Since 1982, Guatemala have endured the stigma of being the only one of Central America's traditional heavyweights never to have qualified for the FIFA World Cup™ finals. Their regional rivals El Salvador and Honduras have made three appearances at the game's marquee event between them, and every four years the Chapines cherish hopes of emulating them only for their dreams to turn to dust time and time again.

Disappointment was again the name of the game for Guatemala and their coach Ramon Maradiaga. After reaching the semi-final group stage of CONCACAF qualifying, they finished behind the USA and Trinidad and Tobago to miss out on the final 'hexagonal' round. They will now have to set their focus on Brazil 2014 in their hunt to reach a world finals.