---
title: "Panama lines up final World Cup tune-ups with Brazil, Dominican Republic and Bosnia"
date: 2026-04-16
author: ""
url: https://panamadaily.news/panama-world-cup-friendlies-final-prep/
categories:
  - "News"
  - "Sports"
tags:
  - "Bosnia and Herzegovina"
  - "Brazil friendly"
  - "Dominican Republic"
  - "Football"
  - "Panama national team"
  - "World Cup 2026"
---

# Panama lines up final World Cup tune-ups with Brazil, Dominican Republic and Bosnia

## What Happened

Panama is set to close its build-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup with three final friendlies against Brazil, the Dominican Republic and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The matches would complete a preparation schedule designed to sharpen the national team before its second appearance on soccer’s biggest stage.

The first confirmed fixture is against Brazil on May 31 at the Maracaná Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. The match will be part of Brazil’s farewell game before the tournament, where the South American giant is grouped with Haiti.

Panama’s second final warm-up is expected to be against the Dominican Republic in the first days of June at Estadio Rommel Fernández in Panama City. The third and last test would take place in the United States against Bosnia and Herzegovina, a European side that reached the World Cup after eliminating Italy in UEFA playoff action.

## How Panama Arrived Here

Panama qualified as first in Group A with 12 points after a tight battle with Suriname. The team is ranked 33rd in FIFA’s standings and later learned its World Cup group opponents: Ghana, England and Croatia.

Since the draw, the national team has looked for international opponents to round out its preparation. In January, outside the FIFA window, Panama played two matches with an alternate squad, drawing Bolivia and losing to Mexico. That period also featured the debut of Kadir Barría.

In March, Panama completed its first international trip in a FIFA window with two matches against South Africa. The first ended in a draw in Durban, while the second was a Panamanian win in Cape Town.

## Why These Friendlies Matter

The final three matches offer a varied test before the tournament opens. Brazil provides elite-level pace and technical quality, the Dominican Republic gives a regional opponent familiar with Concacaf style, and Bosnia and Herzegovina brings European structure and physical play.

Panama’s staff has also explored other possible opponents during the search for a full 2026 calendar, including Venezuela, Italy and Spain. Those conversations reflect the challenge of securing high-level preparation that matches the intensity of the World Cup group stage.

The selection’s schedule now points toward a final phase of tuning before kickoff. Panama will begin World Cup play on June 17 in Toronto against Ghana, return to the same venue six days later to face Croatia, and close Group stage action on June 27 in New York against England.

## Historical Context

The Brazil friendly also carries a familiar echo. The two teams last met ahead of a World Cup in 2014, when Brazil defeated Panama 4-0 in Goiás with goals from Neymar, Dani Alves, Hulk and Willian. That match came early in Hernán Darío Gómez’s time as Panama coach.

With three opponents of different styles now on the calendar, Panama enters the final stretch of preparation with a clear opportunity to test itself against teams from South America, the Caribbean and Europe before facing one of the toughest group assignments in the tournament.