PANAMA CITY, Panama -- Just a few hours ahead of a showdown with World Cup champion Spain, in a game to be played Wednesday night in front of a packed Estadio Rommel Fernandez in Panama City, members of the Panamanian national team feel they're ready for the monumental test represented by hosting the best national team in the world.

The match against the two-time defending European champion and World Cup holder comes at an ideal moment for Panama. Considered by the entire region as a country making huge strides in its football, Panama is relishing the opportunity to demonstrate to the world the improvement that CONCACAF has witnessed over the past years.

"For us as a national team, and as a country, it's very important to play against the world No. 1," Panama goalkeeper Jaime Penedo told CONCACAF.com. "We're a team that wants to make history in our football."

The Canaleros are coming off an impressive semifinal round of regional qualifying for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Panama advanced along with Honduras from a tough Group C, eliminating Canada and Cuba in the process.

The match with Spain will now serve the Red Tide as preparation to face off with CONCACAF's best in next year's Hexagonal. Panama hosts Costa Rica on February 6to open the round.

"We're just a few months from the beginning of the Hexagonal, so playing against the best in the world is a blessing," said Penedo.

"It's an honor to play against Spain in Panama," added forward Blas Perez, in an interview with the web site of his club team, FC Dallas. "I'm excited to play against the world champions. The most important thing is to play against the best in the world.I want to demonstrate that Panama is growing bigger in its football."

Spain makes the trans-Atlantic trip with a number of its superstars. Vicente del Bosque's squad includes Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Cesc Fabregas, Andres Iniesta, David Villa and Sergio Busquets.

This won't be the first time, however, that this group of Spaniards has visited the New World. Spain has played a total of four times in the CONCACAF region since winning the World Cup in 2010. The Red Fury has reaped two victories and two ties in trips to Mexico, Costa Rica, the United States and Puerto Rico since hoisting football's maximum prize in the midst of that historic African winter just over two years ago.

In light of Spain's mixed record on journeys to America, the Panamanians are looking not only to compete with the world champions, but to spring an upset in front of the home supporters.

"As a team, we're thinking, and we want to win," said Penedo. "We know that it will be difficult, and that Wednesday everyone has to have a very good day to get it done. But we're in Panama, and those sorts of days do exist.

"It will be an intense match. We know all about Spain's terrific abilities, they're very strong throughout the team, and we don't even need to mention the possession and ball control they exhibit. As a team, we have to try to make them uncomfortable throughout the game, and be very intelligent when we have the ball."

The challenge for Panama is further complicated by the absence of two key players for the game. Forward Luis Tejada and defender Roman Torres didn't make the trip to Panama from Mexico and Colombia, respectively, due to requests tendered to, and accepted by, the Panamanian Federation by the players' club teams, which have key matches scheduled during the week despite the FIFA match date.

Even taking into account the missing players, Panama is undoubtedly capable of springing a surprise at home and displaying recent advances in the Panamanian game. Regardless of the final result, however, hosting the world champion in Panama City is a fitting testament to the rapid growth of football in this Central American nation, as well as the bigger things to come for the Panamanian national team and its fans.