FIFA U-17 World Cup Team Profile: Panama

The Panama U-17 national team became one of the representatives of CONCACSF at the U-17 World Cup 2-23 in Indonesia. (fepafut.com)

JAKARTA - The rise of Panamanian football. From North America, Panama began to show it was the new strength of football that was taken into account. Young age development is also a concern so that the country can pass the Panama U-17 national team competing in the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Indonesia.

Panama, a small country with a population of only 4.3 million. The population is not much different from the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) which reached 3.7 million.

Being a small country, but Panama is a prosperous country. The economic growth of a country with a population of 90% embraced Christianity (Catholic majority and others Protestants) is rapid.

According to the World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Index, Panama ranks seventh as the country with the most competitive economic growth in Latin America.

It has developed into a developed and prosperous country, but the growth of football in Panama has been very slow.

Panamanian football began to show excitement in the last two decades after regularly competing in the CONCACAF Gold Cup or Golden Cup which is the largest football tournament in the CONCACAF or North America zone.

Panama also made achievements as runners up for the Gold Cup in 2005 and in the last edition, namely in 2023. They reached the final again despite losing to Mexico.

Puncaknya, Panama mengakarkan prestasi terbaik lolos ke Piala Dunia untuk kali pertama. Dalam debutnya, mereka tampil di Piala Dunia 2018 Rusia. Namun, Panama hanya bertahan sampai penyisihan grup.

At the junior level, Panamanian football was less developed and had never competed in international championships. But they finally recorded an achievement of qualifying for the World Cup.

The Panama U-17 national team had competed in the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2011 and 2013. Having experienced stagnation and did not pass the qualification, La Rojita finally got up and returned to compete in the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Indonesia.

Panama got tickets to Indonesia after entering the top four of the CONCACAF U-17 championship. On their way to the semifinals, they got rid of Cuba in the last 16 and then won 2-1 over Honduras in the top eight.

This success passes Panama to the semifinals as well as pocketing tickets to the 2023 U-17 World Cup.

Unfortunately, in the top four, Panama was massacred by Mexico 5-0. However, Panama has made achievements to qualify for the World Cup finals.

Panama's achievements cannot be separated from coach Mike Stump who has handled the U-17 national team since 2022. Coming from Chicago, United States, but Stump is not a foreign figure for Panamanian football.

Because he has been struggling with football in the country since the 20s. Stump handled a number of Panamanian football clubs and then won the trust of coaching the Panama U-17 national team.

Stump immediately proved his performance in the CONCACAF U-17 which passed Panama to Indonesia.

The U-17 World Cup is a tough test for Panama because it is a dark horse. They are included in Group A which competes with the hosts Indonesia, Ecuador and Morocco.

Striker Kevin Walder is one of Panama's mainstays in the World Cup. The player from club CD Plaza Amazer is showing good performance at CONCACAF U-17 scoring four goals.

"We have big dreams. We are ready to face new challenges at the World Cup," said defender Juriel Nerieda, captain of the Panamanian national team. Yes, young Panamanian people who want to make dreams come true in Indonesia.