Nicaragua vs Guyana

Nicaragua will kick off their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign again, aiming to advance to the third round as they face Guyana at Estadio Nacional de Futbol.

Leading Group D with six points from their first two matches, the Blue and White hold a strong position, while Guyana, with three points, sit third in the group.

Nicaragua are riding high after a dominant 4-1 win against Montserrat and a 4-0 rout of Belize in their earlier qualifiers. With a three-goal advantage over second-placed Panama, a win here could secure their spot in the final round with a game to spare.

However, recent performances have raised some concerns. Since their 3-2 victory over French Guiana in the Nations League last December, Nicaragua have struggled, suffering consecutive 1-0 losses to Guadeloupe in Gold Cup qualifiers in March and managing only a 1-1 draw against Puerto Rico in a recent friendly.

This match marks the first-ever clash with Guyana, and after breaking their losing streak, Nicaragua will be eager to deliver a strong showing to confirm their progression.

Meanwhile, Guyana have been inactive since March, when a 2-0 loss to Guatemala ended their Gold Cup hopes, resulting in a 4-3 aggregate defeat. That setback halted a three-game winning streak and marked only the second time in eight matches that Wayne Dover’s team failed to score.

Their previous goalless outing was in the World Cup qualifying opener against Panama last June, but they bounced back with a 3-1 win over Belize just days later, keeping their campaign alive.

While Guyana have been prolific in attack, netting 20 goals in their last nine matches, their defense has been less convincing, conceding 22 goals in the same period—a vulnerability that could trouble Dover as they approach this pivotal match.