Football in Panama

Football in Panama is run by the Federación Panameña de Fútbol. The association administers the national football team, as well as the LPF.[1] Football is the most popular sport in Panama.[2] Panama qualified for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.[3]

Football in Panama
CountryPanama
Governing bodyFederación Panameña de Fútbol
National team(s)Men's national team
First played1862
National competitions
International competitions

Domestic football
Main articles: Liga Panameña de Fútbol and Panamanian Women's Football League

In 1988 professional football was established in Panama.[4] Gary Stempel is considered an influential figure in improving Panama football.[5][6][7]

In 2017, a separate women's league, the Liga de Fútbol Femenino, was established, with the aim to improve women's football in the country.[8]

League system

Level

League(s)/Division(s)

1

Liga Panameña de Fútbol
12 clubs

2

Liga Nacional de Ascenso
20 clubs

3

Copa Rommel Fernández
19 clubs divided in 3 series, one of 8 clubs, one of 6 clubs and one of 5 clubs

4

Panamanian Regional Leagues
10 leagues

National team
Main articles: Panama national football team and Panama women's national football team

In the 2010s, the Panama men's national team experienced its greatest success, finishing as runners-up in the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup[1] and qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.[9][10]

Meanwhile, the Panama women's national team reached the qualifying play-offs for the FIFA Women's World Cup for the first time in 2019, although their dream was cut short after losing to Argentina. Panama would then repeat the feat by reaching the play-offs for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, again with the aim to qualify for their first Women's World Cup.[11] They successfully achieved World Cup qualification for the first time following a win against Paraguay.

Stadiums in Panama

The Estadio Rommel Fernández, the national football stadium of Panama, is the largest stadium in the country.

StadiumMain useCapacity
Estadio Rommel FernándezAssociation football32,000
Estadio Nacional de PanamáBaseball27,000

References
  1. "Panama's Golden Generation tarnished once again". worldsoccer.com. Archived from the original on 2014-03-24. Retrieved 2014-03-25.
  2. "El fútbol es el deporte rey de los panameños". Panama America (in Spanish). 1 October 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  3. "Trinidad and Tobago 2-1 USA". 11 October 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2017 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  4. "From zero to World Cup qualification: the history of football in Panama". www.mondofutbol.com. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  5. "Englishman Gary Stempel makes coaching mark in impoverished Panama". theScore.com. Retrieved 2020-08-17.
  6. "FIFA World Youth Championship 2003 - News - Gary Stempel: "The moment of truth"". www.fifa.com. 2003-11-21. Archived from the original on July 26, 2020. Retrieved 2020-08-17.
  7. Lowe, Sid (2018-06-24). "Millwall to a miracle: the Englishman behind Panama's World Cup dream". the Guardian. Retrieved 2020-08-17.
  8. "FEPAFUT anuncia la creación de la Liga de Fútbol Femenino".
  9. "From agony to ecstasy: Panama's remarkable journey to the 2018 World Cup and a night they'll never forget". Independent.co.uk. 11 October 2017. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  10. "Panama's World Cup dream is still alive for Jacksonville's Tony Taylor". Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  11. "Panama secure final 2023 Women's World Cup spot after defeating Paraguay". 23 February 2023 – via The Guardian.
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