Panama

A small Central American nation that punches well above its weight, this scrappy underdog made history by reaching their first-ever World Cup back in 2018 and has been building on that momentum ever since. They qualified for 2026 on the back of a tight, competitive CONCACAF campaign, relying on hard work and team spirit rather than flashy individual stars. Keep an eye on whether their veteran core can hold things together on the big stage, or if the moment proves too big for a squad that's more grit than glamour.