Liga Nacional (Guatemala)

Liga Nacional (Guatemala) (Liga Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala, Liga Guate) - the top professional club division in Guatemala’s league system under the Guatemala Football Federation (FEDEFUT). Regulations: the season is split into two tournaments - Apertura and Clausura, each played by 12 clubs with a round-robin regular phase followed by a playoff stage for the top 8. Points are awarded 3 for a win, 1 for a draw and 0 for a loss, and teams level on points are separated by head-to-head points among the tied clubs, then overall goal difference, overall goals scored and away goals scored. The playoff rounds are commonly played over two legs, the winner is decided on aggregate goals, and if still level after regulation time extra time is played and then penalties. Relegation is decided by the season aggregate table combining both tournaments, with the bottom two teams relegated to the Primera División. International qualification depends on CONCACAF allocation and the season rules, Guatemala has berths in the CONCACAF Central American Cup as a pathway into the CONCACAF Champions Cup, and in practice places are typically awarded to the Apertura and Clausura champions plus the best placed club in the aggregate table not yet qualified.