Amir Murillo joins Jackson Irvine to discuss Panama’s journey to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, fighting for his place just months before the tournament, and what it means to represent a country still carving out its place on the world stage.
In Episode 3 of Footballers Unfiltered Season 3, Panama and Beşiktaş right-back Amir Murillo reflects on his earliest World Cup memories, watching qualification with his grandmother, and the promise he made as a child: that when he played for the national team, Panama would reach the World Cup.
Amir looks back on Panama’s historic qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the emotion of reaching the tournament for the first time, and how the team’s mentality has changed heading into 2026. With Panama drawn against England, Croatia and Ghana, he explains why facing the best players in the world is exactly the challenge they want.
Jackson and Amir also discuss the demands of international travel, player workload, fixture congestion, fan culture at Beşiktaş and Marseille, working under coaches like Vincent Kompany and Roberto De Zerbi, and the difficult club situation that led Amir to move just five months before the World Cup.
Subscribe to FIFPRO for more honest conversations with players heading to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Featuring:
Amir Murillo
Jackson Irvine
Topics covered:
Amir Murillo’s World Cup journey
Panama at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Panama’s first World Cup in 2018
Panama’s draw with England, Croatia and Ghana
Playing for Beşiktaş, Marseille and Anderlecht
Working with Vincent Kompany and Roberto De Zerbi
Player workload and international travel
Footballers’ rights and player support
Panama’s dream to make World Cup history
#FootballersUnfiltered #WorldCup2026 #Panama
