Guatemala National Team already knows the rivals it will face in the fifth edition of the Concacaf Nations League 2026-27. La Bicolor was placed in Group B of League A, along with Honduras, Jamaica, Suriname, Martinique and El Salvador, in one of the most demanding sectors of the tournament.
The team led by Luis Fernando Tena will face a new opportunity to confirm the growth it has shown in recent years and take another step within the elite of regional football. After consolidating itself in the highest category of the competition, Guatemala’s main objective will be to overcome the group stage and qualify for the next round, something that it has not achieved so far.
At the moment the competition schedule or the order of the rivals that the Bicolor will face are still unknown. The team will play four games, two at home and two as visitors.
The task will not be easy. Honduras and Jamaica appear as two of the favorite teams in the group, while Suriname continues to strengthen its squad with players who play in European leagues. For its part, El Salvador always represents a highly demanding rival in the Central American classics and Martinique will seek to become one of the surprises of the contest.
With this scenario, each match will have enormous importance, since only the first two places in the group will advance to the next phase, which will force the teams to maintain a high level of performance throughout the competition.
The history of Guatemala in the Concacaf Nations League is a sample of constant evolution. In a few years he went from competing in the lowest category of the tournament to establishing himself among the best teams in the area.
Nations League 2019-20 (League C)
Guatemala’s first participation was conditioned by the suspension imposed years ago by Fifa, a situation that forced the Blue and White to begin its journey in League C, the third category of the competition.
However, the national team had no difficulties in proving its superiority. They finished as the leader of their group after winning their four games against Puerto Rico and Anguilla. La Bicolor completed a practically perfect campaign, with 25 goals scored and none conceded, achieving direct promotion to League B.
Nations League 2022-23 (League B)
After promotion, Guatemala faced the challenge of competing in the second category of the tournament. It was part of Group D along with French Guiana, the Dominican Republic and Belize.
The national team maintained the upward trend shown in the previous edition and finished in first place in its sector. Thanks to these results, he secured promotion to League A and consolidated his return among the most competitive teams in Concacaf.
Nations League 2023-24 (League A)
The 2023-24 edition marked Guatemala’s debut in the highest category of the tournament and meant an important test for the project led by Luis Fernando Tena.
Although the Bicolor did not manage to advance to the final rounds, they added valuable points that allowed them to ensure permanence in League A. The team showed the ability to compete against more experienced teams.
Nations League 2024-25 (League A)
In its second consecutive participation in the regional elite, Guatemala once again demonstrated that it belongs to the highest division. The Blue and White finished in third place in its group, the result of two wins, a draw and a loss. They defeated Martinique and Guyana, drew goalless against Costa Rica and arrived with chances of qualifying until the last day. However, the 3-0 defeat against the Costa Ricans, in San José, left the Guatemalans out of the quarterfinals.
From League C to dreaming big
Guatemala’s journey in the Nations League reflects the notable growth that national soccer has experienced in recent years. What began in League C, after a complicated stage for the Guatemalan National Soccer Federation, today finds Bicolor installed in League A and competing face to face with some of the best teams in the region.
Now, in its fifth participation, the challenge is greater. The goal is no longer just to maintain the category, but to fight for one of the tickets to the next round and seek to make the 2026-27 edition the most successful of its journey in the Concacaf Nations League.