Footy Kits Battle

27 April 2026 Jake, 161 min read

Kit of the Day #45: Panama — Red Tide for Their Second World Cup

Panama’s second World Cup after a tough 2018 debut. The red kit is back, the squad is older and wiser, and the country is ready for another run. Day 45 is all about La Roja Centroamericana.

Kits in this article

Redemption tour

Panama’s 2018 debut was emotional but brutal — they lost all three group games and conceded 11 goals. The team that’s qualifying in 2026 is more experienced, better structured, and ready to actually compete.

The design

Deep red home shirt with a single white star at the chest — a flag reference. Black shorts, black socks. The cleanest Panama kit in a decade: no gimmicks, no excessive trim, no weird patterns. Just the colour, the crest, and the badge.

Who to watch

Fidel Escobar in defence, Cristian Martinez in midfield, and veteran Ismael Diaz still running the line. The squad is young where it matters and the older heads provide the tournament experience.

Why you should care

Red kits are having a moment in 2026 (see also: Morocco, South Korea, Spain) and Panama’s is the minimalist pick. Lovely photographed in sunshine.

Buy and read more

Get the shirt on the Panama buy page. Tomorrow: Uzbekistan. The full run on the countdown schedule.

Written by

Jake

Football kit obsessive · 16 · writes for Footy Kits Battle

Jake has been collecting football shirts since he was nine and reviewing them on Footy Kits Battle since the 2026 World Cup cycle started. His takes lean opinionated, his loyalties shift weekly, and his mum has banned any new kit purchases until at least August.

Footy Kits Battle is an independent fan-run World Cup 2026 kit voting + merch discovery site. We're not affiliated with FIFA, any national FA, or any kit manufacturer. See our editorial standards for sourcing + methodology.

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