Guatemala will face El Salvador in the 2026 Concacaf World Cup Qualifiers as the final round kicks off. Both teams aim to secure three points and gain early momentum in Group A. This opening match will set the tone for the competitive series ahead.
[Watch Guatemala vs El Salvador live in India on Fubo]
Guatemala ended the second round in second place in Group E, trailing Jamaica, with a total of nine points and just one defeat, a 3-0 loss to the group winners. The team is determined to bounce back and strive for qualification.
El Salvador also finished second in their group, concluding the round with a draw against Suriname. They finished with eight points, which included two wins and two draws, and are looking for a strong start in the final round.
Guatemala’s expected lineup vs El Salvador
For this match, the Guatemalan coach will keep the core team from the 2025 Gold Cup. Good news includes the return of Nicholas Hagen, Stheven Robles, and José Morales from injury. Additionally, Nathaniel Méndez-Laing rejoins the squad after missing the June matches for personal reasons.
Alejandro Galindo of Guatemala
Guatemala is set to line up as follows: Nicholas Hagen (goalkeeper), Aaron Herrera, José Pinto, Nicolás Samayoa, and José Morales (defenders); Stheven Robles, Jonathan Franco, Oscar Santis, Rudy Muñoz, and Olger Escobar (midfielders); with Rubio Rubín as the forward.
El Salvador’s expected lineup vs Guatemala
El Salvador’s coach, ‘Bolillo,’ seems ready to deploy the starting XI for the match at Estadio Cementos Progreso. Nathan Ordaz, a 21-year-old attacker from LAFC, is expected to lead the front line in this important opening game.
The predicted lineup for El Salvador is: Mario González; Bryan Tamacas, Julio Sibrián, Jorge Cruz, Alex Larin, Brayan Landaverde, Melvin Cartagena, Santos Ortiz; Nathan Ordaz, Jairo Henríquez, Brayan Gil.