Panama government declares half-day holiday for World Cup debut match

According to ANSA, the Panamanian government has ordered the closure of national and municipal public offices from 2 p.m. local time on Wednesday, June 17, to make way for the national team's first FIFA World Cup match.

This decision was made because Panama will play Ghana at the stadium in Toronto, Canada. The executive decree stipulates that relevant staff will work until 2 p.m.

The government hopes that this arrangement will allow civil servants to support the "Red Tide" during the match and recognize the importance of this match for the country.

However, agencies that provide services to the public are not affected. Hospitals, clinics, fire departments, civil defense departments, and transportation networks will maintain normal working hours to ensure continuous assistance and emergency response.