Panama secured a narrow 1–0 victory over El Salvador in World Cup qualifying on 10 October, capitalizing on clinical finishing despite limited attacking opportunities. El Salvador dominated the shot count with 10 attempts to Panama's seven, but managed only one on target, underlining their wastefulness in front of goal. Panama's goalkeeper made saves at a 50 per cent rate while conceding 1.0 post-shot expected goals, suggesting the decisive goal came from a high-quality chance. Both sides deployed compact defensive shapes—El Salvador in a 5–3–2 formation and Panama in a 5–4–1—prioritizing solidity over expansive play. The away side's efficiency proved decisive: Panama converted one of their two shots on target to claim three points, while El Salvador's inability to convert their superior volume of efforts cost them dearly. This result extends Panama's unbeaten run and strengthens their qualification prospects.