The Republic of Guatemala is a Central American country that is bordered by Mexico, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador and just like most of Central America, football is the most popular sport. The sport is governed by the Federacion Nacional de Futbol de Guatemala.

Guatemala has also hosted the Central American Games in 1950 as well as the Caribbean Games which was organized in 1924.

Guatemala also sends athletes to the Pan American Games and to the Olympic Summer Games since 1952, but then missed the next three Summer Games. They then joined the 1968 Games and have been competing ever since. Guatemala is also one of the few tropical countries that have participated in the Winter Olympic Games (1988).

"Guatemala's participation in both Summer and Winter Olympics demonstrates the country's commitment to athletic excellence across diverse sporting disciplines, despite being a tropical nation."
— Robert J. Wood, PhD, Founder of Topend Sports

Erick Barrondo won Guatemala's very first Olympic medal when he took the silver in the men's 20km walk for his 1:18:57 losing to Chen Ding of China by only 11 seconds at the 2012 Summer Games held in London. Other Guatemalans who have made an impact in sports includes Ten Hendricks (NFL player) and Carlos "El Pescadito" Ruis who is Major League Soccer player and a former MVP (Most Valuable Player)

Below are details of sports, sporting events and sports people related to Guatemala. Is there something missing? If you know of something that should be listed here, please let us know.

Popular sports of Guatemala

  • Football (Soccer)
  • Pelota Vasca
  • Basketball
  • Volleyball
  • Baseball
  • Handball
  • Racquetball
  • Cycling
  • Hiking
  • Swimming

Guatemala Sporting Success

  • In 1967, the Guatemala National Football (Los Chapines) won the CONCACAF Championship.
  • Erick Barrondo won the silver medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
  • Jean Pierre Brol won the bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
  • Adriana Ruano Olivia won the first gold medal for Guatemala at the Paris Olympics in 2024.

💡 Pro Tip: Guatemala's Olympic success in race walking and shooting demonstrates that smaller nations can excel in specialized athletic disciplines with focused training and dedication.

Great athletes from Guatemala

  • Ten Hendricks (NFL player)
  • Carlos "El Pescadito" Ruis (Soccer)
  • Erick Barrondo (Race walking)
  • Ricardo Mayorga (Boxing)
  • Gerson Lopez (Swimming)

Guatemala Sports trivia

  • Guatemala is also one of the few tropical countries that have participated in the Winter Olympic Games (1988).

Guatemala at major events

Past sporting events hosted in Guatemala

Annual sporting events held in Guatemala

  • The National Soccer Championship - This event is held every year in May and June.
  • The National Basketball Championship - This event is held every year in April and May.
  • The National Volleyball Championship - This event is held annually in April and May.
  • The National Athletics Championship - It is held annually in March and April. This event is the most important athletics event in the country, and it is attended by thousands of people.
  • The National Swimming Championship - This tournament is the most important swimming event in the country, and it is held annually in February and March.
  • The National Cycling Championship - This event is held annually in January and February.
  • The National Wrestling Championship - This event is held annually in December and January.

Sporting Facilities in Guatemala

Guatemala features various sporting facilities including the Estadio Doroteo Guamuch Flores (national football stadium) and numerous regional sports complexes that support the country's athletic development programs.