Guatemala national football team facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Guatemala

Nickname(s)	Los Chapines (The Bicolor) La Furia Azul (The Blue Fury) La Azul y Blanco (The Blue and White) Los Mayas (The Mayans) Los Hombres de Maíz (The Men of Maize)
Association	Federación Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala (FEDEFUT)
Confederation	CONCACAF (North America)
Sub-confederation	UNCAF (Central America)
Head coach	Luis Fernando Tena
Captain	José Carlos Pinto
Most caps	Carlos Ruiz (133)
Top scorer	Carlos Ruiz (68)
Home stadium	Estadio Cementos Progreso
FIFA code	GUA
First colours Second colours Third colours
FIFA ranking
Current	100
Highest	50 (August 2006)
Lowest	163 (November 1995)
Elo ranking
Current	85 4 (3 March 2019)
Highest	40 (April 1972)
Lowest	105 (February 2010)
First international
Guatemala 9–0 Honduras  (Guatemala City, Guatemala; 14 September 1921)
Biggest win
Guatemala 10–0 Anguilla  (Guatemala City, Guatemala; 5 September 2019)  Guatemala 10–0 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines  (Guatemala City, Guatemala; 4 June 2021)
Biggest defeat
Costa Rica 9–1 Guatemala  (San José, Costa Rica; 24 July 1955)
CONCACAF Championship / Gold Cup
Appearances	21 (first in 1963)
Best result	Champions (1967)
CCCF Championship
Appearances	6 (first in 1943)
Best result	Runners-up (1943, 1946, 1948)

The Guatemala national football team (also known as Selección de fútbol de Guatemala) plays for Guatemala in international men's soccer games. The team is managed by the Federación Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala (FEDEFUT). This federation was started in 1919 and joined FIFA in 1946. It was also a founding member of CONCACAF in 1961.

Guatemala's team has played in three Olympic tournaments: in 1968, 1976, and 1988. They have not yet made it to the main World Cup tournament, but they have reached the final qualifying round four times.

Guatemala is one of only three teams from Central America to win CONCACAF's biggest competition, the CONCACAF Championship, which they won in 1967. In the newer CONCACAF Gold Cup format, their best result was reaching the semi-finals twice, including in 2025. They also won the Copa Centroamericana in 2001.

Team History

Early Days of Guatemalan Football

Guatemalan Squad (CRC vs GUA 1921)

Guatemala formed its first football team on August 23, 1902. The team was divided into two sides, blue and white. Over time, more clubs were created, leading to the formation of the Guatemala national team in 1921. This team was nicknamed "la Azul y Blanco" (the blue and white).

Guatemala played its first game on September 16, 1921, during the Independence Centenary Games in Guatemala City. They won 9–0 against Honduras. In the final match, Guatemala lost 6–0 to Costa Rica.

The team had good results in the CCCF Championship, which was the competition before the Gold Cup. They finished as runners-up in 1943, 1946, and 1948. In 1958, Guatemala started playing in the World Cup qualifying rounds. They finished last in their group that year.

Success in the 1960s

Guatemala's performance in World Cup qualifiers got better in the 1960s. In 1962, they tied games against Costa Rica (4–4) and Honduras (1–1). However, they still finished last in their qualifying group.

Guatemala did not play in the 1966 World Cup qualifiers because FIFA did not allow them to participate due to administrative reasons.

Guatemala joined CONCACAF in 1961. In the 1967 Gold Cup, they showed how much they had improved by winning the tournament for the first and only time. The tournament was held in Honduras. Guatemala started with a 2–1 win against Haiti. They then beat the defending champions, Mexico, 1–0. They also had a 0–0 tie against Honduras, and won 2–0 against both Trinidad and Tobago and Nicaragua. Manuel "Escopeta" Recinos was Guatemala's top scorer with four goals, including the winning goal against Mexico.

Guatemala also finished as runners-up in the CONCACAF Championship in 1965 and 1969.

In 1967, Guatemala also qualified for the 1968 Olympic football tournament in Mexico City. In the first round, they won 1–0 against Czechoslovakia and 4–1 against Thailand. They lost 2–1 to Bulgaria. They moved on to the next round, where they lost 1–0 to Hungary, who went on to win the tournament.

World Cup Qualifiers: 2006 to 2022

For the 2006 World Cup qualifiers, Carlos Ruiz was a key player for scoring goals, along with Juan Carlos Plata. Other important players included Fredy Garcia, Gonzalo Romero, Guillermo Ramirez, and Martin Machón. Guatemala advanced to the third round by beating Suriname 4–2. They finished second in their group, tied with Costa Rica. In the fourth round, they started with a 0–0 draw against Panama and a big 5–1 win against Trinidad and Tobago. However, they then lost several games, including 2–0 to the United States and Mexico. A late goal from Gonzalo Romero gave them a 2–1 win against Panama, keeping their hopes alive. They finished fifth in their group, just two points away from a play-off spot. Juan Carlos Plata and Martin Machón retired from international football in 2006.

For the 2010 World Cup qualifiers, Guatemala had high hopes. They easily beat Saint Lucia 9–1 to reach the third round. In the third round, they lost 1–0 at home to the United States. They managed a draw against Trinidad and Tobago and won 4–1 against Cuba. However, they later drew 0–0 with Trinidad and Tobago and lost 2–1 to Cuba. A 2–0 loss to the United States ended their World Cup hopes.

In May 2010, Ever Hugo Almeida became Guatemala's coach. In the 2011 Copa Centroamericana, Guatemala finished fifth, which allowed them to qualify for the 2011 Gold Cup. At the Gold Cup, they drew 0–0 with Honduras and lost 2–0 to Jamaica. They then beat Grenada 4–0. In the quarter-finals, they lost 2–1 to Mexico, even though Ruiz scored first.

For the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, Guatemala won all six games in the second round. They moved to a third-round group with the United States, Jamaica, and Antigua and Barbuda. Before this round, three key players were banned for life due to issues with match-fixing. The team started with a loss to Jamaica but then drew with the United States. They beat Antigua and Barbuda twice. They then beat Jamaica 2–1 at home. They needed a draw against the United States to move forward, but they lost 3–1, missing out on the next stage.

On October 28, 2016, FIFA suspended the Guatemalan football federation (FEDEFUT) because of problems with how it was being run. This meant the team could not play in international competitions. They missed the 2017 and 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup tournaments. The suspension was lifted on May 31, 2018, after FEDEFUT fixed its issues.

After the suspension, Guatemala continued with World Cup Qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. They did not make it past the qualification rounds. They won against Bermuda and Antigua and Barbuda in earlier rounds but finished 3rd in their group, which was not enough to advance.

Between 2018 and 2022, Guatemala had mixed results. They lost to Mexico and Panama but had big wins against Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (10–0), French Guiana (2–0), and El Salvador (4–0). For the 2022 World Cup qualification, Guatemala won 1–0 against Cuba and 3–0 against British Virgin Islands. They scored 10 goals against Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. However, a 0–0 draw against Curaçao meant Curaçao advanced because they had scored more goals overall, ending Guatemala's World Cup journey.

Road to the 2026 World Cup

Guatemala had a great run in the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup. They finished first in their group, beating Cuba 1–0, drawing with Canada, and winning 3–2 against Guadeloupe. They lost 1–0 to Jamaica in the quarter-finals, finishing fifth in the tournament. In the 2023–24 CONCACAF Nations League, they finished 4th in their group.

In early 2024, Guatemala played friendly matches against Iceland (losing 1–0) and Ecuador (losing 2–0). They were winless in their first four international games of 2024.

However, Guatemala started the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualification strong with two wins: 6–0 against Dominica and 3–0 against the British Virgin Islands. In June 2024, Guatemala played against the 2022 FIFA World Cup champions, Argentina. They lost 4–1, but scored their first and only goal ever against Argentina when Lisandro Martinez scored an own goal. Goalkeeper Nicholas Hagen made 6 saves in that game, including a great save from an Ángel Di María bicycle kick. Guatemala also played in the 2024–25 CONCACAF Nations League and finished 3rd in their group.

In 2025, Guatemala achieved their best result in the CONCACAF Gold Cup by finishing 3rd. They qualified for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup by beating Guyana 4–3 over two games in the preliminary round. They secured a 1–0 win against Jamaica in the group stage, their first win against them in a Gold Cup tournament. Unfortunately, goalkeeper Nicholas Hagen got injured, and Kenderson Navarro stepped in. Guatemala advanced to the quarter-finals, where they beat Canada 5–6 in a penalty shootout after a 1–1 draw. This win sent them to the semi-finals for the first time since 1996. In the semi-finals, they lost 2–1 to the United States, with a goal from young player Olger Escobar. After the tournament, Guatemala's international ranking improved by six places, reaching 100th on July 10, 2025.

Guatemala continued their journey in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification. They secured their spot in the third round of qualification after beating the Dominican Republic 4–2.

Home Stadium

Training in the Estadio Doroteo Guamuch

The main stadium for the Guatemala national football team is the Estadio Doroteo Guamuch Flores. It's also known as Coloso de la Zona 5. This is the largest stadium in Guatemala City, Guatemala. It was built in 1948 to host the Central American and Caribbean Games in 1950. The stadium was later named after Mateo Flores, a famous long-distance runner who won the 1952 Boston Marathon. It can hold 26,000 fans.

The stadium is mostly used for football matches and has been the home ground for most of the national team's games throughout its history. The highest number of people ever at the stadium was 82,000 during the 1950 Central American and Caribbean Games.

Team Kit Sponsors

Here's a list of companies that have supplied uniforms for the Guatemalan national team:

Kit supplier	Period
Sportica	1980–1981
Erima	1981–1983
Adidas	1986
Pro-Specs	1988–1989
Erima	1992–1994
Umbro	1996–1997
Aba Sport	1997–1998
Atletica	1998–2002
Adidas	2005–2007
Puma	2007–2010
Umbro	2011–present

Team Players

Current Squad

These players were chosen for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup on June 5, 2025.

The number of games played (caps) and goals scored are correct as of June 30, 2025, after the match against Canada.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Nicholas Hagen	(1996-08-02) 2 August 1996 (age 29)	52	0	Columbus Crew
12	1GK	Kenderson Navarro	(2002-02-25) 25 February 2002 (age 23)	4	0	Municipal
21	1GK	Luis Morán	(1996-05-31) 31 May 1996 (age 29)	0	0	Antigua
2	2DF	José Ardón	(2000-01-20) 20 January 2000 (age 25)	35	1	Antigua
3	2DF	Nicolás Samayoa	(1995-08-02) 2 August 1995 (age 30)	32	2	Free agent
4	2DF	José Carlos Pinto	(1993-06-16) 16 June 1993 (age 32)	73	4	Comunicaciones
7	2DF	Aaron Herrera	(1997-06-06) 6 June 1997 (age 28)	18	0	D.C. United
13	2DF	Stheven Robles	(1995-11-12) 12 November 1995 (age 29)	37	2	Comunicaciones
16	2DF	José Morales	(1996-12-03) 3 December 1996 (age 28)	45	3	Municipal
24	2DF	Carlos Aguilar	(2006-10-25) 25 October 2006 (age 18)	4	0	Malacateco
5	3MF	José Rosales	(1993-06-24) 24 June 1993 (age 32)	15	1	Antigua
8	3MF	Rodrigo Saravia	(1993-02-22) 22 February 1993 (age 32)	63	0	Municipal
10	3MF	Pedro Altán	(1997-06-04) 4 June 1997 (age 28)	35	3	Municipal
17	3MF	Óscar Castellanos	(2000-01-18) 18 January 2000 (age 25)	53	3	Antigua
22	3MF	Jonathan Franco	(2003-07-26) 26 July 2003 (age 22)	18	0	Municipal
25	3MF	Kevin Ramírez	(2002-08-01) 1 August 2002 (age 23)	5	0	Malacateco
26	3MF	Matt Evans	(2006-05-25) 25 May 2006 (age 19)	1	0	Los Angeles FC 2
6	4FW	Erick Lemus	(2001-02-05) 5 February 2001 (age 24)	4	1	Comunicaciones
9	4FW	Rubio Rubin	(1996-03-01) 1 March 1996 (age 29)	34	13	Charleston Battery
11	4FW	Rudy Muñoz	(2005-02-06) 6 February 2005 (age 20)	10	0	Municipal
14	4FW	Darwin Lom	(1997-07-14) 14 July 1997 (age 28)	41	12	Comunicaciones
15	4FW	Damian Rivera	(2002-12-08) 8 December 2002 (age 22)	0	0	Phoenix Rising
18	4FW	Oscar Santis	(1999-03-25) 25 March 1999 (age 26)	47	16	Antigua
19	4FW	Arquímides Ordóñez	(2003-08-05) 5 August 2003 (age 22)	8	0	Zimbru Chișinău
20	4FW	Olger Escobar	(2006-09-11) 11 September 2006 (age 18)	13	2	CF Montréal
23	4FW	Elmer Cardoza	(2002-07-29) 29 July 2002 (age 23)	17	0	Xelajú

Recent Players Called Up

These players have been called up for the team in the last year.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Kevin Moscoso	(1993-06-13) 13 June 1993 (age 32)	5	0	Mixco	v.  Costa Rica, 15 October 2024
DF	Allen Yanes	(1997-07-04) 4 July 1997 (age 28)	19	1	Deportivo Mixco	v.  Guyana, 25 March 2025
DF	Kevin Ruiz	(1995-05-18) 18 May 1995 (age 30)	11	0	Xelajú	v.  Costa Rica, 15 October 2024
DF	Jeshua Urizar	(2004-10-19) 19 October 2004 (age 20)	2	0	Mixco	v.  Costa Rica, 15 October 2024
MF	Alejandro Galindo	(1992-03-05) 5 March 1992 (age 33)	58	8	Aurora	v.  Guyana, 25 March 2025
MF	Rudy Barrientos	(1999-03-01) 1 March 1999 (age 26)	18	2	Municipal	v.  Guyana, 21 March 2025PRE
MF	Carlos Mejía	(1991-11-13) 13 November 1991 (age 33)	55	8	Chiquimulilla	v.  Martinique, 6 September 2024INJ
FW	Nathaniel Mendez-Laing	(1992-04-15) 15 April 1992 (age 33)	17	0	Milton Keynes Dons	v.  Jamaica, 10 June 2025
FW	José Carlos Martínez	(1997-10-10) 10 October 1997 (age 27)	28	4	Municipal	v.  Guyana, 25 March 2025
INJ Player withdrew from the squad due to an injury. PRE Preliminary squad. RET Player retired from the national team. SUS Player is serving suspension. WD Player withdrew from the squad due to non-injury issue.

Team Records

Players whose names are in bold are still playing for Guatemala.

Most Games Played

Carlos Ruiz is Guatemala's top goalscorer and has played the most games for the team.

Most Goals Scored

Team Achievements

Continental Titles

• CONCACAF Championship / Gold Cup
  • Champions (1): 1967
  • Runners-up (2): 1965, 1969
  • Third place (1) 2025

Regional Titles

• Copa de Naciones UNCAF / Copa Centroamericana
  • Champions (1): 2001
  • Runners-up (5): 1995, 1997, 1999, 2003, 2014
  • Third place (3): 1991, 2005, 2007

Friendly Tournament Wins

• Marlboro Cup (1): 1988

Awards

• Copa Centroamericana Fair Play Award (1): 2014

See also

In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Guatemala para niños