Nueva Santa Rosa and San Pedro FC will star in the most attractive key of the semifinals of the First Division of the Clausura 2026. Both teams faced each other in the final of the Apertura 2025 Tournament, where Nueva Santa Rosa was crowned champion after winning 4-2 on aggregate, falling 0-2 in the first leg and coming back with four goals at the Barberena Sports Complex.
That result gave the Panaleros the title and both teams 50% of the promotion ticket to the National League, which turns their new confrontation into a series with direct promotion as the grand prize.
The dynamics of the climb make this key especially attractive. Having met in the final of the previous tournament, both had already secured half a promotion ticket. By meeting again in the semifinals of Clausura 2026, the winner will complete their ticket and become the first team with direct promotion to the National Leagueregardless of what happens in the other key between Suchitepéquez and Chichicasteco. The loser, even if eliminated from this tournament, retains his half ticket and must play a match against the finalist of the other bracket to fight for the second promotion.
What makes this duel even more historic is that neither team has ever participated in the National League. Nueva Santa Rosa has just been promoted from the Second Division just two tournaments ago in Clausura 2025, and now two tournaments later in the First Division it could make the jump to the top category in what would be a historic milestone for the club. San Pedro FC has not played in the National League either, so whichever of the two that achieves promotion will be writing an unprecedented page in its institutional history.
first leg
- Nueva Santa Rosa vs Deportivo San Pedro FC
- Stadium: Pedro García Arredondo
- Day: Saturday, May 2
- Time: 8:00 p.m.
return match
- Deportivo San Pedro FC vs Nueva Santa Rosa
- Stadium: Municipal Sampedrano
- Day: Sunday, May 10
- Time: 1:00 p.m.
Semifinal with a taste of revenge
The direct history between both teams gives a special flavor to this semifinal. In the Apertura 2025, Nueva Santa Rosa staged one of the most epic comebacks in the First Division by overcoming a 0-2 deficit in the first leg with four goals at home, including an own goal in extra time and Jayson Montenegro’s final goal in the last minute for the 4-2 aggregate win that gave them the title. San Pedro will reach this semifinal with revenge as additional motivation after having lost the title at the most painful moment possible.
For Nueva Santa Rosa, reaching the final again would mean completing one of the fastest promotions in the history of Guatemalan soccer. The Santa Rosa club was promoted from the Second Division at the beginning of Clausura 2025 and just two tournaments later in the First Division it could be playing in the National League. a path that very few teams have traveled so quickly in Chapín football.
The semifinals will be played in the coming weekends in round-trip series, with the winner advancing to the grand final of Clausura 2026 and securing their direct promotion ticket to the National League.