United States vs. Panama: Semifinal

United States vs. Panama: Semifinal Showdown with History and High Stakes

The Concacaf Nations League semifinal at SoFi Stadium brings together two familiar foes with a long and dramatic history—the United States and Panama. Though it’s their first meeting in this tournament, the rivalry between these two nations has deep roots in regional competition, including 12 Gold Cup showdowns and plenty of high-stakes clashes.

Now, with a spot in the Nations League Final on the line, both sides will be looking to write a new chapter in their competitive saga.

⚽ A Rivalry Forged in Gold

While this is their first-ever meeting in the Concacaf Nations League, the U.S. and Panama are no strangers. Across 28 matches, the U.S. has claimed 18 wins, with 7 draws and just 3 losses.

Two of their most memorable battles came in the semifinals of the Gold Cup:

2011: A 1-0 win for the U.S., courtesy of Clint Dempsey.
2023: A 1-1 draw led to penalties, where the U.S. edged Panama 5-4 after extra time.

The most recent encounter, however, saw Panama pull off a stunning 2-1 comeback win in the 2024 Copa América group stage, marking a shift in confidence and form for Los Canaleros.

🇺🇸 United States: Tournament Specialists

The U.S. has been dominant in Nations League history, winning the last three titles (2019/20, 2022/23, 2023/24) and reaching the semifinals in all editions. They enter this semifinal on a four-match Nations League winning streak and have won 16 of their 18 CNL games, scoring 52 goals and conceding only 10.

Key Players to Watch:

Weston McKennie – The all-time U.S. leader in CNL goal contributions (6 goals, 6 assists), McKennie is a force on both ends of the pitch.
Christian Pulisic – A clutch performer in knockout stages, with 4 goals and 2 assists in CNL final rounds.
Jordan Morris – With 5 goals and 4 assists in just 336 minutes of CNL action, Morris has the tournament’s best goals-per-minute ratio.
Matt Turner – With 7 clean sheets in 11 matches, Turner is the CNL’s most reliable shot-stopper.

The U.S. offense continues to be powered by Ricardo Pepi (7 CNL goals) and Giovanni Reyna (3 goals, 4 assists), while the defense remains anchored by veterans like Antonee Robinson and Sergiño Dest.

🇵🇦 Panama: Hungry to Break Through

Panama arrives with confidence after surviving a tough quarterfinal against Costa Rica (1-0 win and 2-2 draw). They’ve reached the Final Four in the last three editions but are still looking for their first final appearance. With a record of 10 wins, 3 draws, and 7 losses in the Nations League, Panama is inching closer to elite territory.

Key Players to Watch:

José Fajardo – Panama’s all-time top CNL scorer (5 goals), and a U.S. specialist with 3 goals in his last 4 matches vs. the Stars and Stripes.
Édgar Bárcenas – The captain and heartbeat of the team, with 4 goals and 4 assists in CNL play. Registered an assist and 4 shots in the quarterfinals.
César Blackman – Scored in the quarterfinals and brings big-game experience, having played in every CNL edition.
José Rodríguez – A creative threat in midfield with 3 CNL goals and a standout showing against Costa Rica.

Goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera, with 29 saves and 9 clean sheets in CNL history, will need to be at his best to keep the U.S. frontline at bay.

📊 Head-to-Head Snapshot

All-time matches: 28
- United States: 18 wins
- Panama: 3 wins
- Draws: 7
Goals scored:
- USA: 56
- Panama: 19

Panama may be the underdog on paper, but recent form—and that Copa América win—proves they can go toe-to-toe with the U.S. on any stage.

What to Expect

The United States will look to extend its reign as Concacaf’s top dog, while Panama hopes to flip the script and reach their first-ever Nations League Final. With stars like McKennie and Pulisic on one side, and firepower from Fajardo and Bárcenas on the other, fans can expect a battle filled with intensity, tactical precision, and drama.

Kickoff: Thursday, March 20, 2025
Time: 7:00 PM EDT / 4:00 PM local time
Venue: SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles