Suriname defends Group A lead against Guatemala | OneFootball

MIAMI - The Final Round of the Concacaf Qualifiers to the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues with Suriname hosting Guatemala in Group A on Friday at Dr. Ir. Franklin Essed Stadion in Paramaribo, Suriname.

Suriname will seek to continue its positive start in the Final Round. The Caribbean nation leads Group A with four points after recording a draw and a win. With a 2-1 victory over El Salvador in its previous match, Suriname made history by earning its first-ever victory in San Salvador and second all-time win over La Selecta. Radinio Balker and Dhoraso Klas scored the team’s goals in the memorable win.

Suriname enters the match unbeaten in the Concacaf World Cup Qualifiers, winning four of its six matches. Stanley Menzo added his name to the record books with the current run, as he became the first Surinamese manager to go six matches unbeaten in a single Concacaf WCQ campaign.

Guatemala aims to pick up its first victory in the Final Round after earning its first point in a 1-1 draw in Panama. Óscar Santis scored the team’s lone goal in the result. Santis has now scored four goals in his last three appearances in the Qualifiers for 2026 and has tallied 11 goals since 2023 in official Concacaf competitions.

This meeting will be the second in World Cup Qualifiers between the nations and fourth overall in any competition. Guatemala claimed two wins in the past matchups, while the other encounter resulted in a draw.

Historical Series

Suriname and Guatemala will meet for the second time in the Concacaf Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup.

This will be the 4th all-time meeting between the two in any competition. Guatemala has never lost to Suriname, registering 2 wins and 1 draw—all three matches having been played in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.

The only time Suriname avoided defeat against Guatemala was a 1-1 draw on June 12, 2004, during the qualifiers for Germany 2006, in Playoff #2 of Group 6 in Round 1, at the André Kamperveen Stadium in Paramaribo (SUR). Suriname's goal was scored by Dennis Purperhart, while Guillermo “Pando” Ramírez scored for Guatemala.

This will be the second meeting between them in a Final Round of Concacaf Qualifiers. The previous one occurred 48 years ago, on Matchday 1 of the Hexagonal for the Argentina 1978 World Cup, played at Estadio Universitario in Monterrey (MEX) on October 8, 1977. Guatemala won 3-2 with a comeback, thanks to a brace from Félix McDonald and a goal from Mario Alfaro. Suriname had taken the lead with goals from Edwien “Wiene” Schal and Delano Rigters.

This will be Suriname’s 22nd match in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Central American teams. They have recorded 17 defeats, 3 draws, and only 1 win. That lone victory came in a 4-1 win over El Salvador on December 22, 1968, during the return leg in Group 4 of Round 1 on the road to Mexico 1970, at the André Kamperveen Stadium in Paramaribo (SUR). After trailing, Suriname came back with a brace from Jules Lagadeau, and goals from Stuart Oosthuizen and Edwien “Wiene” Schal. El Salvador’s goal had been scored by Víctor Azúcar.

Suriname has not defeated a Central American side in World Cup Qualifiers in over 56 years.

Top scorers for Suriname vs. Guatemala in qualifiers: Edwien “Wiene” Schal (1), Delano Rigters (1), Dennis Purperhart (1), Gino Brandon (1)

Top scorers for Guatemala vs. Suriname in qualifiers: Carlos Ruíz (2), Félix McDonald (2)

Historical Series: 3 matches

0 wins Suriname, 4 goals

1 draw

2 wins Guatemala, 7 goals