Liga Nacional de Guatemala
Liga Nacional de Guatemala, officially known as the Liga Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala, is the top professional league in the country.
Founded in 1919, it is home to historic clubs like Comunicaciones, Municipal, Xelajú, and Suchitepéquez.
History and facts
The Guatemalan top division is one of the oldest in Central America, founded in 1919. It transitioned to its modern professional format later in the 20th century.
As in many CONCACAF leagues, the competition uses the Apertura and Clausura model, crowning two champions each season.
The league is dominated by two giants: Comunicaciones and Municipal, whose rivalry is one of the fiercest in the region.
League system
Liga Nacional is the top tier of Guatemalan football.
Relegation is based on a multi-season points average, sending the lowest teams to the Primera División de Ascenso.
Table 1. Guatemalan football structure
| League | Tier |
|---|---|
| Liga Nacional | 1 |
| Primera División de Ascenso | 2 |
| Segunda División | 3 |
Lower divisions consist of regional and youth leagues.
Stats
Teams with most titles
Table 2. Liga Nacional champions by titles
| Club | Titles |
|---|---|
| Municipal | 31 |
| Comunicaciones | 30 |
| Xelajú MC | 6 |
| Suchitepéquez | 2 |
| Antigua GFC | 4 |
Municipal and Comunicaciones are the two giants, dominating nearly all championships.
Teams with most participation
Table 3. Clubs with most Liga Nacional seasons
| Club | Seasons |
|---|---|
| Municipal | 75+ |
| Comunicaciones | 70+ |
| Xelajú | 55+ |
| Suchitepéquez | 40+ |
| Guastatoya | 20+ |
Municipal and Comunicaciones have appeared in nearly every season of the modern era.
Audience
Stadium capacities
Table 4. Major stadiums in Guatemala
| Team | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Municipal | Estadio El Trébol | 10,000 |
| Comunicaciones | Estadio Cementos Progreso | 17,000 |
| Xelajú | Estadio Mario Camposeco | 11,220 |
| Antigua GFC | Estadio Pensativo | 10,000 |
| Guastatoya | Estadio David Cordón Hichos | 3,000 |
Players
Famous Guatemalan players
- Carlos Ruiz ("El Pescadito")
- Marco Pappa
- Dwight Pezzarossi
- José Contreras
- Gustavo Cabrera
- Juan Carlos Plata
Liga Nacional timeline
1919
Liga Nacional is founded.
1950s
Comunicaciones and Municipal begin their long rivalry.
1999
Apertura/Clausura format introduced.
2020
COVID-19 affects scheduling and competition.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liga_Nacional_de_Fútbol_de_Guatemala
https://fedefutguate.gt
https://www.rsssf.org
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liga_Nacional_de_Fútbol_de_Guatemala
https://fedefutguate.gt
https://www.rsssf.org
