February 20, 2026, Georgetown— The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) officially launched its Elite League Cup 2026 on Saturday, February 14, 2026, at the GFF National Training Centre in Providence, East Bank Demerara.
The new senior men’s competition has been introduced to increase meaningful, high-level competitive opportunities for elite players and clubs, while also strengthening pathways for player development and national team selection. The launch ceremony was well attended by key stakeholders in Guyana’s football fraternity.
GFF President Wayne Forde underscored the strategic importance of the Elite League Cup, noting its role in raising competitive standards and expanding match exposure for players and clubs throughout the season. He reaffirmed the Federation’s commitment to creating structured, high-quality competitions that support sustainable football development.
“The Elite League Cup is the first of two new competitions being introduced to strengthen the evolving Elite League ecosystem. The true measure of success for this expanded structure will be reflected in the number of domestic players elevated to the Senior Men’s National Team. That is our clear objective, and we are intentionally building a more competitive match environment to achieve it.
However, this will not happen by chance, it will require deliberate commitment from the GFF, our clubs, and our players. Clubs must strive to establish and maintain professional standards, creating high-performance environments from the training ground to match day. Players, in turn, must commit to hard work in training, proper nutrition, rest, and recovery, in line with the demands of modern football.
If we align around these fundamental standards, the Elite League ecosystem will become a genuine and reliable pathway to the Senior Men’s National Team programme”.
Opening day action saw Guyana Defense Force Football Club (GDF FC) defeat Fruta Conquerors FC 5–0. In the final match of the evening, Guyana Police Force Football Club (GPF FC) started the game ruthlessly, with nine unanswered goals before the half time break. The match did not resume for the second half as Den Amstel FC did not to return to the field of play.
The inaugural Elite League Cup features nine (9) Elite League clubs, drawn into three groups of three for the round-robin phase. Following group play, teams will advance to the knockout stage, which will culminate in the semi-finals, third-place playoff, and championship final.
The tournament boasts a competitive prize structure, including cash awards, trophies, medals, and incentives for outstanding individual performances:
- 1st Place: GYD $1,000,000
- 2nd Place: GYD $700,000
- 3rd Place: GYD $500,000
- 4th Place: GYD $300,000
All matches will be played at the GFF National Training Centre, providing a centralized, professional environment that supports high-performance competition.
