Christiansen, Carlos Harvey preview Panama’s friendly with India in Bengaluru
Panama head coach Thomas Christiansen and midfielder Carlos Harvey addressed the media in Bengaluru ahead of Panama’s international friendly against India at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on 25 September 2026, outlining squad limitations, development aims and match expectations.
The fixture forms part of India’s busy FIFA international friendlies window that will also feature World Cup participants such as Brazil and Uruguay, and Panama’s coaching staff framed the game as both a competitive opportunity and a chance to evaluate emerging players. Christiansen, described in the report as a former Leeds manager, set a clear tone on what Panama hope to achieve in the match and discussed broader issues around improving football standards. The coach also emphasised areas for growth in developing football nations, including facilities, coaching and international exposure for local talent.
Reflecting on the immediate match build-up, Carlos Harvey told reporters: “Well, hello everyone. It will be an exciting game that we will face tomorrow in India. First time around here, so our expectation is to make a good game, get some good sensations and of course we want also to get a good result.” He added: “Today is my first training session and we are going to prepare in the best way to face this game with the most seriousness. Like any other friendly match, they are going to take it with full responsibility and they are going to try to get the best result possible.” (Transalated to English by interpretor)
Christiansen set out constraints affecting his squad selection, pointing to visa delays and a 24-player roster as barriers to calling additional reinforcements. “Well, my decision would have been to call some other players up. But as you know, to come here, to come to Japan, you need to get a visa and it’s not something that you can get from one day to another. So that was very difficult and we also had a squad of 24 players,” he said, adding: “Of course, I would like to have another striker, two other centre-backs to complete the squad. That was not possible because of the time, of the visa and all these things. And regarding the situation in the hotel with the experienced players and the young players, it’s getting good. Good atmosphere that we have. And I also think it’s because the players who are coming have the right attitude and the players who have been there longer know also how to deal with that.”
On Indian football specifically, Christiansen acknowledged limited knowledge and compared India’s cricket dominance to Panama’s historical focus on baseball while noting recent improvement in the national team and domestic competition. “Well, to be honest, my information about India is not so big. I know that you also have to deal with a social situation because cricket here is the sport number one. We had it some years ago with Panama. It was also baseball focused. And this is one of the things that you have to go through. You have to fight against that to get the football on the high level. But I have seen also that the team has improved a lot in the last years. This is also because your own domestic league has improved.” He pointed to an individual he had recently met: “I just met downstairs Ryan Williams. I said hello to him. He’s passed in Leeds, where I was coaching. And he’s one of the players that, when we analysed India, was the player who, in my point of view, showed that they have a good level.”
Explaining why Panama agreed to the India friendly, Christiansen cited a call from the federation president and the opportunity to give minutes to younger players after a World Cup-related transition. “Well, the reason was that the president called me. In our ideal moment, we would face New Zealand and afterwards Japan or Ecuador. But he called me and said, look, we have the possibility to face India in a friendly game. On the 26th, we were first set, and then after the 25th. And I said, it could be a good possibility also for our youngsters to get many to see them.” He added: “We are making a change also with the national team. All the players who finished the World Cup had left. We have to look for the new coming players who are pushing strong from behind. We will give them some minutes in the game against India. That was one of the main reasons why we also accepted this game.”
Christiansen also set out his prescription for Indian football’s progress and framed Panama’s approach to the match result and performance standards. “Well, the most important thing is to progress, to improve in all the senses. The league has to be better. The facilities have to be better. To give the players the best condition to improve. Getting good coaches to show the players what they need.” He continued: “And also one of the things that you are doing well now is that you are facing three teams in this FIFA window who are participating in the World Cup. That gives you this experience to see where you are and where you have to go for the level expectation if you want to reach the World Cup. But I think it’s the ambition and the work that you need to put in if you want to reach the World Cup.” On Panama’s mindset he said: “Well, in Panama there is a big expectation that we will win. But it does not matter if it is India or Argentina or Brazil. We have to win all our games. But we know that we should be on the paper the favorite. We have to admit that. But it is also different circumstances that we arrived here.” “As I mentioned, some players just arrived. We did not have a good preparation for this game. And we will see young players. So, I do not want to take it very seriously, the result. But I will give a high level on the players, how they deliver on the pitch, their attitude and how they communicate with each other in the game. If we win, perfect. And this is also our goal. We come here to win. We will try to win all our games.”
India will host Panama at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru on 25 September 2026, with Thomas Christiansen listed as the Panama head coach.