Panama made history by clinching a spot in the 2024 Copa América quarterfinals; qualifying second in a group that included Uruguay, the United States, and Bolivia. The USMNT and Bolivia were eliminated from the competition, while Uruguay topped the group. The top Group C teams await tonight’s (July 2nd) results to see who will face Colombia and who will face Brazil, depending on how the game between them ends and who finishes first or second in Group D.
For the Central American nation of 4.5 million people, it was the first time they had qualified for the knockout stage of a major tournament. They did so by playing good, solid fútbol, and by, after a 3-1 loss to Uruguay, beating the USMNT 2-1 and Bolivia 3-1. Previously, Panama has only ever qualified for the World Cup once, in 2018.
The internet had nothing but celebration for Panama and its achievement, proving that sometimes memes can be about good things.
Like this one, calling Panama “the true giant of CONCACAF”
Or this one, comparing Panama to a fancy car:
The one celebrating not just that Panama is through, but the fact that Mexico and the USMNT are eliminated:
This one pointing out that the dream of Bolivar, the region formerly known as the Great Colombia, made up of Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador, all independent countries now, have all qualified for the quarterfinals of the Copa America:
There was even time for one about Panama coach Thomas Christiansen joking after being asked which team he’d rather face, if Brazil or Colombia, that he’d rather face neither:
Panama’s next match will be on Saturday, July 6th at 6PMET.