“We know where we can hurt Ghana”- Panama defender Andrade

Panama defender Andres Andrade has acknowledged the magnitude of the challenge awaiting his side against Ghana but believes thorough preparation has positioned the Central American nation to make a strong start to their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign.

The Group L encounter at Toronto Stadium on Wednesday will mark a crucial opening fixture for both countries as they seek to gain an early advantage in a pool that also features England and Croatia.

Speaking after Panama’s training session on Monday, Andrade said the squad has spent significant time studying the Black Stars and understanding the threats they pose ahead of the highly anticipated clash.

“The group is very focused; we know what we have to do on Wednesday,” Andrade said.

The experienced defender revealed that Panama’s preparations have been centred on following the tactical plans laid out by head coach Thomas Christiansen while identifying opportunities to trouble the four-time African champions.

“We are aware that it won’t be an easy match, but we have been training very well with the coach, we are following his instructions, we know where we can hurt Ghana, and we will try to take advantage of our opportunities.”

Andrade also highlighted the importance of defensive organisation, insisting that keeping Ghana’s attack at bay could be key to securing a positive result.

“If we keep a clean sheet, we have a great chance of getting a good result,” he added.

Panama have continued their preparations at their Ontario training base, with Christiansen overseeing final tactical sessions ahead of the team’s World Cup debut. The squad received a boost with all 28 players available for training, including influential midfielder Adalberto Carrasquilla, who has returned to ball work after recent fitness concerns.

The Central Americans are scheduled to complete one final training session on Tuesday before travelling to Toronto for official pre-match activities.

Meanwhile, Ghana have also settled in Canada and are fine-tuning preparations under head coach Carlos Queiroz as they target a winning start to their fifth FIFA World Cup appearance.

With anticipation building ahead of the showdown, both nations will head into Wednesday’s fixture knowing that a positive result could significantly strengthen their hopes of reaching the knockout stage.