Organizers have called off Saturday’s scheduled women’s international friendly between Panama and New Zealand at Estadio Rommel Fernández Gutiérrez following a strong earthquake that struck the country, citing the seismic event and its ongoing aftershocks as the reason for the cancellation.
What Happened
The Federación Panameña de Fútbol (FPF) and Panama’s sports institute, Pandeportes, announced the cancellation of the first of the planned friendly matches between the two senior women’s national teams. The match had been set for Saturday, October 10, 2026, at the Rommel Fernández stadium in Panama City.
According to the announcement, the decision was made in response to the earthquake registered in Panama and the aftershocks that followed, with authorities prioritizing the safety of players, staff, and spectators. The cancellation affects only the first of the friendlies between the two sides, and questions now center on what will happen with purchased tickets and whether a second scheduled fixture will proceed.
Background
The Panama women’s national team has grown in prominence in recent years as the women’s game expands across Central America and beyond. Friendly matches against teams of New Zealand’s caliber — a nation with a long history in women’s international football and regular World Cup participation — are valuable opportunities for Panama to test itself against high-level opposition and continue its development.
Such fixtures are typically arranged through coordination between national federations and government sports bodies. In Panama, Pandeportes plays a central role in financing and organizing major sporting events, which is why the cancellation was announced jointly with the FPF.
Earthquakes are a known risk in Panama, which sits near the junction of several tectonic plates, including the boundary between the Caribbean and South American plates. Seismic activity can damage infrastructure, and aftershocks may continue for days after a major event, making large public gatherings a safety concern until authorities complete assessments.
What This Means for Panama
The immediate priority for the FPF and Pandeportes will be communicating with ticket holders about refunds or rescheduling arrangements for the canceled match. Fans who purchased tickets will be watching closely for official guidance from the federation and the stadium’s ticketing channels.
Attention will also turn to the status of the second friendly between the two teams. The joint announcement referenced only the cancellation of the first match, leaving open the question of whether the follow-up fixture will be played as planned, moved to a later date, or also canceled depending on conditions on the ground.
Beyond football, the cancellation underscores how the earthquake is disrupting normal life and public events in Panama. For the national team, losing match minutes against quality opposition is a setback in its preparation and development, though player and public safety clearly came first in the decision.
Supporters and observers should monitor official FPF and Pandeportes channels for updates on ticketing procedures and any announcement regarding the remainder of the international window.
This story was originally reported by Telemetro.