International

Michael Amir Murillo, Fidel Escobar and Panamanian National Team Qualify for 2018 World Cup

Michael Amir Murillo Panama

Panama is heading to Russia.


The Panamanian National Team qualified for the 2018 World Cup on Tuesday night, with Fidel Escobar helping his team to a 2-1 victory over Costa Rica.


This will be Panama's first World Cup.


The win, paired with the United States Men's National Team loss, puts Panama into third in their group and earns them an automatic bid to compete in the World Cup next year.


Michael Amir Murillo did not play in the victory due to yellow card accumulation.


Panama finished the group with 13 points, trailing leader Mexico (21 pts.) and Costa Rica (16 pts.). The US team finished the group with 12 points, in fifth behind Honduras, who will head to a playoff against the fourth-place Asian Football Confederation finisher Australia. 


The 2018 World Cup is set to kick off on June 14, 2018. The final is set for July 15, 2018.