El fútbol se convirtió en un motor de crecimiento económico para Panamá

“Over the past 25 years, Panama has undergone a truly spectacular transformation,” said Carlos Araúz. Economist Carlos Araúz stated that football in Panama has evolved into a significant engine of economic growth and social transformation, with effects extending to sectors such as commerce, construction, investment, and employment. Football as an engine of the economy. During the program "Intelligent Economy," Araúz pointed out that the development of football has accompanied the modernization process the country has experienced in recent decades. According to the economist, football has ceased to be merely a form of entertainment and has become a generator of economic value. “Football has gone from being a pastime to becoming a true pillar of value creation,” he maintained. Araúz explained that the impact of the sport is reflected in various economic indicators, including the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), commerce, and activities related to consumption. “The Gross Domestic Product changes, it is modified, it grows in commerce, it grows in activity in restaurants and bars, and very importantly, in social transformation,” he stated. He also highlighted that the growth of soccer drives investment in sports infrastructure and generates a multiplier effect in other sectors of the economy. Infrastructure. “The additional infrastructure that comes with the National Soccer Team—fields, stadiums, and other facilities—also encourages this investment. Corporate credit, construction, everything has a multiplier effect,” he indicated. The analyst also pointed out that the strengthening of the national team contributes to increasing the market value of Panamanian soccer players. “The team itself increases in value. It is estimated that our players' salaries can rise by up to 20%,” he affirmed. For Araúz, the positive impact of soccer extends from communities to sports training academies, generating development opportunities at different levels. “It is a very valuable multiplier effect that soccer generates, and it continues to generate it from the neighborhood level to the academies,” he emphasized. The economist also acknowledged the collaborative work of sports-related organizations, considering that they have contributed to consolidating football as a tool for growth in the country. “The Panamanian Football Federation, the Panamanian Football League, the Professional League, and the efforts of the PROM League and the Women's League are all joint efforts and a collaborative economy that allow football to manifest itself as an instrument of growth, a transformative instrument,” he concluded. What do football experts say? “As difficult as it may sound, it's the reality. Many of these kids come from the barrio; many of these kids didn't have enough to eat when they went to training here in Panama with their teams, and now the reality is different. You see them, obviously, with a much higher salary, a result of the LPF taking small but seemingly solid steps in the future,” says COS sports journalist José Ángel Rodríguez. He also addressed the issue of private investment in Panama and the region. He added: "Ultimately, it's private investment, a driving force, because the Plaza Amador board could easily be investing in other things. I think we're even catching up in terms of the national team, matching and surpassing them. It includes another very different aspect related to the league, which the LPF still hasn't reached the level of Costa Rica or Honduras, because they have a stronger culture, more support, and stadiums that hold 20,000 or 30,000 people for finals. Here, we struggle a lot in that regard, particularly with the fan base."