Jose Cordoba: Driving Panama's World Cup Ambitions

 Jose Cordoba reflects on his journey to the English Championship, Panama's prospects in the Concacaf Nations League, and their goal of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Panama's Defensive Anchor

• Jose Cordoba emerges as a key figure in Panama's defense.
• Inspired by legends Roman Torres and Felipe Baloy.
• Confident in Panama's ability to secure a spot in FIFA World Cup 2026.

When Panama reached their maiden FIFA World Cup™ at Russia 2018, they were led by iconic defenders like Roman Torres and Felipe Baloy. Now, a fresh generation of defensive stalwarts, spearheaded by Jose Cordoba, is working towards their second World Cup qualification.

At just 23 years old, Cordoba has rapidly risen to prominence as one of the standout center-backs in Concacaf. His influence has been pivotal as Panama reached the knockout stage of the CONMEBOL Copa America 2024 and currently leads their World Cup qualifying group. This March, Panama also has a chance to claim their first Concacaf title at the Nations League Finals.

A few years ago, Cordoba was playing in Bulgaria's second division. Today, he represents Norwich City in the English Championship, with aspirations of becoming the first Panamanian to play in the Premier League. His ultimate goal, however, remains leading Panama to the FIFA World Cup 2026™.

FIFA Interview Highlights

Expectations for 2025:
"We aim to beat the USA in the Nations League semi-finals, make it to the final, and fight for our first title. Our dream is to win that title and secure World Cup qualification."

On Winning a Title for Panama:
"It would be indescribable for our nation—a historic achievement that would inspire our confidence moving forward."

World Cup Qualifying Matches:
"Our match against Belize will be high-pressure as we must win. Against Nicaragua, it could be a decider for group leadership."

Keys to World Cup Qualification:
"Our team excels under pressure, thanks to our coach's motivational approach. It’s what drives us to win or draw critical matches."

Thomas Christiansen's Leadership

Cordoba praises Panama’s coach, Thomas Christiansen, for instilling confidence and improving players’ technical understanding. "He's elite—constantly pushing us to improve and making Panama a stronger team," he says.

The Journey So Far

Cordoba’s path from Panama to Norwich was marked by challenges, including language barriers and separation from family during his stint in Bulgaria. However, he views these experiences as opportunities to grow, both on and off the field. Now at Norwich City, he has honed his defensive skills, focusing on mental maturity and tactical priorities.

Dreaming of the Premier League

As the first Panamanian to play in the Championship, Cordoba eyes a historic promotion to the Premier League. "It would show clubs that Panamanians can compete at the highest level," he states.

Share This:

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Linkedin Whatsapp Whatsapp

About Liam Carter

This is a short description in the author block about the author. You edit it by entering text in the "Biographical Info" field in the user admin panel.