2025–26 Liga Guate

Liga Guate
Season2025–26
Dates19 July 2025 – TBD 2026
Matches95
Goals243 (2.56 per match)
Top goalscorerApertura:
Nicolás Martínez
- (8 Goals)
2026–27 →
All statistics correct as of 21 November 2025.

The 2025–26 Liga Guate, also known as Liga Guate Banrural due to sponsorship reasons,[1] is the 73rd professional season of the top-flight football league in Guatemala. The season is to be divided into two championships—the 2025 Apertura and the 2026 Clausura—each in an identical format and each contested by the same 12 teams.

Competition format

Same as previous years, the season was divided into two short tournaments: Torneo Apertura (opening) and Torneo Clausura (closing), each of which crowning its own champion. Both Apertura and Clausura tournaments were played under the same format which consisted in a Classification phase and a Final phase.[2]

In the classification phase, teams played each other twice on a home-and-away round-robin basis. The top eight teams at the conclusion of the classification stage advanced to the quarter-finals of the final stage.

The final phase was played on a single-elimination format and consisted of the quarter-finals, semi-finals and the finals. All rounds were played on a home-and-away two-legged basis, with the higher-ranked team in the classification phase of each tie hosting the second leg. The quarter-final pairings were pre-determined based on the teams' final position in the classification phase. In the semi-finals the teams were re-seeded based also on their final position in the classification phase in order to determine the two pairings. The quarter-finals and semi-finals matchups were determined as follows:

Both champions of the Apertura and Clausura tournaments plus the best placed team on the aggregate table (excluding the two champions) at the end of the season qualified for the 2026 CONCACAF Central American Cup.


Teams

A total of 12 teams took part in this season: the top ten teams from the aggregate table of the 2024–25 season as well as two promoted teams from the 2024–25 Liga Primera División season.

Stadiums and locations

Team City Stadium Capacity
Achuapa El Progreso Winston Pineda 7,300
Antigua Antigua Guatemala Pensativo 10,000
Aurora Amatitlán Guillermo Slowing 12,000
Cobán Imperial Cobán Verapaz 15,000
Comunicaciones Guatemala City Cementos Progreso 17,000
Guastatoya Guastatoya David Cordón Hichos 3,100
Malacateco Malacatán Santa Lucía 8,000
Marquense San Marcos Estadio Marquesa de la Ensenada 11,000
Atlético Mictlán Asunción Mita Estadio La Asunción 4,000
Mixco Mixco Santo Domingo de Guzmán 5,200
Municipal Guatemala City El Trébol 10,000
Xelajú Quetzaltenango Mario Camposeco 11,220

Personnel and sponsoring

Team Chairman Head Coach Captain Kitmaker Shirt Sponsors
Achuapa TBD Martín Adrián García TBD TUTO SPORT. Muni el Progreso, Banrural, Pan Sinaí
Antigua TBD Mauricio Tapia Jose Ardon Nino Valvoline, Banrural, Cayala, Betcris
Aurora TBD Saúl Phillip Allan Garcia TUTO SPORT Tributo, Bantrab, ECA Electrodos, Productus del aire, Pepsi
Cobán Imperial TBD José Luis Trejo Janderson Pereira MG Sports Domino's, Bantrab, Pepsi, Mayafert
Comunicaciones TBD Roberto Hernández José Manuel Contreras Adidas [1] Banrural, Forza Delivery, Gana777, Gulf Oil
Guastatoya TBD Ariel Sena Marlon Sequén TUTO SPORT Banrural, Municipalidad de Guastatoya
Malacateco TBD José Guadalupe Cruz TBD Silver Sport Valvoline, Bantrab, Starbus, betcris, Farmancia Batres, Don Ramy
Marquense TBD Hernán Medford Oscar Linto Guza Sport Bantrab, Holcim, Chapinwin, Acredicom
Atlético Mictlán TBD Adrian García Arias TBD TUTO SPORT Munimita
Mixco TBD Fabricio Benítez Kevin Moscoso JM12 Banrural, Gana777
Municipal TBD Mario Acevedo TBD Umbro Banrural, Forza delivery, Zeta Gas
Xelajú TBD Amarini Villatoro Jorge Aparicio Kelme Banrural, Pepsi, Farmancia Batres, Elektra, J.A. Vasquez, Forza delivery

Managerial changes

Before the start of the season

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Replaced by Date of appointment Position in table
Achuapa Adrián Arias Contract finished May 2025 Martín Adrián García [2] May 2025 th and Quarterfinalist (TBD)
Cobán Imperial Roberto Montoya Contract finished May 2025 José Luis Trejo [3] May 2025 th and Quarterfinalist (TBD)
Comunicaciones Rónald González Contract finished May 2025 Roberto Hernández May 2025 th and Quarterfinalist (TBD)
Guastatoya Dwight Pezzarossi Contract finished May 2025 Ariel Sena 2025 th and Quarterfinalist (TBD)
Malacateco Roberto Hernández Contract finished May 2025 José Guadalupe Cruz June 2025 th and Quarterfinalist (TBD)
Mictlán Edwin Vásquez Contract finished June 2025 Adrián Arias [4] June 2025 th and Quarterfinalist (TBD)
TBD TBD Contract finished 2025 TBD 2025 th and Quarterfinalist (TBD)
Municipal Sebastian Bini Contract finished May 2025 Mario Acevedo June 2025 th and Quarterfinalist (TBD)

During the Apertura season

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Replaced by Date of appointment Position in table
Marquense Hernán Medford Sacked August 11, 2025 Sebastian Bini [5] August 21, 2025 th (2025 Apertura)
Guastatoya Ariel Sena [6] Sacked August 20, 2025 Mike Leonardo (Interimship) August 21, 2025 th (2025 Apertura)
Guastatoya Mike Leonardo Interimship ended, moved back to assistant coach September 1, 2025 Pablo Centrone [7] September 1, 2025 th (2025 Apertura)
Malacateco José Guadalupe Cruz Sacked September 9, 2025 Roberto Montoya September 10, 2025 th (2025 Apertura)
Mictlán Adrian Garcia Arias Sacked September 12, 2025 Flavio da Silva [8] September 13, 2025 th (2025 Apertura)
Comunicaciones Roberto Hernández [9] Sacked October 1, 2025 Iván Sopegno October 1, 2025 th (2025 Apertura)
Xelajú Amarini Villatoro Sacked December, 2025 TBD December, 2025 th (2025 Apertura)

Apertura

The Apertura 2025 tournament began on 3 August and scheduled to end on 30 November 2025. Xelajú were the defending champions, having won the Clausura 2025 tournament at the previous season.

Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Municipal 22 14 6 2 41 14 +27 48 Advance to Quarter-finals
2 Mixco 22 14 2 6 33 20 +13 44
3 Antigua 22 13 3 6 39 23 +16 42
4 Aurora 22 11 6 5 31 28 +3 39
5 Malacateco 22 10 1 11 26 31 −5 31
6 Xelajú 22 8 4 10 32 29 +3 28
7 Achuapa 22 6 7 9 22 29 −7 25
8 Atlético Mictlán 22 6 6 10 21 23 −2 24
9 Marquense 22 6 5 11 17 35 −18 23
10 Cobán Imperial 22 6 5 11 21 26 −5 23
11 Guastatoya 22 6 4 12 23 37 −14 22
12 Comunicaciones 22 5 5 12 15 26 −11 20
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals for; 4) Away goals for; 5) Matches won; 6) Away matches won; 7) Head-to-head results; 8) Fair play points; 9) Drawing of lots.

Results

Home \ Away ACH ANT ATM AUR COB COM GUA MAL MAR MIX MUN XEL
Achuapa 2–0 1–0 1–2 2–1 2–1 0–1 0–0 3–2 2–2 4–1
Antigua 1–0 2–0 1–2 0–0 3–1 3–1 3–0 2–1 1–1 2–1
Atlético Mictlán 1–0 1–2 4–0 1–0 1–0 2–3 2–2 1–1 0–0 0–0 2–1
Aurora 2–1 3–2 3–2 1–1 0–0 1–0 1–0 1–1 1–0 3–2
Cobán Imperial 2–2 2–2 2–0 3–1 2–1 0–1 3–0 0–1 0–1 2–1
Comunicaciones 2–0 0–3 2–0 0–2 1–0 2–2 1–0 3–0 0–1 0–0
Guastatoya 0–0 0–3 1–3 3–2 0–1 0–0 1–2 5–0 1–0 0–3 1–2
Malacateco 2–0 3–1 1–0 1–0 3–0 2–0 0–1 2–1 1–2 2–3 0–1
Marquense 0–0 3–2 1–0 1–1 1–0 1–0 0–2 4–1 1–2 1–0
Mixco 5–1 0–1 2–1 2–2 1–0 1–0 2–0 4–1 1–0 1–0 2–1
Municipal 3–0 2–1 1–0 2–1 3–1 1–1 3–0 4–1 3–0 3–1 1–1
Xelajú 0–0 0–2 0–0 2–2 3–1 3–0 5–0 3–0 3–1 1–2 1–1
Updated to match(es) played on 26 November 2025. Source:
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Aggregate table

The aggregate table is used to determine the third qualified team for the 2026 CONCACAF Central American Cup, besides the Apertura and Clausura champions, and the two relegated teams to the 2026–27 Primera División.[2]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Municipal 22 14 6 2 41 14 +27 48 Qualification for the CONCACAF Central American Cup
2 Mixco 22 14 2 6 33 20 +13 44
3 Antigua 22 13 3 6 39 23 +16 42
4 Aurora 22 11 6 5 31 28 +3 39
5 Malacateco 22 10 1 11 26 31 −5 31
6 Xelajú 22 8 4 10 32 29 +3 28
7 Achuapa 22 6 7 9 22 29 −7 25
8 Atlético Mictlán 22 6 6 10 21 23 −2 24
9 Marquense 22 6 5 11 17 35 −18 23
10 Cobán Imperial 22 6 5 11 21 26 −5 23
11 Guastatoya 22 6 4 12 23 37 −14 22 Relegation to Primera División
12 Comunicaciones 22 5 5 12 15 26 −11 20
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals for; 4) Away goals for; 5) Matches won; 6) Away matches won; 7) Head-to-head results; 8) Fair play points; 9) Drawing of lots.

List of foreign players

This is a list of foreign players in 2025-2026 season. The following players:

  1. have played at least one apertura game for the respective club.
  2. have not been capped for the Guatemala national football team on any level, independently from the birthplace.

A new rule was introduced a few season ago, that clubs can only have five foreign players per club and can only add a new player if there is an injury or player/s is released.

(player released beginning the Apertura season, Never played a game) (player released during the Apertura season) (player released between the Apertura and Clausura seasons) (player released during the Clausura season) (Injured and ruled out for the rest of the season) (player naturalized for the Clausura season) (player released beginning the Clausura season, Never played a game)

References

  1. ^ "Banrural se convierte en el orgulloso patrocinador de "La Liga Guate Banrural"" (in Spanish). CRN Noticias. 17 January 2023.
  2. ^ a b "2022 REGLAMENTO DE COMPETENCIA LNFG" (PDF). ligagt.org/ (in Spanish). Liga Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala. 7 July 2022 [Approved on 27 June 2022]. Retrieved 5 March 2023.