The second opponent for Ukraine's U-20 team at the 2025 World Cup (U-20), Panama, which lost to Paraguay in the first round (2:3), is well known to experienced Ukrainian fans.

Our footballers have faced the Panamanians twice at the World Cup U-20 — and won both times: in 2005 during the group stage, with a score of 3:1 (two goals by Oleksandr Aliyev, one by Maxim Feshuk), and in 2019 in the round of 16, with a score of 4:1 (two goals by Danylo Sykhan, one each by Denis Popov and Sergiy Bulets).

Six years ago, Panama's national team achieved its highest success to date at the World Cup U-20 — after six attempts (2003, 2005, 2007, 2011, 2015), they managed to advance from the group stage.

There is nothing surprising about this modesty, as even at the regional level of U-20, Panama's team does not shine. Throughout history, the CONCACAF Championship among 20-year-olds has been won by Mexico (14 times), USA (3 times), Honduras (2 times), Canada (2 times), Costa Rica (2 times), and El Salvador (1 time). In addition to this sextet, five other teams have reached the finals: Guatemala (2 times), Cuba (2 times), Dominican Republic (1 time), Trinidad and Tobago (1 time), and Panama (1 time). This last happened in 2015.

At the most recent tournament, in 2024, under Jorge Dely Valdés' leadership, the Panamanians won their group matches against Guatemala and Haiti, drew with Mexico, eliminated Canada in the quarter-finals, but lost to USA in the semi-final. Gustavo Herrera and Rafael Mosquera made it into the list of top scorers, along with defender Martín Cruz, who can boast a debut appearance for Panama's national team.

All three represent foreign clubs, while overall in Valdés' squad there are 10 players from Brazil, Germany, Spain, USA, Costa Rica, and... Ukraine. Indeed, the 19-year-old midfielder Anel Rais, who came on as a substitute in Panama's first match against Paraguay, is a player for Odessa's FC Chornomorets.