World Cup 2026 matches draw record TV audience in Panama

Panama's debut at the 2026 FIFA World Cup against Ghana set a national viewership record, with 1.1 million people – about 74 % of all television sets – tuning in, the highest audience ever for a football match in the country. The victory for Ghana came in the 90+5 minute, leaving Panama with a 1‑0 loss but a historic surge in fan engagement at home.

Later in the tournament, the Scotland‑Brazil group‑stage game was also made widely accessible to Panamanian viewers, with free live coverage on TVMAX, TVN Pass, and a radio simulcast on TVN Radio 96.5 FM. The match began at 5 p.m. Panama time, offering fans another opportunity to watch top‑level football without charge.

Both events underscore the growing appetite for World Cup action among Panamanian audiences, who have turned their homes into collective viewing venues for the global tournament.