José Fajardo

José Fajardo is an experienced centre-forward in Thomas Christiansen's Panama squad for the 2026 World Cup, named among the forwards. The Universidad Católica forward is 32 at kick-off and brings 65 senior Panama caps and 17 international goals into the tournament. He was a joint top scorer for Panama during the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, and plays his club football in Ecuador with Universidad Católica, on loan from Panamanian side CAI.

Panama face England, Croatia and Ghana in Group L, with a meeting with England at MetLife Stadium on 27 June. Christiansen's side qualified by winning their CONCACAF third-round group on 18 November 2025. Fajardo is among the forwards Christiansen has named in the squad, one of the most experienced in the group.

Fajardo is an experienced centre-forward who leads the line for Panama, the focal point in attack for a side set up in Christiansen's 5-4-1. He runs the channels, holds the ball up to bring others into play and looks to finish inside the box, the front-line job asked of a lone striker.

His scoring is the headline: 17 international goals across his Panama career, and a joint-top-scorer return through the 2026 qualifying campaign. That record makes him the most proven finisher among Panama's forwards.

José Fajardo carries Panama's goals into their Goal Rush slot: an experienced centre-forward with 17 international goals for his country, a joint top scorer through the 2026 qualifying campaign, who leads the line, runs the channels and finishes inside the box for Panama. Panama are a Tier 4 side at £10m, a budget pick within the game's £200m card budget, the Group L draw framing their group-stage games.