Action Kicks Off in Panama: Argentina’s Schedule for Day One of IV South American Youth Games

Following the spectacle of last night’s Opening Ceremony, the competitive intensity shifts to the field and the mats as the IV Juegos Suramericanos de la Juventud Panamá 2026 officially enters its primary phase of activity. For the Argentine delegation, Monday, April 13, marks a grueling introduction to the games, with a schedule spanning from the waves of the coast to the Combat Sports Center.

The South American Youth Games, organized by the Organización Deportiva Suramericana (ODESUR), serve as a critical proving ground for athletes aged 14 to 17. These games, held every four years as a precursor to the Youth Olympic Games, are designed to foster regional excellence and development. Since their inception in Lima, Peru, in 2013, the event has grown into a multidisciplinary showcase of the continent’s rising stars.

Early Start at Playa Venao

Argentina’s campaign begins in the morning with the surf competitions. The action moves to Playa Venao, where the natural conditions of the Panamanian coast will test the adaptability of the young surfers. While the specific heat times for individuals are pending, the surf event represents the first official competitive moment for the Argentine squad in Panama.

The transition to the tropical climate of Panama has been noted as a challenge for many visiting delegations, adding an extra layer of difficulty to the early morning sessions on the beach.

Football and Futsal: High-Stakes Clashes

The day’s program is heavily weighted toward team sports, with football and futsal providing some of the most anticipated matchups of the opening day. The Argentine men’s football team will open their account at 11:00 (Argentina time) in a clash against Bolivia.

The intensity ramps up in the afternoon with futsal. The men’s national team faces a formidable challenge against Brazil at 14:30 (Argentina time). This rivalry remains one of the most storied in South American sports, and the youth level is no exception. Following the men’s match, the women’s national futsal team will capture the court at 16:45 (Argentina time) to face the host nation, Panama.

For those following along, these times are listed in Argentine time; local Panamanian times will differ based on the current time zone offset.

Combat Sports and Table Tennis

The Combat Sports Center—a modern facility that serves as the primary training hub for Panama’s own martial artists—will host a concentrated slate of events. The venue is equipped for various disciplines, including taekwondo, karate, judo, BJJ, and kickboxing, providing a professional atmosphere for the youth competitors.

In judo, preliminaries begin at 12:00 (Argentina time). Argentina will be represented in the -55 kg masculine and -44 kg feminine categories by Juan Álamo and Brisa Mercado, respectively.

The wrestling (lucha) program follows in the afternoon. Starting at 16:00 (Argentina time), the men’s freestyle competition will feature the 51 kg, 60 kg, and 71 kg weight classes. Argentina’s hopes in these categories rest with Álvaro Miranda, Santiago Chrisjohn, and Benjamín Casas.

table tennis action is scheduled to commence on Monday, rounding out a diverse first day of competition for the national delegation.

The ODESUR Framework

To understand the stakes of the IV Juegos Suramericanos de la Juventud, one must look at the organizational structure. Created officially on May 25, 2012, the games are a strategic part of the ODESUR calendar. By limiting competition to the 14-17 age bracket, the event ensures that athletes are competing against their peers during a pivotal stage of their physical and technical development.

The choice of Panama as the host for 2026 continues the tradition of rotating the games across South American and Caribbean-affiliated regional partners, providing different environmental challenges—such as the tropical humidity currently facing the athletes—to prepare them for the global stage of the Youth Olympics.

As the first full day of official activity concludes, the focus will shift to the standings in the team sports and the progression of the combat athletes into the later rounds. The resilience of the youth athletes in the face of Panama’s tropical climate will likely be a deciding factor in these early stages.

The next confirmed checkpoint for the games will be the Tuesday schedule, where further rotations in football and the continuation of the combat sports brackets are expected.

Join the conversation: Which youth prospect are you watching most closely in Panama 2026? Let us recognize in the comments.