In a stunning upset at the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, Panama defeated the United States 1-0 with a last-minute goal from Cecilio Waterman, eliminating the USMNT from the Concacaf Nations League and earning their first-ever trip to the final.
Waterman’s late heroics
¡PANAMÁ FINALISTA DE LA @CNationsLeague! 😍🇵🇦
— Ligue 1 Español (@Ligue1_ESP) March 21, 2025
¡Felicitaciones, @fepafut! ❤️👏 pic.twitter.com/RNkshrX5PZ
With the match seemingly headed to extra time, Waterman struck in the 88th minute to score Panama’s first-ever goal in a Nations League Final Four, sealing a famous victory for Los Canaleros. The goal shocked the crowd and sparked wild celebrations on the Panamanian bench.
A familiar foe for the U.S.
This marks yet another painful defeat for the USMNT at the hands of Panama. The Central American side previously eliminated them in the 2023 Gold Cup semifinals in San Diego, and beat them again during the 2024 Copa América group stage in Atlanta. Now, they’ve done it on an even bigger stage.
A dream moment for Waterman
TU ERES MI ÍDOLO TU ERES MI ÍDOLO pic.twitter.com/q6EcfRxb4c
— Concacaf Nations League (@CNationsLeague) March 21, 2025
Waterman’s celebration included a heartfelt moment with Thierry Henry, who was covering the game for CBS Sports. The Panamanian forward, who had previously stated that Henry was his idol, embraced the French legend and handed him his match jersey after the final whistle.
Disappointment for Pochettino’s side
PANAMA KNOCK THE USMNT OUT OF THE CONCACAF NATIONS LEAGUE IN THE SEMIFINALS WITH A 94TH-MINUTE WINNER 🫢 pic.twitter.com/gaVR7gE5VJ
— B/R Football (@brfootball) March 21, 2025
The U.S., coached by Mauricio Pochettino, failed to generate meaningful chances and struggled against Panama’s disciplined defense. Despite enjoying possession, they lacked creativity and paid the price for their inefficiency.
Panama awaits its opponent
Panama will now face the winner of the Mexico vs. Canada semifinal in the Nations League final on Sunday, March 24, aiming to make even more history on North American soil.
