Preview: Canada vs. Panama – prediction, team news, lineups

Canada will be bidding to return to winning ways when they tackle Panama in a friendly on Tuesday night.

The home side will enter the contest off the back of a goalless draw with Mexico last month, while Panama have lost their last two matches, including a 2-0 defeat to United States on Saturday night.

Match preview

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As joint-hosts of the 2026 World Cup, Canada will not have to go through a qualification process to be present at the competition, but they will have competitive action before the end of the year.

Indeed, the Reds will take part in the quarter-finals of the CONCACAF Nations League next month, but this friendly will represent their first game since drawing 0-0 with Mexico in a friendly in September.

Jesse Marsch‘s side enjoyed a successful 2024 Copa America, making it to the semi-finals of the competition, where they were beaten 2-0 by Argentina, before suffering a penalty-shootout loss to Uruguay in the third-place playoff.

Canada are unbeaten in their last three friendly matches, including a 0-0 draw with France in June, and they do have a lot of talent in their squad, with Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies, Porto’s Stephen Eustaquio and Lille’s Jonathan David the standout names.

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Panama, meanwhile, will enter this friendly off the back of a 2-0 defeat to United States on Saturday, which proved to be their first match since competing at the 2024 Copa America.

Los Canaleros had a hugely successful tournament over the summer, reaching the quarter-finals for the first time in their history, but they suffered a 5-0 defeat to Colombia in the final eight.

Thomas Christiansen‘s side will also feature in the quarter-finals of the CONCACAF Nations League next month, and their next confirmed fixtures are their 2026 World Cup qualifiers next June.

Panama are currently second in Group D of the second round of qualification, picking up six points from their two matches courtesy of wins over Guyana and Montserrat.

Los Canaleros will tackle Belize and Nicaragua next June, and their performance at the recent Copa America should mean that confidence is high in the camp.

Canada friendly form:

Canada form (all competitions):

Panama friendly form:

Panama form (all competitions):

Team News

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Canada head coach Marsch is expected to name a strong starting side for Tuesday’s friendly, with Davies and David both expected to be in the first XI.

David has scored 29 times in 56 caps for his country, and the 24-year-old is currently one of the most in-demand strikers in world football, as his Lille contract is due to expire next summer.

Cyle Larin of Mallorca has also managed 29 goals for Canada, and the 29-year-old could be a starter on Tuesday, while Nice’s Moise Bombito should also be in the XI.

As for Panama, there is once again expected to be a spot at centre-forward for Eduardo Guerrero, with the 24-year-old bidding to add to the one goal that he has scored for his country.

Orlando Mosquera is the number one goalkeeper and will continue between the sticks, while Marseille’s Michael Murillo is the standout player from a defensive point of view.

Yoel Barcenas has scored nine times in 91 caps for his country, and the 30-year-old is set to feature in the first XI once again, while Cesar Blackman could operate in a wing-back role.

Canada possible starting lineup:
Crepeau; Adekugbe, Bombito, Cornelius, Davies; Laryea, Osorio, Eustaquio, Shaffelburg; David, Larin

Panama possible starting lineup:
Mosquera; Escobar, Farina, Miller; Murillo, Martinez, Carrasquilla, Blackman; Barcenas, Guerrero, Rodriguez

We say: Canada 2-0 Panama

Panama demonstrated during the recent Copa America that they are an improving outfit, but Canada can call upon the greater quality all over the field, and we are expecting a home success in Tuesday’s friendly.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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