PANAMA CITY, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Panama national team captain Anibal Godoy has vowed his team will be ready and motivated for Friday's away FIFA World Cup qualifier against El Salvador.

Thomas Christiansen's side is currently third in Group A - a point behind El Salvador - in the CONCACAF region's final qualifying round, which features 12 teams divided into three groups of four.

The top team from each group will automatically qualify for the 2026 tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada. The two best-ranked runners-up will advance to the inter-confederation playoffs.

"We're aware of the importance of this game," Godoy told reporters. "The group is motivated and has come with a different kind of energy," added the 35-year-old, who will miss the match due to an accumulation of yellow cards.

The San Diego FC midfielder urged his teammates to stay composed and withstand the pressure of an equally-focused El Salvador outfit.

"We need to have the patience to move the ball and the presence of mind not to get desperate from the first minute trying to score," he said.

"We need mental calmness and strength, we have to be ready. El Salvador will have its moments because that's football."

Panama's only appearance at football's showpiece tournament came at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, where it was eliminated after losing each of its three group matches.

Godoy expressed confidence that his team would not be overawed by an expected hostile environment at Cuscatlan stadium.

"We have players who have played under much more pressure, in much tougher stadiums, and I think we know how to handle that," he said.

"But the message has been clear: we have to maintain the conviction that we can take those three points." ■