Mexico’s national soccer team is set to kick off its 2026 World Cup preparations with a friendly match against Panama. This match, scheduled as the first of two preparation games, will take place outside FIFA’s official window, meaning European-based players will not participate.
Match Details
The encounter will occur at the Rommel Fernández Stadium in Panama City on January 22, 2026, with kick-off times as follows:
- 19:00 hours CDMX
- 20:00 hours ET (Colombia, Peru, Ecuador)
- 22:00 hours (Argentina, Chile, Uruguay)
Current Form
Mexico, under manager Javier Aguirre, is looking to break a streak of six games without a victory. Their recent record includes four draws and two losses, with their last win being in the Gold Cup final against the United States.
Historical Context
In previous matchups, Mexico has dominated this rivalry. Over the last five contests, Mexico has secured victories in all encounters. Historically, Mexico leads with 20 wins against Panama’s two victories, plus two draws.
Team Lineups
Here are the projected lineups for both teams:
| Panama | Mexico |
|---|---|
| John Gunn | Raúl Rangel |
| Richard Peralta | Richard Ledezma |
| Daniel Aparicio | Víctor Guzmán |
| Héctor Hurtado | Eduardo Águila |
| Ricardo Phillips | Bryan González |
| Giovany Herbert | Luis Romo |
| Omar Cordoba | Obed Vargas |
| Kevin Galván | Marcel Ruiz |
| Kadir Barria | Brian Gutiérrez |
| Jose Murillo | Roberto Alvarado |
| Ariel Arroyo | Germán Berterame |
Looking Ahead
For Panama, this match is crucial as they prepare for their second-ever World Cup. They hope to capitalize on every opportunity to improve and face one of their strongest rivals in the region.
