By Travis Seymour
The Guyana national football team, known as the Golden Jaguars, faced a tough defeat against hosts Panama in their Concacaf Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The match unfolded with Panama emerging victorious with a 2-0 scoreline, leaving Guyana grappling to regain momentum throughout the game.
Guyana started the match strong, dominating play in the first half and launching several shots on goal.
However, the turning point came late in the period when an offside call against Guyana seemed to disrupt their flow, visibly affecting their performance.
Despite their efforts and nine shots on target, they were unable to convert these opportunities into goals.
Panama seized the initiative in the second half, with Cristian Martinez breaking the deadlock in the 62nd minute by scoring from inside the box, connecting on a pass from Adalberto Carrasquilla.
Just three minutes later, Jose Rodriguez extended Panama’s lead to 2-0 with a powerful strike, capitalizing on a service from Edgar Barcenas.
Despite Guyana’s efforts to mount a comeback, they were unable to breach Panama’s defense and ultimately succumbed to a 2-0 defeat.
The loss places pressure on the Golden Jaguars as they navigate through Group D of the qualifiers, which includes strong opponents like Panama, Nicaragua, Montserrat, and Belize.
Ranked 19th in the CONCACAF region, Guyana faces an upcoming match against Belize, ranked 29th by CONCACAF.
This critical match is scheduled to take place in Barbados on Tuesday, June 11, at the Wildey Turf in Bridgetown, Barbados.
The result underscores the challenges and competitive nature of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers, as Guyana strives to advance in the tournament and make an impact on the international stage.