Panamá’s under-17 men’s national football team defeated Australia 1-0 on Thursday in Salou, Spain, opening a crucial preparatory tour ahead of the upcoming FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar. Midfielder Estevis López scored the game’s only goal in the 64th minute, just two minutes after entering the match as a substitute, according to match reports from the Federación Panameña de Fútbol (FPF) and Corprensa.
How Estevis López Decided the Match in Salou
The encounter at the Mediterranean Sport Hub’s main pitch tested the squad directed by head coach Felipe Baloy. Australia applied a high defensive pressure during the opening minutes that disrupted Panama’s rhythm. The team adjusted gradually, finding its footing and generating the sharper offensive chances in the second half. López broke the deadlock at minute 64, converting a chance moments after stepping onto the pitch to secure a 1-0 victory.
López has developed a reputation for decisive goals within the national program. The 16-year-old midfielder previously scored in February’s 4-1 victory over Nicaragua to secure World Cup qualification, converted a penalty in a 6-0 rout of Anguila, and tallied three goals during the 2025 World Cup qualifiers—including an 87th-minute winner against Dominican Republic, as detailed by Corprensa.
Upcoming Fixtures on the Spanish Tour
Panamá will return to training on Friday morning, September 25, splitting the squad into a recovery group and a compensation session for players with limited minutes against Australia. The European training camp continues with two more matches designed to simulate the tactical demands of the global tournament:
- Saturday, September 26: Match against Morocco at 4:00 p.m. local time (9:00 a.m. Panama time) at the Mediterranean Sport Hub in Salou.
- Tuesday, September 29: Final friendly against CF Tortosa Ebre, a club side featuring under-20 and under-21 players.
Road to the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar
The friendlies serve as preparation for the FIFA U-17 World Cup, scheduled to run from November 19 to December 13 in Qatar. Panamá enters Group A alongside host nation Qatar, Egypt, and Greece.
The team’s group stage schedule opens on November 19 against Qatar at Doha’s Aspire Zone facilities. La Rojita then faces Greece on November 22 before concluding group play against Egypt on November 25.
Match Lineup and Squad Usage
Coach Baloy utilized a deep roster against Australia, starting Adamir Aparicio, Stephens Domínguez, Anthony Murillo (Neir Marrugo), Gian Carlos Alemán (Alberto Adams), Cristian Ibarra (Gabriel Quiróz), Lucio Ceballos (Josimar Insturain), Alfredo Maduro (Joseph Choy), José Asprilla (Lucas Norte), Cristian Morán (Oliver Pinzón), Alexander Tull (Estevis López), and Joshua Peyton (Thiago Chalmers).
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