What Happened
Panama’s men’s Under-17 national team is back to work after winning bronze at the South American Youth Games in Panama City. The squad will return to training on Monday, April 27, for a new microcycle as it continues preparing for the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2026.
The sessions will run through Wednesday, April 29, at Mañanitas Country Club from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Head coach Felipe Baloy will oversee the camp, which includes players drawn from Liga Panameña de Fútbol, Liga PROM and the youth league system.
Road to Qatar 2026
Panama’s U-17 team has been using competitive activity and training camps to sharpen its roster ahead of the tournament, scheduled for November in Doha. Microcycles like this one are designed to keep the team active while coaching staff evaluate players across different domestic competitions.
The call-up reflects the depth of the country’s youth development pipeline, with players selected from several clubs in the top domestic structure. That mix gives the national setup a chance to compare players who are already accustomed to different levels of pace, pressure and tactical demand.
Players Called Up
The goalkeeper group includes Adamir Aparicio and Sebastián Sotelo of CD Plaza Amador, along with Luis López of Academia Costa del Este. In defense, José Bósquez of Árabe Unido, Alberto Adams, Gian Carlos Alemán and Cristian Ibarra of Plaza Amador, Renso Reyes and Neir Marrugo of CA Independiente, Stephen Domínguez of Sporting SM, Ian Carlos Centella of Panamá City FC and Gabriel Quiroz of Tauro FC were named.
The midfield list features Joel Sánchez, Jossimar Insturaín, Moisés Cabezas and Enderson González of Tauro FC, Lucas Norte of Plaza Amador, Lucio Ceballos of Sporting SM, Alfredo Maduro and Joseph Choy of Club Deportivo del Este, Estevis López of Veraguas United, Alexander Tull of Club Atlético Independiente, José Luis Asprilla and Oliver Pinzón of CD Universitario, Joseph López of San Francisco FC and Cristian Morán of Umecit FC.
Up front, Jorshua Gómez of San Francisco FC and Thiago Chalmers of Plaza Amador were included in the attacking group.
Why It Matters
The bronze medal in Panama City offered an encouraging boost, but the bigger objective remains the World Cup later this year. For Baloy and his staff, each training window is an opportunity to refine the squad, build chemistry and settle on the players most ready to compete on the world stage.
With the tournament approaching in November, this phase of preparation is key for maintaining rhythm and ensuring Panama’s best youth prospects stay in view as selection decisions continue.