Guyana ended the Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Championship on Tuesday evening, losing a third straight match in emphatic fashion, this time against Puerto Rico.
Competing in Group A in Costa Rica, Guyana lost 7-0 to the Puerto Ricans.
Unbeaten table-toppers USA and second place Costa Rica advanced to the semi-finals and earned their place in the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
Guyana’s campaign ended without a goal scored, losing 8-0 to the USA and 9-0 to host nation Costa Rica to finish bottom of the table, with Puerto Rico in third spot in the group.
Notably, Guyana was the only Caribbean nation to qualify for the Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Championship.
Reacting to the team’s performance, president of the Guyana Football Federation Wayne Forde hailed the bravery and trailblazing effort of the young ladies.
He lauded the resolve, skill and spirit of the Guyanese as they competed against footballing powerhouses like the United States, a four-time champions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
See below full statement by President of the Guyana Football Federation, Wayne Forde
Today, as your historic campaign in Costa Rica comes to a close, I write on behalf of the entire Guyana Football Federation and a grateful nation to express our immense pride and admiration for each of you.
You have etched your names into the history books as the only Caribbean nation to qualify for this year’s CONCACAF Women’s U-20 Championship, a remarkable feat that has inspired thousands and brought honour to Guyana.
You made our flag fly high, and our hearts soar with pride. We knew from the very beginning that this campaign would present formidable challenges.
Competing against footballing powerhouses like the United States – a four-time FIFA Women’s World Cup champion, and other nations supported by long-established professional academies, was always going to test our resolve, skill, and spirit.
And yet, you stood tall, played with courage, and embraced the moment with grace.
This tournament has been a sobering yet valuable measure of where we are as a footballing nation, and the steep demands required to reach and remain at the very summit of women’s football.
But it is precisely through experiences like these that we learn, grow and move forward stronger and wiser.
To the parents, the technical staff, our dedicated friends at the International Support Group (ISG), and the loyal fans who travelled to support the team, thank you. Your love, sacrifices, and unwavering encouragement have played an indispensable role in this journey.
The GFF remains steadfast in its commitment to creating more international opportunities for our female players. In just a few months, the most talented and disciplined U-14 girls from the Blue Water Secondary School Championship will proudly represent Guyana at the upcoming CFU U-14 Challenge Series.
And in July, we will re-launch the National Division One Women’s League, featuring 10 teams competing for over five months- yet another firm step in our journey of steady, meaningful growth.
To our Junior Lady Jags; keep your heads high.
You are pioneers, breaking new ground for generations of young girls who now believe that they, too, can dream big in football.
You have shown resilience, passion, and grace in the face of adversity. The road ahead is long, but because of you, it is brighter and full of possibility.
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