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Guyana national football team facts for kids

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This page is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Guyana women's national football team.
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Guyana
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s) Golden Jaguars
Association Guyana Football Federation (GFF)
Confederation CONCACAF (North America)
Sub-confederation CFU (Caribbean)
Head coach Wayne Dover (interim)
Captain Daniel Wilson
Most caps Walter Moore (77)
Top scorer Omari Glasgow (21)
Home stadium Providence Stadium
FIFA code GUY
First colours
Second colours
Third colours
FIFA ranking
Current 177 Steady (7 February 2019)
Highest 86 (November 2010)
Lowest 185 (February 2004)
Elo ranking
Current 164 Increase 1 (3 March 2019)
Highest 86 (April 1980)
Lowest 183 (April 1996)
First international
 British Guiana 1–4 Trinidad and Tobago 
(British Guiana; 21 July 1905)
Biggest win
 Guyana 14–0 Anguilla 
(St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda; 16 April 1998)
Biggest defeat
Netherlands Surinam 9–0 British Guiana 
(Netherlands Antilles; 17 February 1952)
Netherlands Surinam 9–0 British Guiana 
(Aruba; 9 February 1953)
 Guyana 0–9 Mexico 
(Santa Ana, United States; 2 December 1987)
CONCACAF Gold Cup
Appearances 1 (first in 2019)
Best result Group stage (2019)

The Guyana national football team, also known as the Golden Jaguars, plays for Guyana in international football matches. The team is managed by the Guyana Football Federation. Guyana is special because it's one of only three South American countries that are part of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) within CONCACAF. The other two are Suriname and French Guiana.

Before Guyana became independent in 1966, the team was called British Guiana. The Golden Jaguars have never played in the FIFA World Cup. However, they made history on March 23, 2019, by qualifying for the CONCACAF Gold Cup for the very first time! They also reached the Caribbean Nations Cup in 1991, finishing fourth, and again in 2007.

Team History: From British Guiana to Golden Jaguars

Early Days as British Guiana (1905–1959)

The team played its first international game on July 21, 1905. As British Guiana, they lost 4–1 to Trinidad and Tobago. Their next recorded match was much later, in 1921, when they won 2–1 against Suriname.

In 1947, British Guiana played in a tournament in Trinidad and Tobago. They had some good results, beating the hosts and Jamaica. The last game played under the name British Guiana was a 2–2 draw against Trinidad and Tobago in 1959.

Guyana's New Era (1966–Present)

After Guyana gained independence in 1966, the team didn't play for five years. Their first games as "Guyana" were in 1971, trying to qualify for the 1971 CONCACAF Championship. They lost both matches to Suriname.

In 1976, Guyana tried to qualify for the 1978 FIFA World Cup for the first time. They won their first home game against Suriname 2–0, but lost the second leg, so Suriname moved forward.

A Strong Year in 2006

The year 2006 was amazing for Guyana's football team. They won eleven games in a row, including five matches to qualify for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. These wins helped Guyana jump up 87 spots in the FIFA World Rankings in just over a year! This success also meant they were ranked higher for the World Cup qualifying draw.

Caribbean Nations Cup 2007 Performance

In the 2006–07 Caribbean Nations Cup, Guyana played very well. They finished first in their group in two different stages. They ended up third in their final group, just missing out on the semi-finals because of goal difference. If they had reached the semi-finals, they would have qualified for the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

2014 World Cup Qualification Journey

With coach Jamaal Shabazz back, Guyana topped their group in the third round of qualifiers for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. They qualified for this round by beating Trinidad and Tobago 2–1 at home in November 2011.

In the third round, they faced tough teams like Mexico and Costa Rica. They finished last in their group with one point from six matches.

A Break from International Games (2013–2014)

From November 2012 to October 2014, the team didn't play any international matches. This long break led to FIFA stepping in to help reorganize the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) at the end of 2014.

The Golden Jaguars Return (2015–2016)

After FIFA's help, a new committee was set up to improve football in Guyana. Coach Jamaal Shabazz returned for a game against Barbados in January 2015. Many older players had retired, so the team was younger and had new players, especially in goal and defense. They managed a 2–2 draw with Barbados, which was a good start for the new team.

Team Gear and Sponsors

The team has had different companies make their uniforms over the years. Here's a quick look:

Kit supplier Period
Germany Uhlsport 2002–2004
Germany Adidas 2005–2007
None 2008–2010
Haiti Plus One 2011
Colombia Saeta 2012–2015
United Kingdom Admiral 2016
Japan Squadra 2018
United States Capelli 2019–2023
United States SQ Apparel 2024
Spain Meyba 2025–present

Recent Matches and Future Games

Here are some of the recent results for the Golden Jaguars and upcoming matches.       Win       Draw       Loss       Fixture

2024 Matches

  • June 6: Lost 2–0 to Panama in World Cup Qualifiers.
  • June 11: Won 3–1 against Belize in World Cup Qualifiers.
  • September 5: Lost 1–3 to Suriname in 2024–25 CONCACAF Nations League.
  • September 9: Drew 2–2 with Martinique in 2024–25 CONCACAF Nations League.
  • October 11: Lost 1–3 to Guatemala in 2024–25 CONCACAF Nations League.
  • October 15: Lost 5–1 to Suriname in 2024–25 CONCACAF Nations League.
  • November 15: Won 4–1 against Barbados in Gold Cup Play-in.
  • November 19: Won 5–3 against Barbados in Gold Cup Play-in.

2025 Matches

  • March 21: Won 3–2 against Guatemala in Gold Cup Qualifiers.
  • March 25: Lost 2–0 to Guatemala in Gold Cup Qualifiers.
  • June 6: Lost 1–0 to Nicaragua in World Cup Qualifiers.
  • June 10: Won 3–0 against Montserrat in World Cup Qualifiers.

Team Leaders and Coaches

Current Coaching Staff

As of October 30, 2024, the team's leaders include:

Head coach Guyana Wayne Dover (interim)
Assistant coach Guyana Samuel Cox
Strength & Conditioning Coach Guyana Renzo Patel
Team Manager Guyana Tyrese Stanley
Goalkeeping coach Guyana Evon Cobaine
Kitman Guyana Hal Portius
Head scout Guyana Romild Christie
GFF President Guyana Wayne Forde
Technical director Guyana Gennarius Huxley

Coaching History

Many coaches have led the Golden Jaguars over the years. Some have coached the team multiple times.

Coach-Marcio
Márcio Máximo was the manager of the national football team of Guyana from 2019 to 2021.
  • Feroze Usman (1975–82)
  • Mervyn Wilson (1983)
  • Lennox Arthur (1984–1987)
  • Mervyn Wilson (1988)
  • Gordon Braithwaite (1991–1992)
  • Mervyn Wilson (1993–1994)
  • Earl O'Neal (1996)
  • Deryck White (1998)
  • Joseph Wilson (2000–2002)
  • Neider dos Santos (2002–2004)
  • Jamaal Shabazz (2005–2009)
  • Wayne Dover (2009–2010)
  • Jamaal Shabazz (2011–2012)
  • Denzil Thompson (2014)
  • Jamaal Shabazz (2015–2016)
  • Wayne Dover (2017)
  • Michael Johnson (2018–2019)
  • Márcio Máximo (2019–2021)
  • Jamaal Shabazz (2021–2024)
  • Wayne Dover (2024–present)

Players: Current Squad and Records

Current Squad

These players were chosen for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – CONCACAF second round matches in June 2025.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Akel Clarke (1988-10-25) 25 October 1988 (age 36) 19 0 Guyana Slingerz
1GK Kai McKenzie-Lyle (1997-11-30) 30 November 1997 (age 27) 14 1 England Oxford City
1GK Joshua Naraine (2003-01-22) 22 January 2003 (age 22) 0 0 Unknown
2DF Colin Nelson (1991-08-09) 9 August 1991 (age 34) 36 1 Guyana Guyana Defence Force
2DF Leo Lovell (1996-12-06) 6 December 1996 (age 28) 28 2 Guyana Slingerz
2DF Jalen Jones (1998-11-13) 13 November 1998 (age 26) 22 2 England Oxford City
2DF Reiss Greenidge (1996-08-10) 10 August 1996 (age 29) 13 0 England Maidstone United
2DF Romaine Brackenbridge (1994-09-13) 13 September 1994 (age 30) 3 0 Guyana Slingerz
2DF Kvist Paul (2006-04-01) 1 April 2006 (age 19) 1 0 Jamaica Waterhouse
3MF Daniel Wilson (1993-11-01) 1 November 1993 (age 31) 66 1 Guyana Western Tigers
3MF Kelsey Benjamin (1999-05-08) 8 May 1999 (age 26) 37 7 Guyana Slingerz
3MF Omari Glasgow (2003-11-22) 22 November 2003 (age 21) 33 21 United States Chicago Fire
3MF Nathan Moriah-Welsh (2002-03-18) 18 March 2002 (age 23) 26 3 Scotland Hibernian
3MF Curtez Kellman (1998-03-06) 6 March 1998 (age 27) 22 0 Guyana Slingerz
3MF Nathan Ferguson (1995-10-12) 12 October 1995 (age 29) 11 1 England Maidenhead United
3MF Darron Niles (2003-05-03) 3 May 2003 (age 22) 6 0 Guyana Slingerz
3MF Raushan Ritch (2000-04-05) 5 April 2000 (age 25) 5 0 Guyana Slingerz
3MF Nicholas McArthur (2001-12-21) 21 December 2001 (age 23) 4 0 Unknown
3MF Neron Barrow (2004-03-14) 14 March 2004 (age 21) 1 0 Guyana Guyana Defence Force
3MF Kyle Reid (2005-01-03) 3 January 2005 (age 20) 1 0 United States Miami Dade FC
4FW Osaze De Rosario (2001-07-19) 19 July 2001 (age 24) 9 6 United States Seattle Sounders FC
4FW Enoch George (2003-05-23) 23 May 2003 (age 22) 5 1 Netherlands Lisse
4FW Chris Macey (1999-12-16) 16 December 1999 (age 25) 3 0 Guyana Guyana Defence Force
4FW Liam Butts (2001-02-20) 20 February 2001 (age 24) 2 0 United States New England Revolution

Players with Most Games Played

Walter Moore 1
Walter Moore has played the most games for Guyana, with 77 appearances.

The player who has played the most games for Guyana is Walter Moore, with 77 appearances.

Rank Player Caps Goals Career
1 Walter Moore 77 5 2004–2019
2 Daniel Wilson 66 1 2011–present
3 Charles Pollard 60 3 1996–2012
4 Anthony Abrams 58 15 2004–2017
5 Trayon Bobb 51 12 2011–2023

Top Goal Scorers

The player who has scored the most goals for Guyana is Omari Glasgow, with 21 goals.

Rank Player Goals Caps Ratio Career
1 Omari Glasgow 21 33 0.63 2021–present
2 Nigel Codrington 18 26 0.69 2001–2010
3 Gregory Richardson 17 46 0.37 2002–2019
4 Anthony Abrams 15 58 0.26 2004–2017
5 Trayon Bobb 12 51 0.24 2011–2023

Tournament Records

FIFA World Cup Performance

Guyana has tried to qualify for the FIFA World Cup many times but has not yet made it to the main tournament. They first entered the qualifiers for the 1978 World Cup.

FIFA World Cup FIFA World Cup qualification
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA Pld W D* L GF GA
1930 to 1970 Not a FIFA member Not a FIFA member
West Germany 1974 Did not enter Declined participation
Argentina 1978 Did not qualify 2 1 0 1 2 3
Spain 1982 6 2 0 4 8 13
Mexico 1986 2 0 1 1 1 2
Italy 1990 2 0 0 2 0 5
United States 1994 2 0 1 1 2 3
France 1998 2 0 0 2 1 8
South Korea Japan 2002 Suspended by FIFA Suspended by FIFA
Germany 2006 Did not qualify 2 0 0 2 1 8
South Africa 2010 2 0 0 2 1 3
Brazil 2014 12 4 2 6 14 30
Russia 2018 2 0 2 0 6 6
Qatar 2022 4 1 0 3 4 8
Canada Mexico United States 2026 4 2 0 2 6 4
Total 0/13 42 10 6 26 46 93

CONCACAF Gold Cup Performance

Guyana qualified for the CONCACAF Gold Cup for the first time in 2019. They played in the group stage but did not advance further.

CONCACAF Championship & Gold Cup record Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA Squad Pld W D* L GF GA
El Salvador 1963 Did not enter Did not enter
Guatemala 1965
Honduras 1967
Costa Rica 1969
Trinidad and Tobago 1971
Haiti 1973
Mexico 1977 Did not qualify 2 1 0 1 2 3
Honduras 1981 6 2 0 4 8 13
1985 2 0 1 1 1 2
1989 2 0 0 2 0 5
United States 1991 6 2 1 3 9 15
Mexico United States 1993 3 1 0 2 3 7
United States 1996 2 0 0 2 0 7
United States 1998 Did not enter Did not enter
United States 2000 Did not qualify 5 1 2 2 19 12
United States 2002 3 2 0 1 4 3
Mexico United States 2003 2 1 0 1 2 2
United States 2005 Withdrew Withdrew
United States 2007 Did not qualify 9 7 1 1 28 7
United States 2009 5 1 3 1 7 5
United States 2011 3 0 1 2 1 6
United States 2013 8 4 0 4 15 11
Canada United States 2015 3 0 1 2 0 4
United States 2017 6 3 0 3 21 12
Costa Rica Jamaica United States 2019 Group stage 13th 3 0 1 2 3 9 Squad 4 3 0 1 14 3
United States 2021 Did not qualify 7 3 1 3 12 14
Canada United States 2023 8 3 2 3 9 17
Canada United States 2025 8 3 1 4 17 21
Total Group stage 1/28 3 0 1 2 3 9 — 93 37 14 43 172 169

CONCACAF Nations League Performance

The Golden Jaguars have competed in the CONCACAF Nations League since its start. In the 2023–24 season, they had a great run, winning all five of their games and earning a promotion to League A.

CONCACAF Nations League record
League Finals
Season Division Group Pld W D L GF GA P/R Finals Result Pld W D L GF GA Squad
2019–20 B C 6 3 1 2 12 10 Same position United States 2021 Ineligible
2022–23 B B 6 3 1 2 8 14 Same position United States 2023
2023–24 B D 5 5 0 0 20 5 Rise United States 2024
2024–25 A A 4 0 1 3 5 13 Decrease United States 2025 Did not qualify
Total — — 21 11 3 7 45 42 — Total 0 Titles — — — — — — —

Caribbean Cup Performance

Guyana has participated in the Caribbean Cup several times. Their best result was finishing fourth in 1991.

CFU Championship & Caribbean Cup record Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
Trinidad and Tobago 1978 Did not qualify 2 0 0 2 1 4
Suriname 1979 Did not enter Did not enter
Puerto Rico 1981
French Guiana 1983 Did not qualify 4 1 2 1 3 5
Barbados 1985 2 1 1 0 1 1
Martinique 1988 2 0 0 2 0 5
Barbados 1989 Did not enter Did not enter
Trinidad and Tobago 1990 Did not qualify 3 0 2 1 1 6
Jamaica 1991 Fourth place 4th 4 1 0 3 4 14 2 1 1 0 5 1
Trinidad and Tobago 1992 Did not qualify 3 1 1 1 4 5
Jamaica 1993 3 1 0 2 3 7
Trinidad and Tobago 1994 2 0 0 2 1 4
Cayman Islands Jamaica 1995 2 0 0 2 0 7
Trinidad and Tobago 1996 2 1 0 1 3 3
Antigua and Barbuda Saint Kitts and Nevis 1997 4 1 1 2 5 9
Jamaica Trinidad and Tobago 1998 3 1 1 1 17 4
Trinidad and Tobago 1999 2 0 1 1 2 4
Trinidad and Tobago 2001 3 2 0 1 4 3
Barbados 2005 Withdrew Withdrew
Trinidad and Tobago 2007 Group stage 5th 3 1 1 1 4 5 6 6 0 0 24 2
Jamaica 2008 Did not qualify 5 1 3 1 7 5
Martinique 2010 Group stage 8th 3 0 1 2 1 6 6 4 1 1 9 4
Antigua and Barbuda 2012 Did not qualify 6 3 0 3 11 9
Jamaica 2014 3 0 1 2 0 4
Martinique 2017 6 3 0 3 21 12
Total Fourth place 3/25 10 2 2 6 9 25 71 27 15 29 122 104

More About Guyana Football

  • Guyana national under-20 football team
  • Guyana national under-17 football team
  • Football in Guyana

See also

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

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