Eight Elite League Clubs secure Concacaf Club Licences for 2026/2027 Season

Aug 17, 2026 Sports

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Kaieteur Sports – Eight clubs participating in the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Elite League have achieved a significant milestone in the professionalization and development of club football in Guyana, securing Concacaf Club Licences for the 2026/2027 season.

Six clubs fulfilled the Concacaf Domestic Club Administration Standards and were awarded the Concacaf Domestic Club Licence, demonstrating compliance with the required administrative and operational criteria for domestic competition. The six clubs are Santos Football Club, Western Tigers Football Club, Den Amstel Football Club, Ann’s Grove United Football Club, Fruta Conquerors Football Club, and Guyana Police Force Football Club.

Meanwhile, Slingerz Football Club and Guyana Defence Force Football Club successfully met the higher Concacaf Regional Club Licensing Standard and were awarded both the Concacaf Regional Club Licence and the Concacaf Domestic Club Licence.

The achievement represents an important step forward for Guyana’s club football landscape and reflects the growing commitment of the GFF and its Elite League clubs to establishing stronger systems of governance, administration, sporting development and financial sustainability.

The Concacaf Club Licensing Programme is a comprehensive framework designed to strengthen the professionalism, governance, sustainability and overall quality of football clubs across the region. It establishes clear minimum standards in key areas including sporting development, infrastructure, club administration and personnel, financial management, legal compliance and social responsibility.

While licensing is a requirement for clubs seeking to participate in Concacaf competitions, its broader purpose is to drive continuous improvement in club operations and development. Through the programme, Concacaf and its Member Associations are helping clubs build stronger structures, improve standards and create a more professional, sustainable and competitive football environment across the region.

Over the past two years, the GFF, with the close support, technical guidance and expertise of Concacaf, has worked extensively alongside the Elite League clubs to strengthen their administrative and operational structures and guide them through the demanding club licensing process.

The process has required clubs to examine and improve critical areas of their operations, including governance and decision-making structures, financial administration, legal compliance, sporting programmes, infrastructure, personnel and safeguarding. The eight successful clubs have demonstrated their willingness to embrace these standards and take meaningful steps towards a more professional approach to club management.

GFF President Wayne Forde said the achievement fulfils an important objective established at the beginning of the 2025 Elite League season and should be viewed as the foundation for a much broader transformation of club football in Guyana.

“I must commend the clubs for their dedication and commitment throughout what was a very challenging process. I must also commend our administration staff for going above and beyond to support the clubs. I share this proud moment with the clubs, but I want to remind them that this is not the end; rather, it is the beginning of cultivating a professional culture within their operations.”

President Forde said the achievement must also be viewed within the wider context of the traditional reliance on volunteerism across Guyana’s football ecosystem.

“At the club level, football in Guyana has been heavily dependent on volunteerism. Good people, with the best of intentions, heart and passion, continue to sacrifice for the good of the game. We are grateful for that contribution. However, this has also allowed an amateur environment to prevail, and that environment is no longer aligned with the direction of the regional game.”

He added that the GFF is now developing an ambitious programme to support clubs and Regional Associations as they begin the transition towards more professional management and administration.

“The GFF is therefore working on an ambitious plan to resource clubs and Regional Associations and to help them take their first meaningful steps towards professionalizing the management and administration of the game. The progress we are celebrating today with the Elite League clubs must ultimately become the standard across Guyana.”

Taking Club Licensing Across Guyana

Building on the experience gained through the Elite League licensing process, the GFF will now move to introduce a Domestic Club Licensing Programme across all nine Regional Associations.

The programme will be accompanied by meaningful incentives designed to encourage Regional Association clubs and their Executive Committees to strengthen governance, improve administrative systems, enhance financial management and cultivate a culture of professionalism and accountability.

The GFF believes that stronger clubs are fundamental to the long-term development of football in Guyana. Professional administration creates the platform from which clubs can better develop players and coaches, attract and manage resources, build stronger relationships with sponsors and communities, and ultimately compete at a higher level.

The successful licensing of eight Elite League clubs therefore represents more than an administrative achievement. It is an important indication of the direction in which Guyana football is moving.

The GFF extends its congratulations to all eight licensed clubs and recognizes the commitment of their executives, administrators, technical personnel and volunteers, as well as the work of the GFF Secretariat and the continued support and guidance provided by Concacaf.

The Federation remains committed to building a football ecosystem in which good governance, professional administration, sporting excellence and sustainable club development become the standard at every level of the game.

Guyana football is moving forward and the professionalization of its clubs is an important part of that journey.

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• Concacaf Club Licences, Elite League, GFF

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