Guatemala Ends World Cup Qualifying with 3-1 Win, Suriname Heads to Intercontinental Playoff

Guatemala capped off their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign with a spirited 3-1 victory over Suriname on Matchday 6 of the CONCACAF Third Round, Estadio Manuel Felipe Carrera in Guatemala City—a result that sent Suriname to the intercontinental playoff while offering Los Chapines a bittersweet send-off. The match, played at 7:00 p.m. local time on Tuesday, November 19, 2025, wasn’t just about pride; it was the final chapter in a campaign where Guatemala fought hard but fell just short of automatic qualification. The win, powered by goals from Darwin Lom, Olger Escobar, and Óscar Santis, turned a disappointing group stage into a memorable finale.

How Guatemala Turned the Tide After a Tough Run

Guatemala entered this final match with a 2-2-2 record and 8 points, needing a win to finish strong after a 3-2 loss to Panama in their previous outing. Manager Luis Fernando Tenna made four changes to the lineup, including bringing in striker Óscar Santis, who would become the match’s defining figure. The first half was cagey—Suriname defended deep, and Guatemala struggled to break through. But everything changed after halftime.

In the 49th minute, Darwin Lom pounced on a loose ball after a corner kick, slotting it past goalkeeper Óscar Castellanos. The stadium erupted. Two minutes later, a slick pass from midfielders Rosales and Franco found Olger Escobar, who fired low into the far corner. By the 65th minute, Santis had sealed it: a one-on-one breakaway, a feint past the keeper, and a calm finish. It was the kind of moment that reminded fans why they love this game.

Suriname’s Rollercoaster Campaign Ends in Playoff Limbo

Despite the loss, Suriname still finished second in Group A with 9 points—two behind group winners Panama and one ahead of Guatemala. Their record of 2 wins, 3 draws, and 1 loss reflected a gritty, resilient campaign. They had held Panama to a draw earlier and earned draws against both Guatemala and El Salvador. But in the final minutes, an own goal by defender Nicolás Samayoa—accidentally deflecting a cross into his own net—was a cruel footnote to their journey.

The twist? Suriname’s playoff fate wasn’t decided by their performance alone. With Panama beating El Salvador 2-0 on the same day, Suriname’s position was secured regardless of the Guatemala result. Still, the loss meant they had to leave their home turf empty-handed, and the emotional toll was clear. Players huddled on the pitch after the final whistle, some with tears. One Football reported it plainly: “Suriname heads to play-off.”

Who Made It? Who Got Left Behind?

The final Group A standings told the full story:

• Panama – 12 points (3W-3D-0L) – qualified directly for World Cup 2026
• Suriname – 9 points (2W-3D-1L) – advanced to intercontinental playoff
• Guatemala – 8 points (2W-2D-2L) – eliminated
• El Salvador – 3 points (1W-0D-5L) – eliminated

For Guatemala, finishing third was a moral victory. They hadn’t reached this stage since 2018, and their 8 points were their best in a CONCACAF third-round campaign since 2010. For Suriname, this was historic: their first time reaching the intercontinental playoff since 2006, and only the second in their entire history.

What’s Next for Both Teams?

Guatemala’s journey ends here—for now. The national team, affectionately called Los Chapines, will regroup for the 2027 CONCACAF Gold Cup qualifiers. Coach Tenna has a young core—Lom is just 21, Santis 23—and this campaign showed promise. The challenge now: turn near-misses into breakthroughs.

Suriname, meanwhile, faces an even tougher test. The intercontinental playoff, scheduled for early 2026, will pit them against a team from another confederation—likely from Asia, Africa, or Oceania. FIFA hasn’t yet drawn the pairing, but past playoffs have seen teams like Australia, Peru, and the United Arab Emirates qualify through these routes. Suriname’s players will need to recover quickly. They’ve never beaten a team from outside CONCACAF in a competitive match.

Why This Match Matters Beyond the Scoreline

This wasn’t just another qualifier. It was the culmination of a long, often overlooked path for smaller nations trying to reach the world’s biggest stage. Suriname, with a population under 600,000, doesn’t have the infrastructure of the U.S. or Mexico. But they’ve built a team of diaspora stars—players from the Netherlands, the U.S., and even Belgium—who chose to represent their ancestral homeland. That’s the soul of international football.

For Guatemala, the loss to Panama in their penultimate match had cast doubt. But beating Suriname, a team that had held them to a 1-1 draw in Paramaribo earlier, showed character. The crowd of over 32,000 at Estadio Manuel Felipe Carrera sang for 90 minutes. That’s the power of national pride.