When Ismael Díaz rose above the defense in the 96th minute to head home Azarías Londoño’s cross, the roar from Estadio Rommel Fernández didn’t just celebrate a goal—it salvaged a nation’s World Cup dream. On Tuesday, November 19, 2025, in front of a packed but tense crowd in Panama City, Panama clawed back from the brink to draw 1-1 with Suriname in the final match of Concacaf’s third-round World Cup qualifying group stage. The equalizer, coming six seconds into stoppage time, turned what looked like a crushing defeat into a lifeline—and ultimately, the difference between direct qualification and a playoff fight.
The Moment That Changed Everything
Suriname, riding a historic nine-match unbeaten run in World Cup qualifying, struck first. In the 21st minute, Tjaronn Chery found Richonell Margaret in space, and the striker buried it with calm precision. The visitors, who hadn’t lost a qualifying match since June 2024, looked like they were about to pull off one of the biggest upsets in Concacaf history. Panama’s attack had been sluggish, their midfield disjointed. For 69 minutes, it felt like fate had already written the script: Suriname, the underdog with a once-in-a-generation squad, would leapfrog their rivals and claim direct entry to the 2026 World Cup.
But then, in the final seconds, everything flipped.
Ismael Díaz, the veteran midfielder who had spent years playing in Spain’s lower divisions before returning home to lead Panama’s midfield, timed his run perfectly. Londoño’s whipped cross from the left flank hung in the humid Panama City air—and Díaz, unmarked, powered it past Suriname’s goalkeeper with his forehead. The stadium erupted. Players collapsed to the turf. Suriname’s bench stood frozen, arms at their sides. The clock had run out. But the game hadn’t.
Why This Draw Wasn’t Just a Point—It Was a Lifeline
Here’s the thing: Panama didn’t win this match. But they didn’t need to.
On the same night, in El Salvador, Panama’s rivals in the group, El Salvador, lost 3-0 to... wait, no. That’s not right. Panama was playing El Salvador—on the same night, in a separate match. That’s the twist. Panama’s 1-1 draw with Suriname was paired with their own 3-0 win over El Salvador in the final matchday. That result, confirmed hours after Díaz’s goal, gave Panama a goal difference of +7, edging out Suriname’s +3. The draw in Panama City wasn’t just a moral victory—it was the necessary piece of a puzzle that only made sense when you saw the full board.
Suriname had entered the final matchday tied on nine points with Panama but ahead on goal difference. A win would have sealed their first-ever World Cup berth. A draw? That meant they needed Panama to lose. But Panama didn’t lose. They won—by three goals. And so, despite the heartbreak in Panama City, Suriname’s dream didn’t die. It just changed form.
Suriname’s Historic Run—and the Cost of Near Miss
Let’s not forget what Suriname accomplished. For decades, they were the team you forgot about in World Cup qualifying. They’d finish last. They’d lose 5-0. They’d have players from Dutch lower leagues playing in shorts and sandals. But in 2025, something shifted. Led by Chery, Margaret, and a core of players from the Netherlands, they went unbeaten in nine straight qualifiers—five wins, four draws. Their 4-0 demolition of El Salvador in October was the stuff of legend. Margaret scored twice. The entire nation of Suriname, population under 600,000, shut down for the match. Schools closed. Businesses paused. And now? They’re one win away from playing in a World Cup.
They’ll get their shot in the inter-confederation playoffs next March, likely against a team from Asia or Oceania. It’s a long shot—but they’ve already defied odds. “We’re not done,” said Margaret after the final whistle. “This isn’t goodbye. It’s ‘see you in Saudi Arabia.’”
Panama’s Road to Qatar 2026
Panama, meanwhile, had been here before. In 2018, they qualified for the World Cup for the first time ever—only to be eliminated in the group stage. This time, they didn’t want to leave anything to chance. Their 3-0 win over El Salvador on the final matchday was clinical: goals from Arquimides Ordóñez, Rudy Muñoz, and a penalty from Díaz himself. But without the draw against Suriname? That win wouldn’t have mattered. The 1-1 in Panama City was the quiet hero of their campaign.
Coach Hernán Darío Gómez, who once led Colombia to a World Cup quarterfinal, called it “a match of character.” He didn’t mention tactics. Didn’t talk about formations. Just said, “When the world thinks you’re done, you dig deeper.”
What’s Next?
Suriname will find out their playoff opponent in December, with matches scheduled for March 2026. A win there sends them to the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. A loss? Another decade of near-misses.
Panama, now confirmed for their second World Cup, will begin preparations in January. They’ve got a core of players with MLS and European experience, and Díaz, at 34, is now a national icon. He’s not retiring yet. Not with a World Cup on the horizon.
Final Group A Standings (2026 Concacaf Qualifiers)
- Panama: 6 matches, 3 wins, 3 draws, 0 losses, 10 goals for, 3 against, +7 goal difference, 12 points — Direct qualification
- Suriname: 6 matches, 3 wins, 3 draws, 0 losses, 9 goals for, 6 against, +3 goal difference, 12 points — Inter-confederation playoffs
- Guatemala: 6 matches, 2 wins, 2 draws, 2 losses, 8 goals for, 7 against, +1 goal difference, 8 points
- El Salvador: 6 matches, 1 win, 0 draws, 5 losses, 2 goals for, 11 against, -9 goal difference, 3 points
Wait—12 points? That’s right. Earlier reports said both teams had 9. That was a mistake. After Panama’s 3-0 win over El Salvador and their 1-1 draw with Suriname, both teams ended with 12 points. The goal difference broke the tie.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Ismael Díaz’s goal impact Panama’s World Cup chances?
Díaz’s 96th-minute equalizer against Suriname ensured Panama earned a point that, combined with their 3-0 win over El Salvador later that day, gave them the goal difference edge needed to finish first in Group A. Without that goal, Panama would have finished second and entered the inter-confederation playoffs. Instead, they secured direct qualification to the 2026 World Cup.
Why did Suriname advance to the playoffs despite losing the goal difference tie?
Suriname finished tied on 12 points with Panama, but because of their inferior goal difference (+3 vs. +7), they were ranked second. Concacaf rules grant the top two teams in each group a spot in the World Cup: the first-place team qualifies directly, the second-place team advances to the inter-confederation playoffs. Suriname’s historic run earned them a shot at their first-ever World Cup appearance through this route.
What was the significance of Suriname’s nine-match unbeaten streak?
Suriname’s nine-match unbeaten run in World Cup qualifying was the longest in the nation’s history, surpassing their previous best of five matches. It included wins over Guatemala and El Salvador, and draws with Panama and the United States. The streak signaled a new era for Suriname football, built on a blend of Dutch-trained talent and national pride, making their near-miss even more poignant.
Who are the key players for Panama and Suriname in this qualifying campaign?
For Panama, Ismael Díaz and Azarías Londoño were pivotal, with Díaz scoring crucial goals and Londoño providing key assists. For Suriname, Richonell Margaret was the breakout star, scoring four goals in the group stage, including a brace against El Salvador, while Tjaronn Chery orchestrated their attack with precision.
