Panama’s Fajardo seals Guatemala’s 2026 World Cup dreams after thrilling 3-2 CONCACAF qualifier game

That wraps up our live coverage of the CONCACAF 2026 World Cup qualifier between Guatemala and Panama. Guatemala failed to complete its comeback in a 2-3 defeat, while now Panama sits atop the Group A alongside Suriname. Stay tuned for more updates and coverage of the qualifiers!

Panama gets a thrilling 2-3 win away over Guatemala, crushing La Bicolor's World Cup dreams!

In one of the last plays of the game, Mosquera saves a Darwin Lom shot at point-blank range.

Referee Ramos decided to extend the second half until the 5oth minute!

Ardon headed a great ball from Escobar that went slightly wide!

After wasting time on resuming the game from a throw-in, Eric Davis earns the second yellow card of the game.

Star Adalberto Carrasquilla comes off for Edward Cedeño.

Boss Christiansen makes another substitution, with Alberto Quintero coming in for Cristian Martinez.

After Ordoñez missed a clear chance for Guatemala, Panama hit back on the counter, and Fajardo pounced on the rebound to slot home the 3–2.

Rudy Muñoz's equalizer after a through ball from Escobar got disallowed, but after a VAR review, the goal was validated!

With keeper Orlando Mosquera out of his line, Pedro Altan finds Arquímides Ordóñez, who slots the deficit for Guatemala!

Defender Jonathan Franco comes out to leave his place to Olger Escobar.

Panama national team makes its first two substitutions, bringing in Jose Fajardo and Jose Luis Rodriguez for MVP Cecilio Waterman and Azarias Londoño.

Aaron Herrera crossed the ball for Jonathan Franco to head it, but Mosquera ends up saving a clear chance.

After tackling Altan down, Anibal Godoy receives the first yellow card of the game.

Looking for its first goal, Guatemala makes two more substitutions: Antonio Lopez and Rubio Rubin out, Pedro Altan and Arquímides Ordóñez in.

After a great solo run, Londoño tried to take a shot, but Hagen captured the ball right away!

With Panama waiting on its own half, Guatemala are looking for the opening to reduce the distance in the scoreline.

Guatemala's Luis Fernando Tena makes the first substitution of the game: Stheven Robles comes out for Rudy Muñoz.

Referee César Ramos blows the whistle for the beginning of the second half.

Panama is leading 2-0 against Guatemala away in the World Cup qualifiers, with both goals scored by Cecilio Waterman.

Waterman completed his brace with a smooth turn and unleashed another powerful right-footed strike to extend Panama’s lead up to 2!

Eric Davis sent in another excellent cross, and Londono headed it into the net, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

After a controversial handball by Waterman went uncalled, Panama continued pressing for a second goal, with Londoño sending a shot over the crossbar.

After missing a clear 3v1 chance, Cecilio Waterman captures a ball from Eric Davis inside the box to open the scoreline for Panama!

After a heated beginning of the game, Guatemala has settled down and is now controlling the possession (65%) over Panama (35%).

Guatemala earns a free kick after Antonio Lopez got tackled down.

After keeper Hagen failed a pass, Panama counterattacked with Carrasquilla shooting outside the box in a ball that went far up.

Jose Rosales stepped on Carrasquilla's ankle, an action that ignited a clash between Guatemala and Panama players!

Jose Morales left Oscar Santis in front of goal after a great long ball, but while trying to chip it over the keeper, the ball went wide, missing a clear chance for Guatemala!

One corner kick and one cross failed to find any Guatemala player inside the box, as the home side continues pushing to score the opening goal.

Driving the ball from the left side, Cecilio Waterman unleashed a powerful strike with his left foot that went slightly wide.

Guatemala and Panama are now playing in the World Cup qualifiers.

Earlier on Thursday, Suriname thrashed El Salvador with a dominant 4–0 victory, jumping to the top of Group A with 9 points through 5 matches and currently holding a spot in the 2026 World Cup.

With Panama sitting second on 6 points and Guatemala in third with 5, a win for either side tonight will be crucial in keeping alive their hopes of overtaking Suriname in Tuesday’s final matchup of the World Cup qualification race.

The World Cup qualifier will be played at Estadio Manuel Felipe Carrera — commonly known as El Trébol. With a capacity of roughly 7,500 fans, Guatemala will see attendance reduced by about 15% (to around 5,900 spectators) due to FIFA sanctions from the controversial episode against El Salvador.

Guatemala traditionally hosts its home matches at Estadio Doroteo Guamuch Flores, which seats 30,000. However, because the venue is currently undergoing renovations, the federation was forced to find an alternative home site for the crucial clash against Panama.

Since taking over as Panama’s head coach in 2020, Spanish tactician Thomas Christiansen has put together a record that awakens excitement heading into the matchup against Guatemala.

Against La Bicolor, Christiansen has overseen four meetings, producing two wins and two draws. The only previous World Cup qualifier between the sides came on September 8, 2025, and ended in a 1–1 draw.

César Arturo Ramos Palazuelos has been appointed as the referee for the World Cup qualifier game on Thursday night. The 41-year-old Mexican, who has been FIFA referee since 2014, has officiated 527 games in his career, with 2,218 yellow cards, a record that precedes his authority ahead of such a heated clash.

Match officiating team:

Referee: César Arturo Ramos Palazuelos
1st Assistant: Alberto Morín
2nd Assistant: Marco Bisguerra
Fourth Official: Katia Itzel García
VAR: Guillermo Pacheco
AVAR: Óscar Macías Romo

Panama holds the advantage in the all-time series against Guatemala. Across 42 meetings, Los Canaleros have claimed 18 wins, while La Azul y Blanco have taken 12, with the remaining 12 ending in draws.

However, when it comes to World Cup qualifiers, the balance shifts dramatically. In seven meetings on the road to the World Cup, La Bicolor boast a dominant record of five wins and two draws, with Panama still searching for its first victory in this kind of matchup.

Spanish boss Thomas Christiansen confirmed the Panama starting lineup to face Guatemala: Orlando Mosquera; Cesar Blackman, Fidel Escobar, Carlos Harvey, Eric Davis; Adalberto Carrasquilla, Cristian Martinez, Andres Andrade, Anibal Godoy; Azarias Londoño, Cecilio Waterman.

Head coach Luis Fernando Tena has confirmed the lineup to face Panama: Nicholas Hagen; Aaron Herrera, Jose Ardon, Jose Pinto, Jose Morales; Jonathan Franco, Stheven Robles; Oscar Santis, Jose Rosales, Antonio Lopez; Rubio Rubin.

Guatemala and Panama will face off at 9 PM (ET).

You can watch the World Cup qualifiers live on Paramount+, Peacock Premium and Telemundo.

Welcome to our live coverage  for the match between Guatemala and Panama on Matchday 5 of Group A in the CONCACAF 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Stay tuned for key updates, highlights, and live, minute-by-minute action!