Gulf of Honduras Cup 2026 

Purpose:

The Gulf of Honduras Cup Tournament is focused on engaging fisherfolks in Belize, Guatemala and Honduras through sports.

1. The tournament is set to commence on June 6^th, 2026 and conclude on October 08^th of 2026 in Belize during TIDE’s Annual Conservation Festival.
2. The Organizing Committee for the Gulf of Honduras Cup Tournament shall present team trophies and individual medals to the team placing first, second and third in Belize at the Tri-National Finals.
3. First place Team shall receive 18 gold medals and First Place Trophy. The Second-place team shall receive 18 silver medals and a Second-Place trophy. The third place shall receive 18 bronze medals and a third-place trophy.
4. Individual prizes: Top Goal Scorer (Golden Boot) (player with highest number of goals scored) , Best Goalkeeper (Golden Glove) (Goalkeeper with least goals) , Best Forward  , Best Midfielder  , Best Defender. 
5. A monetary prize of US$1500, US$1000 and US$500 will be awarded by TIDE and the Tri-National Alliance for the Gulf of Honduras (TRIGOH) at the finals in Belize on October 8, 2026.
6. Team registration fee is not required but each team must address an environmental issue in their community for 6 months from May to October 2026 to qualify for the games. TIDE will support the implementation of the environmental project at US$500 to purchase project needs. Environmental project addressing an issue in their community from tree planting, environmental clean-up, signage, garbage receptables, among others. If the project isn’t completed at 70% status, teams can be disqualified from participating or may not receive their prize until their commitment is made.
7. Players should understand that The Referees decisions is/are FINAL.
8. All matches will be played under the Laws of the Game as approved by the International Football Association Board and published by FIFA.
9. Each match shall last 90 minutes, comprising two periods of forty-five (45) minutes with an interval of no more than fifteen (15) minutes between each period.

PLAYERS QUALIFYING:

Teams must be comprised of players as follows: 

1. Players must be a fisherfolk or relative of in the participating country.
2. Each team must register a maximum of eighteen (18) registered fisherfolk players and/or close relatives of. If a relative, a licence of the family member with a short note can be used to verify a non-fisher in participating.   
3. Players cannot transfer to another team during the tournament, but the qualifying team may choose to select five players from the previous teams before traveling to Belize for finals. All travel cost will be covered.
4. Deadline for registration of players shall be as on or before June 6th 2026.
5. Professional players can participate in this tournament but must be a registered fisherfolk.

ORGANIZATION OF THE COMPETITION: 

Single round robin (games – 3 months (12 weeks) 

Each team will get a chance to play against all the remaining teams participating in the tournament in a single round robin manner. TIDE with financial support from Mar Fund KfW will cover travel cost to participate.

Semi-Final Stage:

The top 2 teams will qualify for the semi-final stage of the tournament. It will be with competing teams playing each other for 90 minutes (penalty shootout if necessary, at the end of regulation time to decide a winner. 

Final Stage (2 games) 

One team will advance to the finals from each country. In Belize, it will be each finalist team playing each other ONLY once (penalty shootout, if necessary, at the end of regulation time to decide a winner.  TIDE will facilitate travel to Belize for all 3 finalists (Belize, Guatemala, Honduras).

The following format will be used: 

RESPONSIBILITIES OF TEAMS: 

1. HOST TEAM

The hosting obligations shall be determined by the home game schedule if applicable, and include: 

1. Provision of one pouch of water per club for all matches.
2. Provision of adequate security for all participants, referees, and match officials from arrival to departure.
3. Coordinate with match OC to prepare venue for match coordination meeting between match officials, security, team officials.
4. Instruct players to enter centre circle at conclusion of each match to shake hands with referees and opposing club players.
5. Club must ensure that they are at playing venue at least 1 hour before the scheduled game.

2. VISITING TEAM

The visiting Team’s Obligations shall be determined by the visiting game schedule if applicable, and include: 

• Submit travel cost in the form of an invoice to the OC Representative and keep communication from time of departure from home station until arrival at host venue.
• Attend match coordination meeting chaired by match commissioner/OC.
• Instruct players to enter centre circle at conclusion of each match to shake hands with referees and opposing team players.
• Team must ensure that they are at playing venue at least 1 hour before the scheduled game.

The GOHOC Executive Committee, whose decisions shall be final, will resolve matters not provided for in these Regulations.  

For the Executive Committee of the Gulf of Honduras tournament, this 15 day of  April, 2026.  

Federico Caal
611-2431
Education and Outreach Coordinator
TIDE