Panama forward Ismael Díaz is relishing the opportunity to test himself against some of the world’s best as his national team prepares for the 2026 World Cup.
Set to face Croatia, England and Ghana in the group stage, the 28-year-old is embracing the challenge, viewing it as the perfect stage to compete at the highest level.
For Díaz, the journey to this point has been shaped by years of dedication, beginning with countless hours playing football in the streets of Panama City under intense heat and humidity.
His talent was evident early. Díaz made his professional debut at just 15 with Tauro and earned his first senior international cap at 17, even scoring on his debut. By 21, he had already fulfilled a lifelong dream by representing Panama at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Now more experienced, Díaz believes this tournament will be different. While Panama’s first World Cup appearance was about embracing the occasion, the focus this time is on competing and achieving more.
He credits football not only for his career but for shaping his life, helping him grow both on and off the pitch. Coming from humble beginnings, he says the passion and resilience within the squad are rooted in similar backgrounds shared by many of his teammates.
Despite the difficulty of their group, Díaz is optimistic. He sees facing top nations as an opportunity rather than a setback and insists the team is motivated to make history.
Panama are still searching for their first World Cup victory, and Díaz admits it remains their biggest goal. Achieving that milestone, he says, would be a dream come true — not just for the players, but for the entire nation.
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