Guatemala celebrated a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Suriname on Matchday 6 of the Concacaf World Cup qualifiers at Estadio El Trébol in Guatemala City on November 18, 2025 — but the real story wasn’t on the scoreboard. While Guatemala lifted their spirits with three goals, it was Suriname that walked away with something far more valuable: a ticket to the FIFA Play-Off Tournament. The twist? A last-minute own goal by Guatemala’s Nicolás Samayoa, meant to salvage pride for Suriname, instead sealed their qualification on goal difference. It’s the kind of football irony that only Concacaf can deliver.
How Suriname Made History Without Winning
Suriname entered the final match with a perfect 2-3-0 record — two wins, three draws, no losses — and 9 points. They hadn’t lost a single game in the Final Round. But they didn’t need to. What they needed was to finish as one of the top two second-place teams across all three groups. And they did. With a +3 goal difference, Suriname edged out Jamaica (second in Group B with +2) and Trinidad and Tobago (second in Group C with 0) to claim one of the two coveted play-off spots. For a nation of just 600,000 people, this is unprecedented. The last time Suriname reached a World Cup play-off? 1986. And even then, they didn’t make it past the preliminary rounds.
“We knew we had to hold on,” said Sheraldo Becker, Suriname’s veteran winger who assisted the own goal. “We didn’t come here to win. We came here to survive. And we did.”
The Match: Guatemala’s Late Surge, Suriname’s Resilience
Guatemala, desperate to end their campaign on a high after a rocky 2-2-2 record, came out sharp. Darwin Lom opened the scoring in the 49th minute with a powerful header off a cross from Óscar Santis. By the 57th minute, Olger Escobar doubled the lead with a left-footed blast from the edge of the box — a strike that left Suriname’s goalkeeper, Warner Hahn, rooted to the spot.
Then came the dagger. In the 65th minute, Santis raced down the left flank, cut inside, and fired low past Hahn. It was 3-0. The crowd of 28,700 at Estadio El Trébol erupted. Guatemala, who hadn’t won a World Cup qualifier since 2013, seemed on the verge of a fairytale finale.
But football doesn’t always reward justice. In the 93rd minute, a cross from Becker found its way into the box. Samayoa, under pressure, tried to clear — and instead redirected the ball past his own keeper. The goal didn’t change the result, but it changed history. Suriname’s goal difference jumped from +2 to +3. Panama, the group winner, finished with 12 points. Guatemala? 8 points. Third place. Out.
Why This Matters Beyond the Table
For Suriname, this is more than a play-off berth. It’s validation. The country has struggled with funding, infrastructure, and even player retention — many of their best talents play in the Netherlands, where they hold dual citizenship. Yet here they are, competing for a spot in the 2026 World Cup alongside giants like the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
Meanwhile, Guatemala’s failure to qualify marks their third consecutive World Cup cycle without a finals appearance. Despite a strong generation of young players — Escobar, 23, and Lom, 24, are the future — their defensive frailties and inconsistency in crunch games cost them. “We had the chances,” said Rudy Muñoz, Guatemala’s captain. “We just didn’t have the luck. Or the goal difference.”
What Comes Next: The Play-Off Crucible
Suriname will now face one of the other five second-place teams from Concacaf’s Final Round in a two-legged play-off, likely in March 2026. The winner earns the 3.5th spot for the World Cup — meaning they’ll then face a team from another confederation in a final qualifier. The stakes? A chance to play in front of 120,000 fans at MetLife Stadium or the newly expanded Lumen Field.
“We’ve been here before,” said Suriname’s head coach, Ricardo Gomes, a former Brazilian international. “But this time, we’re not just hoping. We’re ready.”
The Bigger Picture: Concacaf’s Uneven Battlefield
The qualifiers exposed deep disparities. While Panama and the U.S. trained in world-class facilities, Haiti — forced to play all their home games abroad due to gang violence — had to fly to Jamaica, Costa Rica, and even the U.S. just to compete. Suriname, too, played most of their qualifiers on neutral grounds. Yet they outlasted teams with bigger budgets and more resources. That’s the beauty — and the brutality — of Concacaf football.
El Salvador finished last with just 3 points, their worst qualifying campaign in a decade. Meanwhile, Canada and the U.S. are already locked into the World Cup. But for Suriname, this is the dream they’ve chased since the 1980s. And now, they’re one win away from making it real.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Suriname qualify for the play-off despite losing to Guatemala?
Suriname finished second in Group A with 9 points and a +3 goal difference — better than the second-place teams in Groups B and C. Only the two best second-place teams advance, and Suriname’s superior goal difference edged out Jamaica (+2) and Trinidad and Tobago (0). Even though they lost the final match, their overall consistency across six games kept them alive.
What’s the significance of the FIFA Play-Off Tournament for Suriname?
This is Suriname’s first World Cup play-off appearance since 1986. They’ve never qualified for the finals. The play-off gives them a realistic shot at reaching the 2026 World Cup — a tournament hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. For a nation with limited resources and a diaspora-heavy squad, this is historic. Winning would mean national celebration unlike anything since independence in 1975.
Why did Guatemala fail to qualify despite winning their final match?
Guatemala finished third with 8 points and a +1 goal difference — just one point behind Suriname and one goal behind in the differential. Their losses to Panama and El Salvador, combined with a draw against Suriname in October, left them unable to catch the top two. Winning the final match wasn’t enough; they needed to win by at least two goals and hope Suriname lost — which didn’t happen.
Who are the other teams in the FIFA Play-Off Tournament?
The five other second-place teams are Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Honduras, Costa Rica, and Haiti. Suriname will face one of them in a two-legged tie. The draw hasn’t been made yet, but it will happen in early December. The top two winners from these ties will advance to a final inter-confederation play-off against teams from Asia, Africa, or South America.
What does this mean for Guatemala’s future in Concacaf football?
Guatemala’s failure highlights a growing crisis: a lack of tactical development and inconsistent leadership. While they have promising young talent like Escobar and Lom, their coaching staff has rotated too often. Many fans are now calling for structural reform, including a national youth academy and better funding. Without changes, they risk becoming perennial also-rans — even as neighbors like Canada and Jamaica surge ahead.
How did the own goal affect Suriname’s qualification?
The own goal by Nicolás Samayoa was crucial. Before it, Suriname had a +2 goal difference. The goal pushed it to +3, giving them the edge over Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. Had the goal not happened, Suriname would have finished third in the group and been eliminated. It was a cruel twist for Guatemala — but a lifeline for Suriname.