Mexico demolished Panama by a 4-0 score in their Quarterfinals matchup to qualify to the 2027 U20 World Cup. Mexico was once again the clearly superior team although not as clear as prior matches as they got their second consecutive 4-0 victory. Mexico will now travel to Mexico City, as the tournament moves to Estadio Banorte (Aka Estadio Azteca) to face off in the Semifinals against Canada, in a match that could determine the ticket to the 2028 Olympic Games, depending on the result from the United
States vs Costa Rica semifinal match.
The 1st half started with Mexico coming out with their best available as they went for the ticket to the World Cup. Panama went on the defensive from the start and had a couple of harsh fouls including one that earned them an early yellow card. Off a free kick, Juan Sigala got off a left footed shot that went well wide. After Edwin Soto seemed to be dropped in the area, no Penalty Kick was given and a small scuffle started. Off a counter, Panama had a great chance when Gerson Gordon got the ball in the area but his shot was blocked by Mexico’s defense. While Mexico had dominated at the start, Panama started to get more possession as their physicality started to bother Mexico. A left footed cross was terribly misjudged by Panama’s goalkeeper, Alberto Ruiz, who went to get it and missed it. This allowed Juan Echivelstre to get off a wide open header into the empty net to score and give Mexico the 1-0 lead. Hugo Camberos got the ball in the area but his right footed shot went wide. Mexico has regained complete control of the possession as Panama return to sitting back even when they now trailed. From way off the halfway line, Samir Inda got off a lobbed cross that turned into a shot and although went just wide, it gave a big scare to Ruiz. A chance in the area ended when Luis Gamboa’s cross would be won by Ruiz before the ball could reach an attacker for a close range chance. The halftime whistle blew and although it hadn’t been the greatest performance, Mexico took a deserved lead to the break.
The 2nd half started with neither team making a change during the break. A longball was a very good opportunity but Ruiz was able to get to it and lob it over Camberos, just outside the area. Camberos would get elbowed in the face by Gordon in a play that should have been a red card but was only a Yellow in a bad decision by the referee. From outside the area, Sigala got off a left footed shot from outside the area that was blocked by a handball from Josue Wood and a Penalty Kick was given to Mexico. The PK was taken by Camberos, whose shot was blocked by Ruiz but left there for him to get to the rebound and get off a right footed shot past him to score and increase Mexico’s lead to 2-0. The goal looked to be key as Mexico seemed to be dominating the match against a Panama side that looked toothless on the attack so far against a good Mexican defense. Panama subbed out Shayron Stewart for Joseph Choy. Mexico subbed out Hugo Camberos for Diego Reyes. Camberos looked to be injured which is terrible news for Mexico should for a Semifinals clash. A long throw by Mexico almost went into the goal, going just wide of the goal with Ruiz not coming close to it. A cross into the area found a wide open Gamboa but he whiffed on his volley and the ball went wide in a terrible miss. On a one vs one, Aldahir Valenzuela had a great chance but after getting into the area, his left footed shot went well wide. Mexico subbed out the injured Juan Sigala for Nelson Cedillo. Off a corner kick, Oliver Campos got a wide open header but it went wide. A great combination play ended with Luis Gamboa getting the ball alone in the area but Choy made a sliding save to deflect the ball out. In the ensuing corner kick, the great cross from Cedillo was headed from close range by Yohan Orozco, past Ruiz and into the net to score and give Mexico the 3-0 lead. It was a great set play and now the match looked finished with the three goal lead. Mexico subbed out Aldahir Valenzuela, Luis Gamboa and Samir Inda for Diego Ramirez, Luis Gomez and Diego Covarrubias. Panama subbed out Raheen Cuello for Gino Sasso. In an incredible play, a minute and a half after going in, Sasso got off a horrendous tackle on Cedillo that earned him a red card. After only being a minute on the field, Sasso had left his team with 10 players for a match they were already trailing by three goals. Off a corner kick, Ruiz had another terrible mistake misjudging a cross and Diego Ramirez would chest the ball into the empty net to score and give Mexico the 4-0 lead. It was a terrible mistake from Ruiz, who showed serious deficiency in going on from crosses and Mexico had settled the match. There was time for more as the match ended and Mexico qualified to the 2027 U20 World Cup in grand style.
Mexico has accomplished their first of three goals in the 2026 U20 CONCACAF Championship by qualifying to the 2027 U20 World Cup. Mexico didn’t give the greatest performance but once again were overly superior to a very poor Panamanian side that sat back and counter attacked with a very weak offensive spark. Mexico was the better team but didn’t have a great match and didn’t create much chances. Still Mexico looked as the better team and it was only a matter of time until they scored as they took advantage of the terrible crosses game of Panama’s goalkeeper. The match ended the tournament’s spell in Puebla and will now move to Mexico City for the Semifinals and Final. Mexico will face off against Canada, in what should be the toughest match for Mexico. Canada is not only a superior side to all the teams Mexico has faced but they are also tough physical. Mexico will also have the problem of if Hugo Camberos would be available as Mexico’s best player in a tougher match. Still Estadio Azteca is a tough venue, the altitude will be bigger and Canada might be troubled by it. If Canada is the toughest team that Mexico will face so far, it will be an even bigger change up for Canada, who will not only have to face the toughest team so far but the toughest situation in facing the hosts in a tougher stadium especially after their scarcely attended previous games. And the probably bigger mention is that if the United States defeats Costa Rica in the previous semifinal match, then the winner of the Mexico vs Canada match will win the last ticket to the 2028 Olympic games. The United States as host, are already qualified to the competition. Thus Mexico will have an even bigger tougher match on Friday but at least they go in with the ticket to the U20 World Cup already in the bag.
