Preview:Suriname vs Panama - prediction, team news, lineups

Facing each other for the first time, Suriname and Panama will open third round Group A action in CONCACAF World Cup 2026 qualifying at Dr. Franklin Essed Stadium on Thursday.

Both sides topped their respective groups in the second phase, with the Caribbeans going undefeated in their four fixtures and the Panamanians boasting a 100% record.

Match preview

Suriname are entering rare territory that the nation has not experienced in years, featuring in the final round of World Cup qualifying for the first time since the 1978 cycle.

A win or a draw for them on Thursday would mark the first-ever points the national team will have collected in the final CONCACAF qualification stage.

In round two, they won both of their home qualifiers by a combined margin of 5-1, while they have triumphed in their last two matches played in Suriname by a score of 1-0.

Stanley Menzo’s side come into this contest riding a four-match winless run across all competitions, failing to find the back of the net in those last two outings.

Their three victories in 2025 have all been by a 1-0 score, while they have not lost a match when netting first since the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup versus Costa Rica (2-1).

Natio have points in three of their previous four competitive fixtures versus Central American teams, though their last victory against that region came in a September 2022 friendly with Nicaragua (2-1).

As expected, round two of qualification was smooth sailing for the Panamanians, who conceded just one goal in their four encounters.

While this summer’s Gold Cup ended earlier than expected with their quarter-final defeat to Honduras on penalties, they should be feeling good about their chances to make the finals for a second time.

Thomas Christiansen’s men have won five of their last six competitive games, while losing just once in normal time to a CONCACAF team this year (2-1 versus Mexico in the Nations League final).

They won their two qualifiers as the visitors in the previous stage quite comfortably, conceding only one goal while scoring five themselves.

In the final stage of 2022 qualifying, some poor results away from home cost La Marea Roja a place in Qatar, with all five of their defeats coming outside of Panama.

Los Canaleros have won their last four meetings versus Caribbean sides and have not lost to that region since Jamaica beat them 1-0 in the third-place match at the 2024 Nations League.

Suriname World Cup Qualifying - North Central America form:

Suriname form (all competitions):

Panama World Cup Qualifying - North Central America form:

Panama form (all competitions):

Team News

Heading into this match, Dion Malone is one cap behind Shaquille Pinas for seventh all-time with Suriname, while record goalscorer Gleofilo Vlijter can equal Clifton Sandvliet for third in that department on Thursday.

Justin Lonwijk, Jaden Montnor and Tyrone Conraad each had two goals in the previous qualification stage, while Etienne Vaessen collected two clean sheets.

As for Panama, Ismael Diaz can reach the half-century mark for caps in this one, Everardo Ernesto Rose Clarke will seek his first with the senior team and Erick Davis is three away from 100.

Jose Luis Rodriguez had two goals for them in the previous qualifying round, while Jose Fajardo and Diaz are in a three-way tie for third all-time with Los Canaleros, each netting 15 times respectively.

Suriname possible starting lineup:

Vaessen; Van Gelderen, Dijksteel, Pinas, Van der Kust; Klas, Paal; Conraad, Jubitana, Boetius; Vlijter

Panama possible starting lineup:

Mosquera; Murillo, Escobar, Andrade, Davis; Harvey, Godoy; Barcenas, Carrasquilla, Diaz; Fajardo

We say: Suriname 0-2 Panama

Suriname have progressed under Menzo, but have not been able to compete against the big teams in CONCACAF, which is why we expect a comfortable triumph for Panama.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.