Guatemalan football league opens with 35 foreign players, introduces FVS technology

Guatemala's National Football League kicks off its Apertura 2026 season this Friday, featuring a diverse international roster of 35 foreign players spread across its 12 clubs. Mexican players lead the foreign contingent with 10 signings, while 7 Colombians also join the league.

The league champions, Municipal, will face Deportivo Mixco in the opening match. Another Friday fixture will see Antigua host Marquense. Marquense has notably signed Spanish forward Francisco David Grande Serrano, 35, who previously played for Mensajero in Spain's fifth division. He replaces Uruguayan Diego Casas, who has moved to Xelajú.

Newly promoted San Pedro will make their debut on Saturday against Xelajú, having signed players from Cuba, Ecuador, Panama, and Colombia. Other opening weekend matches include Aurora vs. Guastatoya and Malacateco vs. Cobán Imperial, with Comunicaciones closing the first round against fellow promoted side Suchitepéquez on Sunday.

In a significant technological advancement, the Football Video Support (FVS) system, a FIFA-developed alternative to VAR, will be used for the first time in Guatemalan league history. This system is designed for competitions that lack the infrastructure for full VAR implementation and was previously utilized in the 2021 Futsal World Cup.