MIAMI, Florida – Playoff action continues on Thursday (Wednesday 8 PM ET) with the Final of Group C of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Inter-Confederation Playoffs. CONMEBOL side Paraguay and Concacaf side Panama reached the next stage of this qualification tournament and will face each other at the Waikato Stadium in Hamilton, New Zealand for the last ticket to this summer Women’s World Cup in Australia/New Zealand.
Both teams reached this stage after competing in their respective semifinals, allowing them to show their style of play and getting the opportunity to continue their stay in New Zealand.
Paraguay and Panama share a similar path when it comes to their participation in these Playoffs. La Albirroja was part of the 2022 Copa America Femenina, in which they reached one of the final stages: the third-place game against Argentina. La Albiceleste came out victorious, earning their ticket to the WWC, whereas Paraguay were slotted into the Playoffs.
This milestone in Paraguayan football history was possible thanks to a team effort, alongside some individual performances that are leading this squad. GK Alicia Bobadilla was key for her country’s 4-2 penalty shootout win over China Taipei after a 2-2 draw in their first Playoff match, as well as Lice Chamorro, who scored the winning penalty.
Panama showed why they earned their spot in this tournament against Papua New Guinea, displaying how organized their style is, as well creating danger while in the opponent’s area and having a solid defensive front in the 2-0 victory, with sensational goals from Marta Cox and Riley Tanner.
“What a run, what a goal!” ⚡️
— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) February 20, 2023
Superb solo effort from Riley Tanner. 😮💨🇵🇦#FIFAWWC | @fepafut
Las Canaleras are looking to keep writing history, as they have been doing since 2022 at the Concacaf W Championship in Monterrey when they qualified to be alongside the other nine National Teams looking for one of the last spots for Australia/New Zealand.
Cox, star GK Yenith Bailey, Tanner and the rest of the Panama squad are ready to take the pitch on Thursday, looking to join the other Concacaf teams that will participate in the most important tournament in women’s football.
These two National Teams have never faced each other in an official competition, which makes this clash of football a very interesting one for fans around the world. Both with similar journeys to reach this stage in their history, only one can clinch that final spot to be part of this year's World Cup
