The senior men’s national football team, Golden Jaguars, is expected to have two preparatory camps outside of Guyana leading up to their first match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on June 6 against Panama.
It understood that apart from the upcoming visit to Trinidad and Tobago, where the home-based Golden Jaguars will battle Trinidad’s Soca Warriors on May 13 and 15, there would be two camps for players in foreign conditions.
In a recent press engagement, Wayne Forde, President of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), informed of the overseas camps, but did not disclose precise details as negotiations were ongoing.
Given that the FIFA international window is from June 3 and the clash against Panama is three days after, the camps could likely be held later this month, meaning there could be more home-based players until the other players are released from international clubs.
Highlighting that many of the players are currently active within their respective leagues for much-needed “game time”, Forde indicated: “We are also planning international camps. We have two countries with which we are discussing camps. They [players] will go and have at least two-week camps and play a lot of games in preparation for what will be the toughest game against Panama.”
To add further context to the fixture, Panama is currently ranked 45th by FIFA, third in CONCACAF (behind Mexico and the USA), and qualified for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
“We have to bring our A-game, and I have confidence in the work Jamaal Shabazz has done. The Guyana Football Federation has proven for many years that we are not confined by our limitations and by our challenges,” Forde added.
Based on the schedule, Guyana has to host Belize on June 11, but that fixture will not be held in Guyana due to the lack of an appropriate venue.
“The unfortunate reality is that the entire campaign will be played outside of Guyana again, which is sad for the entire country, but we have no control over that. Our mind and focus is rigidly fixed that the team’s preparation is of the best level,” the GFF head added.
Belize is ranked 182nd by FIFA, while Guyana is at 154th and 19th in CONCACAF.
Guyana also has Group fixtures against Nicaragua (ranked 16th by CONCACAF) and Montserrat (ranked 23rd by CONCACAF).
Only the group winners and runners-up will advance to Qualifiers’ third and final round.
In the third round, the twelve teams advancing from the second round will be drawn into three groups of four teams.
They will play double round-robin home-and-away matches, with the three group winners qualifying for the World Cup.
The two best-ranked runners-up will advance to the inter-confederation playoffs.
