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Guatemala national football team facts for kids

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Guatemala
Shirt badge/Association crest
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 Decrease 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

Costa Rica vs Guatemala 1921
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

Cremas-calentando
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
Guatemala Sportica 1980–1981
West Germany Erima 1981–1983
West Germany Adidas 1986
South Korea Pro-Specs 1988–1989
Germany Erima 1992–1994
England Umbro 1996–1997
Mexico Aba Sport 1997–1998
Mexico Atletica 1998–2002
Germany Adidas 2005–2007
Germany Puma 2007–2010
England 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 United States Columbus Crew
12 1GK Kenderson Navarro (2002-02-25) 25 February 2002 (age 23) 4 0 Guatemala Municipal
21 1GK Luis Morán (1996-05-31) 31 May 1996 (age 29) 0 0 Guatemala Antigua

2 2DF José Ardón (2000-01-20) 20 January 2000 (age 25) 35 1 Guatemala 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 Guatemala Comunicaciones
7 2DF Aaron Herrera (1997-06-06) 6 June 1997 (age 28) 18 0 United States D.C. United
13 2DF Stheven Robles (1995-11-12) 12 November 1995 (age 29) 37 2 Guatemala Comunicaciones
16 2DF José Morales (1996-12-03) 3 December 1996 (age 28) 45 3 Guatemala Municipal
24 2DF Carlos Aguilar (2006-10-25) 25 October 2006 (age 18) 4 0 Guatemala Malacateco

5 3MF José Rosales (1993-06-24) 24 June 1993 (age 32) 15 1 Guatemala Antigua
8 3MF Rodrigo Saravia (1993-02-22) 22 February 1993 (age 32) 63 0 Guatemala Municipal
10 3MF Pedro Altán (1997-06-04) 4 June 1997 (age 28) 35 3 Guatemala Municipal
17 3MF Óscar Castellanos (2000-01-18) 18 January 2000 (age 25) 53 3 Guatemala Antigua
22 3MF Jonathan Franco (2003-07-26) 26 July 2003 (age 22) 18 0 Guatemala Municipal
25 3MF Kevin Ramírez (2002-08-01) 1 August 2002 (age 23) 5 0 Guatemala Malacateco
26 3MF Matt Evans (2006-05-25) 25 May 2006 (age 19) 1 0 United States Los Angeles FC 2

6 4FW Erick Lemus (2001-02-05) 5 February 2001 (age 24) 4 1 Guatemala Comunicaciones
9 4FW Rubio Rubin (1996-03-01) 1 March 1996 (age 29) 34 13 United States Charleston Battery
11 4FW Rudy Muñoz (2005-02-06) 6 February 2005 (age 20) 10 0 Guatemala Municipal
14 4FW Darwin Lom (1997-07-14) 14 July 1997 (age 28) 41 12 Guatemala Comunicaciones
15 4FW Damian Rivera (2002-12-08) 8 December 2002 (age 22) 0 0 United States Phoenix Rising
18 4FW Oscar Santis (1999-03-25) 25 March 1999 (age 26) 47 16 Guatemala Antigua
19 4FW Arquímides Ordóñez (2003-08-05) 5 August 2003 (age 21) 8 0 Moldova Zimbru Chișinău
20 4FW Olger Escobar (2006-09-11) 11 September 2006 (age 18) 13 2 Canada CF Montréal
23 4FW Elmer Cardoza (2002-07-29) 29 July 2002 (age 23) 17 0 Guatemala 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 Guatemala Mixco v.  Costa Rica, 15 October 2024

DF Allen Yanes (1997-07-04) 4 July 1997 (age 28) 19 1 Guatemala Deportivo Mixco v.  Guyana, 25 March 2025
DF Kevin Ruiz (1995-05-18) 18 May 1995 (age 30) 11 0 Guatemala Xelajú v.  Costa Rica, 15 October 2024
DF Jeshua Urizar (2004-10-19) 19 October 2004 (age 20) 2 0 Guatemala Mixco v.  Costa Rica, 15 October 2024

MF Alejandro Galindo (1992-03-05) 5 March 1992 (age 33) 58 8 Guatemala Aurora v.  Guyana, 25 March 2025
MF Rudy Barrientos (1999-03-01) 1 March 1999 (age 26) 18 2 Guatemala Municipal v.  Guyana, 21 March 2025PRE
MF Carlos Mejía (1991-11-13) 13 November 1991 (age 33) 55 8 Guatemala Chiquimulilla v.  Martinique, 6 September 2024INJ

FW Nathaniel Mendez-Laing (1992-04-15) 15 April 1992 (age 33) 17 0 England Milton Keynes Dons v.  Jamaica, 10 June 2025
FW José Carlos Martínez (1997-10-10) 10 October 1997 (age 27) 28 4 Guatemala 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
Carlos Ruiz is Guatemala's top goalscorer and has played the most games for the team.
Rank Player Caps Goals Career
1 Carlos Ruiz 133 68 1998–2016
2 Guillermo Ramírez 106 16 1997–2012
3 Gustavo Cabrera 104 2 2000–2012
4 Fredy Thompson 96 3 2001–2015
5 Juan Carlos Plata 87 35 1996–2010
6 Gonzalo Romero 83 9 2000–2012
7 Julio Girón 82 0 1992–2006
8 Edgar Estrada 80 0 1995–2003
José Manuel Contreras 80 5 2006–2021
10 Mario Rodríguez 79 10 2003–2013

Most Goals Scored

Rank Player Goals Caps Ratio Career
1 Carlos Ruiz 68 133 0.51 1998–2016
2 Juan Carlos Plata 35 87 0.4 1996–2010
3 Carlos Toledo 25 1943–1953
4 Mario Camposeco 23 1943–1951
Freddy García 23 73 0.32 1998–2012
6 Oscar Enrique Sánchez 19 1976–1990
7 Oscar Santis 16 47 0.34 2021–present
Edwin Westphal 16 47 0.34 1985–1998
Dwight Pezzarossi 16 72 0.22 2000–2012
Guillermo Ramírez 16 106 0.15 1997–2012

Team Achievements

Continental Titles

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

Regional Titles

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

Friendly Tournament Wins

  • Marlboro Cup (1): 1988

Awards

  • Copa Centroamericana Fair Play Award (1): 2014

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Guatemala para niños

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