occupies a complicated cultural position. It is the country’s third spectator sport (after baseball and boxing), but it carries a national-identity weight that exceeds its commercial position. The 2018 World Cup qualification (particularly Román Torres’s 87th-minute winning goal against Costa Rica) was the most emotionally resonant Panamanian sports event since Roberto Durán’s “Brawl in Montreal” in 1980. The Liga Panameña de Fútbol, founded as an independent entity in 2020, has stabilized a domestic league structure that had been ad hoc for decades.
This page covers FEPAFUT’s institutional history, the 2018 and 2026 World Cup appearances, the Liga Panameña de Fútbol structure, and the major clubs.
Federación Panameña de Fútbol (FEPAFUT) History
The Federación Panameña de Fútbol (FEPAFUT) was founded in 1937 and has been a FIFA affiliate since 1938.[1] Panama was a founding member of CONCACAF (the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football) in 1961. The federation is headquartered in Panama City and is a member of UNCAF (the Central American Football Union) for regional competition.
The Panamanian men’s national team played its first match on 12 February 1938, defeating Venezuela 2–1 in Panama City. The team’s largest victory was a 13–0 win over Anguilla on 5 June 2021 in World Cup qualifying, while its largest defeat was a 0–11 loss to Costa Rica on 16 February 1938, also in Panama City.
2014 World Cup Qualification and the Heartbreak
Panama came close to qualifying for the 2014 World Cup in dramatic fashion. In the final match of the CONCACAF qualifying tournament on 15 October 2013, Panama led the United States 2–1 after 90 minutes and was on the verge of qualifying for the intercontinental playoff. The United States scored twice in stoppage time to win 3–2, eliminating Panama and sending Mexico to the playoff against New Zealand.
The 2014 qualifying failure is widely remembered in Panama as one of the most emotionally difficult moments in the country’s sports history. The stoppage-time collapse (conceding twice after the 90th minute) was widely covered in Panamanian media and continues to be referenced in football commentary.
2018 World Cup Qualification and the Historic Goal
Four years later, Panama made history. The decisive match was on 10 October 2017, when Panama defeated Costa Rica 2–1 at the Estadio Rommel Fernández in Panama City. The winning goal was scored by Román Torres in the 87th minute, sending the stadium and the country into celebration.[1]
President Juan Carlos Varela declared the following day a national holiday via Twitter: “The voice of the people has been heard… Tomorrow will be a national holiday.” The declaration was a rare official acknowledgment of a sporting event as a matter of national significance. The team (known as Los Canaleros) had qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the first time.
2018 World Cup: Group G
Panama was drawn into Group G of the 2018 FIFA World Cup with Belgium, England, and Tunisia. The team finished last in the group (32nd overall in the tournament) with 0 points, 0 wins, 3 losses, 2 goals scored, and 11 goals conceded.[2]
The three group-stage matches were:
- Belgium 3–0 Panama (18 June 2018, Sochi): Panama held Belgium 0–0 at halftime but conceded three goals in the second half.
- England 6–1 Panama (24 June 2018, Nizhny Novgorod): Panama’s first-ever World Cup goal was scored by Felipe Baloy in the 78th minute, a moment of pride despite the heavy defeat. The stadium erupted when the ball hit the back of the net, and Baloy’s celebration (arms raised, kissing the badge) became an iconic image of Panamanian football.
- Tunisia 2–1 Panama (28 June 2018, Saransk): Panama’s other goal came in this match, but Tunisia held on to win.
Despite the losses, the 2018 World Cup was widely celebrated in Panama as a historic achievement. The team’s goals-against-difference of -9 was the worst in the tournament, but the country qualified and scored: two facts that mattered more than the win-loss record in Panamanian popular memory.
2026 World Cup: Group L
Panama qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The team was drawn into Group L with England, Croatia, and Ghana.
In Panama’s opening match, on 17 June 2026 in Toronto, the team lost 1–0 to Ghana after Caleb Yirenkyi steered in Brandon Thomas-Asante’s cross in second-half stoppage time. Panama had the better of the opening period but could not convert, and Ghana’s late winner took all three points.[3]
Liga Panameña de Fútbol
The Liga Panameña de Fútbol (LPF) was founded as an independent sports association on 29 December 2020, headquartered in Panama City.[1] It is affiliated with FEPAFUT and oversees professional football competitions in Panama. The league was created after decades of ad hoc national championship organization under FEPAFUT, with the explicit goal of bringing professional football governance in line with international standards.
The league oversees 52 teams across three divisions:
- Liga LPF Tigo (Primera División): 12 clubs
- Liga Prom Tigo (Segunda División): 24 clubs
- Liga de Fútbol Femenino (LFF): 16 clubs
The Primera División was rebranded as Liga LPF (with the broader name reserved for the regulatory body itself) starting with the 2021 season. Centralized broadcasting rights sales, economic control, and internationalization strategy are the league’s primary functions.
Featured Clubs
The Primera División features several historically significant clubs:
- Club Atlético Independiente (La Chorrera): one of the most decorated Panamanian clubs, with multiple league titles.
- Tauro FC: based in Panama City, multiple league titles and the country’s most internationally recognized club.
- Sporting San Miguelito: based in the San Miguelito district of Panama City, one of the most successful clubs of the 2010s.
- CD Árabe Unido: based in Colón, with strong roots in the Afro-Panamanian community of the Caribbean coast.
- CD Plaza Amador: based in Panama City, one of the oldest clubs in the country.
- Alianza FC: based in Panama City.
- CD Universitario: based in Penonomé, Coclé.
- San Francisco FC: based in La Chorrera.
- Herrera FC: based in Herrera province.
- SD Atlético Nacional: based in Panama City.
- Umecit FC: based in Panama City.
- Veraguas United FC: based in Veraguas province.
The Segunda División includes reserve teams (“II” squads) of the Primera División clubs plus independent clubs like Chorrillo FC, Udelas FC, and Unión Coclé FC.
Liga Panameña de Fútbol TV
The league’s media arm, Liga Panameña de Fútbol TV (launched in 2017 as “LPF TV” on YouTube and renamed in 2021), streams Primera División, Segunda División, and women’s matches online.[1] LPF TV has been particularly important for matches that did not receive traditional television broadcast coverage.
Cultural Status
Football occupies a different cultural niche than baseball or boxing in Panama. It is the third spectator sport by attendance but has a strong following among the urban middle class and a growing youth audience. The 2018 World Cup qualification produced a generation of young fans who have continued to follow the Liga LPF and the national team.
The national team’s matches draw significant attendance to the Estadio Rommel Fernández (capacity 23,000, all seated)[4] and create visible public gatherings in Panama City’s bars and plazas. Roman Torres (the scorer of the 2018 qualification-winning goal) remains a household name.
For visitors, attending a Liga LPF match is straightforward. Tickets are inexpensive (typically $5–20 USD for general admission), the matches are played at smaller venues than the national team matches (typically the Estadio Rommel Fernández or smaller stadiums), and the atmosphere is energetic but family-friendly.
Limitations of This Page
This page covers FEPAFUT history, World Cup appearances, and the Liga LPF structure. Specific match results, scorers, and league standings are dynamic and should be verified against current sources. The 2026 World Cup group stage was ongoing at the time of writing; the final group standings and Panama’s exit performance should be checked against current FIFA records. The LPF TV streaming schedule is subject to change; visitors should check the league’s YouTube channel or website for current match listings.
Key Players in Panama’s Football History
Several players have been central to Panama’s football achievements:
- Román Torres (born 20 March 1986 in Panama City): Defender who played for Panama’s national team from 2005 to 2022, including the 2018 World Cup. He scored the 87th-minute goal against Costa Rica that sealed Panama’s 2018 World Cup qualification, the most important goal in Panamanian football history. He was captain of the national team during the 2018 World Cup.
- Felipe Baloy (born 24 February 1981 in Panama City): Defender who captained the national team during the 2018 World Cup and scored the team’s first-ever World Cup goal against England.
- Gabriel Torres (born 31 October 1988 in Panama City): Forward who scored both goals in Panama’s 2–1 opening win over Mexico in the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
- Blas Pérez (born 13 March 1981 in Panama City): Forward who is Panama’s all-time leading scorer and played in the 2018 World Cup.
- Jaime Penedo (born 26 September 1981 in Panama City): Goalkeeper who played in the 2018 World Cup.
The team’s stars have typically been drawn from clubs in the Liga LPF and from Major League Soccer (MLS), where several Panamanian players have had successful careers.
CONCACAF Gold Cup and Other Tournament Records
Beyond the World Cup, Panama’s national team has competed in regional tournaments:
- CONCACAF Gold Cup: Panama has reached the Gold Cup final three times (2005, 2013, 2023) and finished third in 2015. The team has never won the Gold Cup.
- Copa Centroamericana: Panama won the 2009 Copa Centroamericana and has had several other strong finishes in the regional tournament.
- CCCF Championship: Panama won the 1951 CCCF Championship as hosts.
- CONCACAF Nations League: Panama finished as runners-up in the 2025 CONCACAF Nations League, the team’s most recent major regional final.
The Gold Cup final losses (to the United States in 2005, 2013, and 2023) are widely remembered in Panama as frustrating near-misses. The 2013 final, decided by a single goal from American player Brek Shea, is the most emotionally painful for Panamanian fans.
Liga LPF Club Histories
Several clubs have been particularly successful in the LPF era:
- Tauro FC: Multiple league titles, the most internationally recognized Panamanian club, and the country’s most consistent participant in CONCACAF Champions League competition.
- Club Atlético Independiente: Multiple league titles, based in La Chorrera, the country’s most successful non-Panama-City club.
- Sporting San Miguelito: Multiple recent titles, based in the San Miguelito district of Panama City.
- CD Árabe Unido: Multiple league titles, based in Colón, with strong roots in the Afro-Panamanian community.
- CD Plaza Amador: One of the oldest clubs in Panama, with multiple historic titles.
- San Francisco FC: A La Chorrera-based club with multiple recent titles.
The historical Liga Panameña de Fútbol champions include numerous teams that have come and gone over the past several decades. The LPF’s independent structure (since 2020) has been credited with stabilizing the league’s finances and improving the consistency of competition.
Liga LPF Competition Format
When the Liga LPF is active, a typical season follows this structure:
- Apertura/Clausura format: The Liga LPF operates on a split-season format (Apertura and Clausura), with each half-season producing a champion who then meets in a grand final.
- Schedule: The Apertura runs from August to December, the Clausura from January to May.
- Format: Each Apertura/Clausura features a regular season of approximately 22 rounds, with the top eight teams advancing to a playoff round (quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals).
- Promotion and relegation: The Liga Prom Tigo (Segunda División) operates with promotion and relegation to and from the Liga LPF Tigo. The bottom two teams in the Primera División are relegated, and the top two teams in the Segunda División are promoted.
CONCACAF Champions League
Panamanian clubs have participated in the CONCACAF Champions League (formerly the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup), the premier club competition in CONCACAF. Tauro FC and CD Árabe Unido have made the deepest runs in the tournament, reaching the quarterfinals in various editions. No Panamanian club has won the CONCACAF Champions League.
The tournament format was restructured in 2024 as the CONCACAF Champions Cup, with a streamlined format and increased prize money. The new format has provided Panamanian clubs with additional competitive opportunities and prize money.
Visiting Football in Panama
For visitors interested in attending football matches:
- Liga LPF matches: Various stadiums across Panama City and the provinces. Tickets are typically $5–20 USD for general admission.
- National team matches: The Estadio Rommel Fernández (capacity 23,000, all seated)[4] is the primary venue. Tickets are typically $20–100 USD depending on the opponent and seating.
- LPF TV streaming: Many Liga LPF matches are streamed live on the Liga Panameña de Fútbol TV YouTube channel, particularly those not covered by traditional broadcast.
Cultural Status
Football’s cultural status in Panama has grown significantly since 2018. The 2018 World Cup qualification produced a generation of fans who have continued to follow the Liga LPF and the national team. The sport’s middle-class and youth audience is larger than at any previous point in the country’s history.
The most visible expressions of football’s cultural status are:
- National team jerseys: Sold widely in Panama City, often featuring the names of current national team stars.
- Public viewing events: Major matches are shown on large screens in public spaces in Panama City.
- Football murals: Street art in working-class neighborhoods celebrating the national team’s achievements.
- Román Torres’s place in national folklore: His 2017 goal against Costa Rica is regularly replayed on Panamanian television and is treated as a national-hero moment.
For visitors interested in football’s cultural significance, attending a Liga LPF match or a major national team fixture is the most concrete entry point. The atmosphere is energetic but family-friendly, and the matches are well-attended.
Comparison with Other CONCACAF Nations
Panama’s football trajectory differs from other CONCACAF nations in interesting ways:
- Mexico (CONCACAF’s most successful nation) has won multiple Gold Cups and has qualified for many World Cups.
- Costa Rica reached the 2014 World Cup quarterfinals, the deepest CONCACAF run since Mexico’s 1986 quarterfinal.
- United States is the dominant CONCACAF nation in women’s football.
- Honduras, El Salvador, and Trinidad and Tobago have had isolated World Cup qualifications.
Panama is the smallest CONCACAF nation by population to have qualified for multiple World Cups, and the country’s football growth is widely cited as one of the success stories of the 2010s.
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