2026 World Cup: Thomas Christiansen warns of tough test as Panama brace for Ghana opener
Panama head coach Thomas Christiansen has acknowledged the scale of the challenge awaiting his side ahead of their Group L opener against Ghana at the 2026 FIFA World Cup tonight, June 17.
The Central American side arrives at the tournament buoyed by steady progress under the Danish manager, but Christiansen insists they must be ready for a demanding encounter against the Black Stars.
"We have seen the matches here at the World Cup; they have been incredibly tight, and you cannot really say that one is less than another.
"There are times where you're going to be suffering, you're going to be enduring, you're going to be up against huge squads, but you're going to be suffering as a group," the 53-year-old coach said.
Since his appointment in 2020, Christiansen has transformed Panama’s fortunes, lifting them from 81st to 34th in the FIFA rankings and turning them into a more competitive force on the international stage.