The qualifying tournament for the 2026 World Cup in Morocco, being held in Costa Rica, commenced with a stunning defeat for the Mexican National Women's Team against Jamaica, placing the national squad at the top of their group. However, the young Aztecas must not become complacent as their next challenge is against a familiar foe from the region: Panama.
The tricolor team is determined to secure their spot in the Morocco 2026 World Cup, where they hope to improve upon their performance from the previous edition in 2025, when the Mexican squad clinched third place by defeating Brazil in a penalty shootout, thanks in large part to the remarkable performance of goalkeeper Valentina Murrieta.
Under the guidance of coach Miguel Gamero, the team displayed remarkable strength in their opening match of the qualifiers in Costa Rica. Their opponent was Jamaica, and while a resounding victory was anticipated, the 9-0 win further solidified the Aztecas' status as favorites in the tournament. Mía Urbano and Citlali Reyes were the stars of the match, each scoring three goals, while the remaining goals were contributed by Ixchel Uscanga, Emily Delgado, and Bianka Arredondo, who capped off the scoring.
On the other hand, the Panama U-17 Women's National Team did not have a successful start to their participation in the Final Round of the Concacaf Qualifiers, suffering a 3-1 defeat against Costa Rica in their Group C opener. The Costa Rican team established dominance from the first half, taking the lead in the 29th minute following an own goal by Panama's Camila Aparicio. The advantage quickly grew, thanks to a standout performance by Lucía Paniagua, who scored from the penalty spot in the 35th minute and completed her brace with a shot just before halftime, leaving the score at a decisive 3-0 by the end of the first half.
In the second half, the Panamanian team showed improvement in their offensive strategy and managed to score in the 57th minute through Cristabella Ríos. Despite the efforts from the Panamanian players to fully engage in the match, the Costa Rican defense maintained its composure to secure the three points in their debut.
As a result of this outcome, Costa Rica sits in second place in their group, trailing behind Mexico, which leads the group following their significant victory over Jamaica. Panama occupies the third position, with Jamaica in fourth based on goal difference.
The second match of the group stage is scheduled for Thursday, March 19, at 12:20 PM (Central Mexico Time) and will be broadcasted on ESPN or available via Disney+.
It is important to note that the top two teams from each group will qualify for the knockout stage, where they will compete for one of the four spots available from the region.
As reported by infobae.com.
