The United States Men’s National Team is in the second international window of the post-Gregg Berhalter era, but the technical box is now under the control of Mauricio Pochettino. With the program hurtling toward hosting the 2026 World Cup, quality competition is at a premium, but an increasingly crowded international footballing calendar has limited the availability of opponents. Panama awaits across the field, a side that has become a true rival over the past few years with a steady stream of positive results. The match is set for Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas, a soccer-specific stadium with a capacity of 20,700 seats and a Platinum TE Seashore Paspalum natural-grass playing surface. This is the 27th all-time meeting between the two nations, with the USMNT holding a 17-3-6 record but losing three out of the previous four fixtures. Ranked 37th internationally by FIFA, Panama is currently in second place in Group D in CONCACAF’s second round of World Cup qualifying with wins over Guyana (2-0) and Montserrat (3-1). Last summer’s Copa América was a strong performance with a second-place finish in Group B, obtained by a defeat to Uruguay (1-3) and victories over the USMNT (2-1) and Bolivia (3-1), followed by a loss to eventual silver medalists Colombia (5-0) in the quarterfinal. Enjoying a lengthy tenure in the technical box, Thomas Christiansen was appointed to the manager role in July of 2020 and saw his contract extended through 2026. The 51-year-old Spanish-Dane spent his playing career on the books of several clubs, including Barcelona, Villarreal, VfL Bochum, and Hannover, before embarking on a coaching career with stops at AEK Larnaca, APOEL, Leeds United, and Union Saint-Gilloise. He is focused on “growing and improving” while “fulfilling objectives,” feeling that there is an “obligation” to reach the World Cup and viewing the program “among the favorites” to qualify from CONCACAF. Christiansen named a 23-player roster for the international window that also includes a match against Canada. The entirety of the group is based abroad, with seven call-ups in Europe, seven talents on the books at South American clubs, and three representatives from Major League Soccer outfits. Notable absences include Luis Mejía, César Yanis, Ismael Díaz, Andrés Andrade, and Jovani Welch.
GOALKEEPERS (3): Orlando Mosquera (Al-Fahya FC), Cesar Samudio (CD Marathon), John Gunn (New England Revolution II)
DEFENDERS (9): José Córdoba (Norwich City), Eric Davis (Vila Nova FC), Ivan Anderson (Fortaleza), Michael Murillo (Olympique Marseille), César Blackman (Slovan Bratislava), Edgardo Fariña (FK Khimki), Jiovany Ramos (Alianza Lima), Fidel Escobar (Saprissa), Roderick Miller (Turan Tovuz)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Aníbal Godoy (Nashville SC), Adalberto Carrasquilla (Houston Dynamo), Cristian Martínez (Kiryat Shmona), Jose Luis Rodriguez (FC Juarez), Edgar Barcenas (Mazatlan FC), Freddy Gondola (FK Aktobe), Abdiel Ayarza (The Strongest) Kahiser Lenis (Jaguares de Córdoba)
FORWARDS (3): José Luis Rodríguez (Juárez), Eduardo Guerrero (Dynamo Kyiv), Tomás Rodríguez (Monagas)
Christiansen shuffles between a few different formations, but an active and athletic three-player back line is regularly utilized. Depending on the opponent, he will sometimes stack the center of the midfield, although usually there is a higher priority placed on wide play. His tactics are “inspired by Johan Cruyff,” however, there is a speed and directness with the attackers always looking to break out in transition. The ideal output is “a ball-dominant team that incorporates positional play,” with the manager hoping to “dominate and control matches” as a collective.
Projected Panama Starting XI (via BuildLineup.com)
After a stint with Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Israeli Premier League, Orlando Mosquera is currently on the books at Al-Fayha FC in the Saudi Pro League. The 29-year-old goalkeeper was the starter at the Copa América with an acrobatic, confident style that enables him to pull off countless saves while being shelled by stronger opposition. He brings the size at six-foot-three and the athleticism to easily cover the goalmouth, paired with the quick reflexes to adjust on the fly and improvise amidst the chaos. While less of a box controller and charging presence, his distribution is well above serviceable with long passing and the occasional counter-attack-springing ball to a winger. José Córdoba recently transferred to Norwich after a highly-successful stint with Levski Sofia, boasting an appealing “combination of technical ability and athleticism” with a rangy style and long-limbed tackles. He gallops around the field and often finds himself dribbling past the midfield and into the final third, managing to bring just enough creative spark to find teammates. Turan Tovuz centre-back Roderick Miller has the height at six-foot-three and the athleticism to dominate in the air, but his speed also enables him to prevent wingers from making inroads through the wide zones. His passing and ball control are useful when dealing with pressure or building out of the back, with both quick plays and the show-stopping deep distribution through multiple opponent lines. Relative youngster Edgardo Fariña has become a key lineup fixture in 2024 with four starts during the Copa América, bringing good size and a proactive style that pushes him to seek the action. The 22-year-old competes with Khimki in Russia and is a “mobile defender who does not panic,” with “composure” and “a good technique” paired with a surprising mobility. After brief stints with D.C. United and FC Košice, Eric Davis landed at Villa Nova in Brazil’s second division and is expected to provide his mix of “quality service, intelligence on both sides of the ball, and high degree of professionalism.” He is constantly pushing the tempo up the touchline and does his best work in the final third but can also handle himself defensively when matching up with wingers in one-on-one match-ups. As has been the case for almost a decade, the right side of the formation is patrolled by the energetic Amir Murillo of Marseille, a rangy and athletic dynamo who makes the right passes while under pressure and can also slot into a central role.
While Cristian Martínez has embarked on a peripatetic club career that includes a seemingly non-stop series of loans, his presence in Panama lineups provides a steady stream of ball-winning and linking-up with teammates up and down the field. The 27-year-old midfielder, currently on the books at Ironi Kiryat Shmona in the Saudi First Division, eats up ground with a tireless effort, serving as both a drop-back build-up starter and creative presence in the final third. Adalberto “Coco” Carrasquilla completes the engine-room pairing with a steady stream of accurate passes that connect the entire formation but also boasts the “ability to beat defenders off of the dribble” by “eluding pressure and running at the opponent’s back line.” The Athletic praises him for his “diverse” progression and “tenacious athleticism,” displaying a tremendous “work rate when the lights are brightest,” although USMNT fans will forever associate him with an aggressive foul on Christian Pulisic at the Copa América. Described as “a creative midfielder by trade,” Yoel Bárcenas enjoys “the speed of thought needed to link those in the final third together” and a buzzy style with constant avoidance of pressure. He is comfortable on the outside and in the middle of the field, taking on a high level of responsibility by often dragging proceedings into the attacking half with long, dribbling runs. The ever-effective José Luis Rodríguez, also known as Puma, covers the width of the formation and plays a methodical game, shrewdly selecting the best passing option or launching a trying shot from distance. The 26-year-old FC Juárez winger excels in possession and floats into dangerous areas to provide assistance but can also contribute the occasional superlative solo effort to add to the scoreline. With three career goals against the USMNT, including the match winner at the Copa América, José Fajardo should be a somewhat familiar bogeyman with a deft sense of movement and keen understanding of space. The 31-year-old Universidad Católica forward is a fairly accurate passer and does well to force turnovers, but his best work is done when carrying possession into the final third or pouncing on opportunities in the box. Also capable…
