Panama captain Anibal Godoy has underlined his commitment to the national team ahead of their opening fixture against Ghana, pledging to give everything for his country as they begin their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign.
The veteran midfielder is expected to lead from the front when the Central Americans take on the Black Stars in a crucial Group L encounter at Toronto Stadium on Wednesday, June 17.
With both nations eager to secure an early advantage in a group that also features England and Croatia, Godoy stressed the importance of staying focused and approaching the tournament one step at a time.
“We’re going to be doing it match per match, and I’m going to be giving the very best that I can,” the Panama skipper said.
The experienced midfielder also dismissed any notion that Panama are satisfied simply to be participating at football’s biggest tournament, insisting the squad has arrived with greater ambitions.
“We are here to compete. Not only are we going to be competing, we are driven because we want more,” Godoy told reporters through a translator in Toronto.
Godoy’s comments reflect the growing confidence within the Panamanian camp as the team prepares for only its second appearance at the FIFA World Cup.
Having gained valuable experience from their debut participation in 2018, Panama are determined to make a stronger impact this time around and are targeting a historic first World Cup victory.
The clash against Ghana represents a major opportunity for Thomas Christiansen’s side to lay down a marker in Group L and boost their chances of reaching the knockout stages.