After finishing the qualifying phase of the 2026 Clausura Tournament with the six teams in each group defined, the Guatemala First Division League began this Wednesday and Thursday the access phase to the quarterfinals with the first legs of the four series. The teams classified from third to sixth place in each group face each other in round-trip series crossed between groups, with the four winners completing the quarterfinal draw alongside the teams that qualified directly.
The first leg left favorable results for Santa Lucía, Nueva Santa Rosa, and Coatepeque, who have an advantage ahead of the return matches that will be played this weekend. The series remains completely open and any result could change the panorama in the ninety minutes of return.
The return matches will be played on Sunday, April 19, where the visiting teams in the first leg will have the opportunity to reverse the results or extend their advantage to secure their ticket to the quarterfinals of the competition.
First leg results
- FC Santa Lucía 3-2 CSD Suchitepéquez — Municipal Stadium of Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa
- Huehuetecos FC 0-2 Nueva Santa Rosa — Los Cuchumatanes Stadium
- Coatepeque FC 3-0 San Benito FC — Israel Barrios Stadium
- AFF Guatemala 1-1 Chichicasteco FC — Julio A. Cobar Stadium
The return matches will be played this weekend, where the teams that arrive at a disadvantage will have to come back if they want to stay alive in the tournament. The only series that was tied was that of AFF Guatemala and Chichicasteco, which is presented as the most open and unpredictable of the four eliminatory ties.
The four winners of this access phase will join Dep. San Pedro FC, Dep. Gomerano, CSD Chiquimulilla and Iztapa, teams that qualified directly to the quarterfinals, thus completing the table of eight teams that will fight for the Clausura 2026 title of the Guatemala First Division League.