Panama, Guatemala out for first victory in Final Round of World Cup Qualifiers | OneFootball

MIAMI – The Final Round of the Concacaf Qualifiers to the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues with Panama hosting Guatemala in Group A on Monday at Estadio Rommel Fernández in Panama City, Panama.

Panama is set to play its first home game of the Final Round after earning a point in a goalless draw at Suriname in its opening fixture. Thomas Christiansen’s side aim to continue on a positive run, having won 11 of its last 14 matches across all competitions.

Guatemala enters the match in search of bouncing back after a 1-nil loss at home against El Salvador.

The meeting presents the seventh encounter between the Central American nations in the history of the Concacaf World Cup Qualifiers. Guatemala is unbeaten with five wins and a draw.

Panama leads the all-time series with 18 wins to 13 for Guatemala, while 13 matches resulted in draws.

Historical series

Panama leads the all-time series with 18 wins, 11 draws, and 13 defeats. This will be the 43rd match in history.

In the history of the Concacaf Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup, this will be the 7th meeting, with Guatemala unbeaten in the series with 5 wins and 1 draw.

It will be the third time they meet in the Final Round of qualifiers, having previously faced off twice during the Germany 2006 campaign:

Matchday 1 on February 9, 2005, at Estadio Rommel Fernández in Panama City (PAN), a 0-0 draw.

Matchday 6 on August 17, 2005, at Estadio Dorotheo Guamuch Flores in Guatemala City (GUA), where Guatemala came from behind to win 2-1.

In their last 14 matches across all competitions, Panama has recorded 11 wins and 3 draws—their best unbeaten streak against Guatemala in history. Guatemala’s last victory came on August 17, 2005, in the Germany 2006 qualifiers at Estadio Dorotheo Guamuch Flores, a 2-1 result thanks to a Felipe Baloy own goal and a strike by Gonzalo “Chalo” Romero. Panama had taken the lead through Jorge Dely Valdés.

Their most recent meeting was in the 2025 Gold Cup group stage on June 20, a 0-1 win for Panama at Q2 Stadium, with a goal from José Luis Rodríguez.

Top scorer for Guatemala vs. Panama in qualifiers: Óscar “El Conejo” Sánchez (5).

Top scorers for Panama vs. Guatemala in qualifiers: Allan Wellman (1), Daniel Montillo (1), Jorge Dely Valdés (1).

Historical series:

42 matches

13 wins Guatemala, 62 goals

11 draws

18 wins Panama, 63 goals