Fidel Escobar

Fidel Escobar is in Thomas Christiansen's 26-man Panama squad for the 2026 World Cup, a centre-back who plays his club football for Deportivo Saprissa in Costa Rica. He goes into the finals at 31, after Panama qualified by winning their CONCACAF third-round group in November 2025.

A right-footed centre-back, Escobar anchors the Saprissa defence and is a regular at the heart of their back line. He has 99 senior caps and 4 international goals for Panama, and this season his club record reads 40 appearances and 5 goals across all competitions. The draw places Panama in Group L alongside England, Croatia and Ghana, and they open against Ghana in Toronto on 17 June, the first of their three group games.

A right-footed centre-back, Escobar anchors the Deportivo Saprissa defence at the heart of their back line. He also offers a threat from set-pieces, chipping in with goals and assists at the other end this season. He stands 1.84 m and is right-footed, and has logged 3,438 club minutes for Deportivo Saprissa this season, going into the group stage in Thomas Christiansen's squad at the age of 31.

Escobar's work for Panama is at the back, an experienced centre-back who anchors the defence for his side. He chips in at the other end too, with 5 goals this season and 4 international goals across his Panama career, helped by his threat from set-pieces. On the Goal Rush card Panama are a Tier 4 side at £10m, one of the lower bands on the card as they head into Group L.