Guyana national football team facts for kids
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Nickname(s) | Golden Jaguars | |||
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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 | |||
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FIFA ranking | ||||
Current | 177 ![]() |
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Highest | 86 (November 2010) | |||
Lowest | 185 (February 2004) | |||
Elo ranking | ||||
Current | 164 ![]() |
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Highest | 86 (April 1980) | |||
Lowest | 183 (April 1996) | |||
First international | ||||
![]() ![]() (British Guiana; 21 July 1905) |
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Biggest win | ||||
![]() ![]() (St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda; 16 April 1998) |
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Biggest defeat | ||||
![]() ![]() (Netherlands Antilles; 17 February 1952) ![]() ![]() (Aruba; 9 February 1953) ![]() ![]() (Santa Ana, United States; 2 December 1987) |
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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.
Contents
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 |
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2002–2004 |
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2005–2007 |
None | 2008–2010 |
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2011 |
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2012–2015 |
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2016 |
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2018 |
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2019–2023 |
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2024 |
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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:
Coaching History
Many coaches have led the Golden Jaguars over the years. Some have coached the team multiple times.
- 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 |
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GK | Akel Clarke | 25 October 1988 | 19 | 0 | ![]() |
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GK | Kai McKenzie-Lyle | 30 November 1997 | 14 | 1 | ![]() |
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GK | Joshua Naraine | 22 January 2003 | 0 | 0 | Unknown | |
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DF | Colin Nelson | 9 August 1991 | 36 | 1 | ![]() |
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DF | Leo Lovell | 6 December 1996 | 28 | 2 | ![]() |
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DF | Jalen Jones | 13 November 1998 | 22 | 2 | ![]() |
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DF | Reiss Greenidge | 10 August 1996 | 13 | 0 | ![]() |
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DF | Romaine Brackenbridge | 13 September 1994 | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
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DF | Kvist Paul | 1 April 2006 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
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MF | Daniel Wilson | 1 November 1993 | 66 | 1 | ![]() |
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MF | Kelsey Benjamin | 8 May 1999 | 37 | 7 | ![]() |
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MF | Omari Glasgow | 22 November 2003 | 33 | 21 | ![]() |
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MF | Nathan Moriah-Welsh | 18 March 2002 | 26 | 3 | ![]() |
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MF | Curtez Kellman | 6 March 1998 | 22 | 0 | ![]() |
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MF | Nathan Ferguson | 12 October 1995 | 11 | 1 | ![]() |
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MF | Darron Niles | 3 May 2003 | 6 | 0 | ![]() |
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MF | Raushan Ritch | 5 April 2000 | 5 | 0 | ![]() |
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MF | Nicholas McArthur | 21 December 2001 | 4 | 0 | Unknown | |
MF | Neron Barrow | 14 March 2004 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
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MF | Kyle Reid | 3 January 2005 | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
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FW | Osaze De Rosario | 19 July 2001 | 9 | 6 | ![]() |
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FW | Enoch George | 23 May 2003 | 5 | 1 | ![]() |
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FW | Chris Macey | 16 December 1999 | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
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FW | Liam Butts | 20 February 2001 | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
Players with Most Games Played
The player who has played the most games for Guyana is Walter Moore, with 77 appearances.
Rank | Player | Caps | Goals | Career |
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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 |
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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 | ||||||||||||||
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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 | |||||||||||||
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Did not enter | Declined participation | |||||||||||||
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Did not qualify | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||||||
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6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 13 | |||||||||
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2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||||||||
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2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | |||||||||
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2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |||||||||
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2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 8 | |||||||||
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Suspended by FIFA | Suspended by FIFA | |||||||||||||
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Did not qualify | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 8 | ||||||||
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2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | |||||||||
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12 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 14 | 30 | |||||||||
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2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 6 | |||||||||
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4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 8 | |||||||||
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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 | ||||||||||||||||
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Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | Squad | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | ||
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Did not enter | Did not enter | |||||||||||||||
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Did not qualify | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||||||||
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6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 13 | |||||||||||
1985 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||||||||||
1989 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | |||||||||||
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6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 15 | |||||||||||
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3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 7 | |||||||||||
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2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | |||||||||||
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Did not enter | Did not enter | |||||||||||||||
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Did not qualify | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 12 | ||||||||||
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3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | |||||||||||
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2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||
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Withdrew | Withdrew | |||||||||||||||
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Did not qualify | 9 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 28 | 7 | ||||||||||
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5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 5 | |||||||||||
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3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | |||||||||||
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8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 15 | 11 | |||||||||||
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3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | |||||||||||
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6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 21 | 12 | |||||||||||
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Group stage | 13th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 9 | Squad | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 3 | ||
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Did not qualify | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 14 | ||||||||||
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8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 17 | |||||||||||
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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.
Caribbean Cup Performance
Guyana has participated in the Caribbean Cup several times. Their best result was finishing fourth in 1991.
More About Guyana Football
- Guyana national under-20 football team
- Guyana national under-17 football team
- Football in Guyana
See also
In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Guyana para niños