After surprising Mexico in the last game, Qatar will now face Panama in the quarterfinals of the Gold Cup at A&T Stadium, Texas.
- Qatar is ranked 58th in the world rankings while Panama is ranked 59th
- Qatar defeated Mexico in their last match
- Panama topped their group in the group stage
Qatar is slowly establishing themselves as a footballing nation and this Gold Cup has been a big sign of their emergence. They are in the quarterfinals of the Gold Cup and stand a good chance of progressing. Qatar may have all the media attention from outside, but Panama still have a great chance to win this match after their scintillating performances during the group stage.
Qatar Form
In the group stage, Qatar was considered to be one of the least likely teams to win or advance from the tournament after they lost to 87th ranked Haiti in their opening game, and then drew their second round matchup against Honduras.
The Qatar national team surprised everyone by defeating Mexico in the final game of the group stage. However, Mexico dominated the game with 77 percent possession and 25 shots, but Qatar won the game with a single shot.
Panama Form
There were expectations that Panama would battle for second place behind Costa Rica in order to advance to the quarterfinals, but Panama surprised everyone by going all the way to the quarterfinals.
A win over Costa Rica was the start of their campaign, followed by a win against Martinique, before they came up short against El Salvador in the final game, and had to settle for a draw.
Head-to-Head
In their career, Qatar and Panama have only met twice. The Asian team currently leads Panama with 1 win and 1 draw. Qatar won 2-1 in their last meeting during the 2022 FIFA World Cup friendly matches.
Team News
The Panamanian squad is expected to go into the knockout match fully healthy after resting some key players against El Salvador. The Qatari squad is also expected to be able to play at full capacity after sustaining no serious injuries during the group stage.
Key Players
For Qatar, Mostafa Meshaal has been the star midfielder. As a creative force for Qatar, he will play a crucial role in Qatar's performance here. He has so far made two assists in the tournament, and he was the star against Mexico in their last game.
Jose Fajardo has been star for Panama. He has been the striking force in attack with goal in both of his appearances in the tournament matches so far. He will be a real threat for Qatar in this game.
How to watch on TV and Online
Viewers in UK can watch Panama vs Qatar match on Viaplay Sports 1
Final Thoughts
This will be one tough game between Qatar's defense and Panama's attack. We are expecting a crunch game between their two teams. The Gold Cup is an old name for Panama, while Qatar is establishing its name. Qatar has a youthful force on their team, while Panama has many experienced players.
Gold Cup