Two Panama players were involved in a heated exchange during a pre-England World Cup training session, with striker Cecilio Waterman shoving teammate Jose Luis Rodriguez. The confrontation occurred on the eve of Panama's final Group L match against England.
Waterman and Rodriguez were seen arguing verbally before Waterman aggressively pushed his teammate. Other players intervened to separate the two and de-escalate the situation. Waterman, who plays for Universidad de Concepción in Chile, appeared agitated, pacing and rubbing his face. Rodriguez, 28, plays for Juárez in Mexico.
The incident casts a shadow over Panama's World Cup campaign, as they have already been eliminated after two defeats. The team has conceded one goal in each of their losses to Ghana and Croatia. Waterman, who started the first match, was a substitute in the second, while Rodriguez has started both previous games.
It remains uncertain if either player will feature in the match against England, coached by Thomas Tuchel. The teams are scheduled to play on Saturday night.
England's preparations have also faced challenges. Reece James is undergoing fitness tests after tweaking a hamstring. The right-back, who was planned to be rested after playing full matches against Croatia and Ghana, missed training before the team traveled to New York.
James believes the hamstring issue is not serious, but Tuchel may be concerned given James's previous hamstring problems that kept him out for six weeks at the end of the Premier League season. England has limited depth at right-back, having already lost Tino Livramento to a calf injury. Jarell Quansah and Djed Spence are among the players who could deputize for James.
A victory against Panama would secure England's path to Atlanta for their next match on Wednesday. A loss or a draw, depending on other results, could see them play in Toronto on Thursday.