This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-41579670
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| World Cup 2018: Panama declares public holiday after qualifying | World Cup 2018: Panama declares public holiday after qualifying |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The president of Panama has declared Wednesday to be a national holiday after the country qualified for the World Cup for the first time ever. | The president of Panama has declared Wednesday to be a national holiday after the country qualified for the World Cup for the first time ever. |
| Juan Carlos Varela said on Twitter: "The voice of the people has been heard... Tomorrow will be a national holiday." | Juan Carlos Varela said on Twitter: "The voice of the people has been heard... Tomorrow will be a national holiday." |
| The national team beat Costa Rica 2-1 in Panama City on Tuesday evening. | The national team beat Costa Rica 2-1 in Panama City on Tuesday evening. |
| The president said public and private workers could take the day off, and school classes would also be cancelled. | The president said public and private workers could take the day off, and school classes would also be cancelled. |
| Messi saves Argentina's World Cup dream | Messi saves Argentina's World Cup dream |
| In a series of excited tweets, he shared a picture of himself signing the decree, adding "You deserve it". | |
| Panamanians celebrated long into the night after the victory. | Panamanians celebrated long into the night after the victory. |
| However, there has been some dispute over whether the team's first goal crossed the line. | However, there has been some dispute over whether the team's first goal crossed the line. |
| Panama has tried to qualify for every football World Cup since 1978, but it has never been successful until now. | Panama has tried to qualify for every football World Cup since 1978, but it has never been successful until now. |
| The country will take part in the 2018 competition, which starts in Russia next June. | The country will take part in the 2018 competition, which starts in Russia next June. |
| The United States was in the same qualifying group for the North and Central America region, but failed to get through after losing against bottom-team Trinidad and Tobago. | The United States was in the same qualifying group for the North and Central America region, but failed to get through after losing against bottom-team Trinidad and Tobago. |
| Mexico and Costa Rica were successful, and Honduras faces a play off against Australia. | Mexico and Costa Rica were successful, and Honduras faces a play off against Australia. |