The Guatemala national football team moved up two places in the latest FIFA ranking, rising from 97th in July to 95th in the October 7, 2026 update. The jump reflects a four-match stretch in the September and October FIFA windows that brought seven points and helped the Selección de Guatemala continue its best recent run under Luis Fernando Tena.
Guatemala's results in that span were mixed, but the overall balance was positive. The team lost 3-2 away to Jamaica in Kingston on September 25, then responded with a 6-0 win over El Salvador in Ciudad de Guatemala on September 28. In October, Guatemala drew 0-0 away to Surinam in Paramaribo on October 2 before beating Surinam 1-0 at home on October 5 thanks to a stoppage-time goal by Matt Evans.
Why the ranking move matters
The rise is more than a small number change. It came during a stretch that also delivered Guatemala's first-ever qualification to the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals, a notable step forward for the Bicolor and its standing in the region. FIFA rankings do not tell the full story of a team, but they do capture recent form, and Guatemala's four-match window was strong enough to earn a climb.
For Tena, the update is another sign that the team is building momentum at the right time. Guatemala's next major test is scheduled for November 2026 against Canada in the quarterfinals, where the ranking boost will not decide anything on its own, but it does reflect a team that has put together results when it mattered most.
What comes next
Guatemala's move to 95th gives the national team a slightly better position heading into the next phase of the Concacaf Nations League. The challenge now is to turn that progress into another strong result against Canada and keep the upward trend going beyond the September and October matches that produced this rise.
