Panama U20

The final in Fos-sur-Mer in June 2023 ran away from Mexico. Panama's under-20s beat them 4-1 to take the Maurice Revello Tournament.

Eight years earlier the same opponent had been on the other side of the result. The 2015 CONCACAF U-20 Championship final went to penalties, and Mexico got over the line. Panama took the runners-up place and two individual awards out of that tournament: Luis Pereira was named its best player, Jaime de Gracia its best goalkeeper. Both went on to the U-20 World Cup that summer, where the side went out in the group stage, as it had in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2011.

The one time the team cleared that hurdle was 2019, when it reached the last 16. Bronze at the CONCACAF championship followed in 2022 and again in 2024.

Jorge Dely Valdés has had the job three times — briefly in 2010, then through the run to the 2022 medal, and again from 2024.

What the age group is measured by in Panama is what comes out of it. Aníbal Godoy passed through in 2007 and 2008 and now captains the senior side. Adalberto Carrasquilla was here in 2017.

Mexico is the fixture that carries the weight. They have knocked Panama out and they have been beaten by them, both in finals. Within Central America the UNCAF U-19 tournament brings the closer neighbours; Panama finished second there in 2018 and 2024.