Familiar CONCACAF adversaries USA and Panama battle for the first time at a Copa America tournament on Thursday in Atlanta, and we have our Panama-USA predictions and picks based on the odds from our best soccer betting sites.
Thursday will mark the 27th meeting between Panama and the USA, with the latter winning 18 of the previous 26. After beating Bolivia 2-0 in their opener, the Americans will secure advancement to the knockout phase with a victory, while Panama needs a draw to stay alive in the competition.
Panama lost 3-1 to Uruguay in their first match and are the massive underdogs for Thursday's match against the United States. The contest kicks off at 6 p.m. ET from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta (Fox Sports).
Depending on the sportsbook, the Americans' Copa America odds are the fifth or sixth shortest, while Panama's odds are the longest of t he 16 participating nations.
Panama vs. USA predictions for Thursday
- Final score: USA 2 – Panama 0 (+500 via FanDuel)
- Christian Pulisic anytime goal scorer (+160 via FanDuel)
- Best bet: USA ML and Under 3.5 goals (-108 via BetMGM)
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Panama vs. USA score prediction
Panama possess enough offensive firepower to score a goal against the U.S. However, an important match will surely be tight during the first half.
The Panamanians consistently score against lesser opponents, but they've been struggling offensively when facing better sides, at least recently. Their goal against Uruguay in the opener came in the 94th minute, and it was a consolation strike while down t hree that was more due to Uruguayan complacency than Panamanian proficiency.
Panama didn't score a goal during four previous matches against solid sides, including Jamaica, Paraguay, and Mexico twice. The Americans should ascend late in this matchup while surely holding a one-goal lead. That will force a desperate Panama side to open up, exposing themselves to a lethal dagger on the counter.
At +500, the FanDuel odds represent a probability of 16.67%, and a $10 winning bet pays a profit of $50. Keep in mind that I predicted the correct score for Canada vs. Peru (1-0) and the USA vs. Bolivia (2-0).
Best odds: +500 via FanDuel
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Panama vs. USA anytime goal scorer prediction
Christian Pulisic showed his quality during the team's opener against Bolivia, scoring on a sweetly struck right-footed in-swinger from the edge of the box just three minutes into the affair. He's tallied in consecutive matches, netting against Brazil in a pre-tournament friendly. Pulisic is a tried and tested formidable force for the Americans, scoring 30 goals in 69 caps.
He was the team's most dangerous player against Bolivia, attempting four shots, two of which hit the target. While his expected goal total was low (0.3), Pulisic created havoc for the Bolivian defense.
He scored 15 goals in 50 matches during his first season with AC Milan and is a top-tier player who can show his superior skill set against a Panamanian team with a midfield that doesn't include an elite player from a top domestic league.
Pulisic has logged four goals in as many encounters against Panama, and he didn't play in the 2023 Gold Cup semifinal defeat. He scored a hat trick the last time Pulisic suited up against the Panamanians in a 5-1 victory during March 2022.
At +160, FanDuel's odds represent an implied probability of 38.46%, and a $10 wager pays out $16.
Best odds: +160 via FanDuel
Panama vs. USA best bet
The USA look to live up to their status as massive favorites. Panama surprised the Americans the last time these two sides met, prevailing in pena lties during the 2023 Gold Cup semifinals.
Thursday's match comes with an altogether different feel, though. Gregg Berhalter's men were dominant against Bolivia and should have recorded an easier victory. The Americans allowed just one touch in their box, which was a firm reminder of the disparity between the sides.
Panama is notably better than Bolivia. However, the Panamanians are a discernible level below the Americans. Lately, Panama have struggled against similarly or higher-ranked opponents, losing 3-1 to Uruguay, 1-0 to Paraguay, 1-0 to Jamaica, and 3-0 and 1-0 to Mexico.
There's more than enough talent available for the Americans to avenge their semifinal Gold Cup defeat.
At -108, the BetMGM odds imply a probability of 51.92%. A $10 wager results in a $9.26 payout.
Best odds: -108 via BetMGM
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Panama vs. USA game info
- When: Thursday, June 27 (6 p.m. ET)
- Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
- How to watch: Fox Sports (U.S.), TSN (Canada)
- Favorite: USA (-260 via Caesars)
Panama-USA predictions made Wednesday at 11 a.m. ET.
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