Will Panama finish the World Cup as the only team to not score a goal?
Panama are staring down the wrong kind of World Cup history ahead of their match vs. England on Saturday, June 27.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, the biggest ever staged with 48 teams, 104 matches, and 16 host cities spread across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, has delivered stunning upsets, record-breaking individual performances, and more group stage goals than any tournament in recent memory.
Down in Group L, Panama are making history, too. Just not the kind they hoped for.
Heading into their final group game against England on Saturday at MetLife Stadium, Panama remain the only team in the entire tournament yet to score a single goal.
The streets will talk about back-to-back Messi/Mbappe/Haaland 2+ goal parlays for generations.
— Dimers (@DimersCom) June 23, 2026
Through two matches, losses of 1-0 to both Ghana and Croatia, they have been blanked entirely.
What makes the unfortunate lack of goals even more of a headline is how narrowly Panama avoided sharing it with others. Three teams, Haiti, Ecuador, and Türkiye, entered their final group matches still scoreless. All three found the net at least twice.
After Türkiye's inspiring and prideful win over the United States on Thursday night, can Panama salvage their second-ever appearance in the World Cup or will they head home scoreless?
Panama vs. England Preview: A Final Curtain Call
When Panama take the field on Saturday, it will be against England who sit top of Group L at four points, with only a win guaranteeing the top spot.
Panama, mathematically eliminated after two rounds, play for pride, and for the right to say they did not leave this tournament as the only team to record 0 points in the standings and 0 goals.
The last time these teams met at a World Cup, it was not close. England won 6-1 in Russia in 2018, the only previous time Panama qualified for the World Cup, with Harry Kane scoring a hat-trick en route to his Golden Boot award.
MORE: Who will win the Golden Boot?
Panama scored late in that match off a strike by Felipe Baloy, their first-ever goal in the World Cup. Eight years later, they're chasing their second.
England's attacking numbers have been significant: 41 shots, 14 on target, and 6.72 xG across two games.
Panama, meanwhile, have generated just 1.86 xG in total, getting off just five shots on target.
Can Panama score a goal? What the Data says
The markets are not expecting much from Panama.
England are priced at around -600 on the moneyline and clear favorites to take the top spot in Group L.
But, the Dimers model has run the numbers across a variety of markets, and there are a few interesting angles if you believe Panama can get one on the board.
Both teams to score (BTTS)
The Dimers model puts Both Teams to Score at 40.9%.
This is arguably the most straightforward market if you think Panama can find the net.
It's essentially impossible to imagine Panama keeping England off the sheet entirely, so if you're betting on a Panama goal, and at a 52.9% probability not much higher than a coin flip of England winning with a clean sheet compared to 83.0% to win outright, the model suggests this is fairly close to fair price at the best odds of +135, with fair landing right around +145.
Exact scorelines where Panama score
For more granular plays and betting on specific narratives (Panama scores but Kane gets a brace, for example) the exact scoreline predictions from our model reveal the most likely results in which Panama gets on the board.
- 2-1 England (+1000, 7.8% probability) — The most likely scenario in which Panama score. England win, Panama get their goal, and a competitive scoreline flatters both sides
- 3-1 England (+1000, 7.2% probability) — Nearly identical probability to the 2-1, also priced at +1000. If England score early, this would be more likely
- 1-1 Draw (+1400, 5.6% probability) — It's the only scoreline in this bracket where Panama avoid defeat at 5% or better. At +1400, it's a tempting flyer, but not quite fair odds at +1690.
- 4-1 England (+1400, 5.0% probability) — Available at the same +1400 odds as the draw, with nearly the same probability. The difference: this aligns far better with where the model actually sits overall — England winning, high goalscorer probabilities for Harry Kane and the Total. If you like the +1400 price but want the play to fit the broader model narrative, the 4-1 makes more sense than the 1-1.
Final thoughts
Panama's 2026 World Cup has been a sobering experience.
They qualified impressively through CONCACAF, winning five and drawing three without a defeat in qualifying, and they walked into an expanded 48-team tournament with a chance to show they belong.
Now they have one last shot. Haiti scored two in their final game. Ecuador scored two and won. Türkiye scored three. The precedent has been set.
The question is whether Panama can follow through.
Panama vs. England kicks off Saturday, June 27 at 5 PM ET from MetLife Stadium.
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Dave Garofolo uses sophisticated AI-driven analytics to make predictions and evaluate player performances in the NBA, MLB, NFL, NHL, NCAAM, and PGA TOUR tournaments, crafting insightful game and prop previews.
