Suriname and Guatemala vie for leadership of Group B of the Nations League

Suriname and Guatemala face each other on Friday, October 2, at Franklin Essed Stadium in a direct showdown for the Group B lead of the CONCACAF Nations League. The home side aims to keep first place in the group, while the visitors are looking to top the table after delivering a rout in the previous round.

The battle for Group B leadership

Suriname tops Group B after winning two consecutive matches in the competition, beating Honduras away and Martinique at home. Guatemala is trying to seize the lead and relies on a favorable head‑to‑head record, as the hosts have never beaten the Guatemalans, suffering three defeats in five meetings. The other two encounters on Surinamese soil ended in draws.

Suriname's current situation

The home side is coached by Henk Fraser, a former Feyenoord defender who served as an assistant for the Dutch national team in 2021 and has also managed Utrecht. As a former Dutch colony, the country taps into players born in the Netherlands who are eligible to represent Suriname. The coach has all players available, with no injuries or suspensions. Offensively, Justin Lonwijk scored in the win over Martinique after coming off the bench, playing alongside Gyrano Kerk.

Guatemala's recovery

Led by Luis Fernando Tena for almost five years, Guatemala bounced back from a defeat to Jamaica in the opener with a 6‑0 victory over El Salvador at Manuel Felipe Carrera Stadium. The match’s standout was striker William Fajardo, who netted a hat‑trick, complemented by goals from Darwin Lom, Rubio Rubín and Jorge Aparicio. The result snapped a four‑game losing streak and put Guatemala back in the hunt for a spot in the next phase.

Competition format

League A consists of two groups of six teams, each playing four matches in a Swiss‑system format – two at home and two away. The top four nations from each group advance to the quarter‑finals, scheduled for the November international window. Winners of the quarter‑finals secure a direct berth to the 2027 CONCACAF Gold Cup and qualify for the regional competition’s semifinals.

Sources: CONCACAF Official Website, Sports Mole, Inside World Football.