According to various embodiments, a system includes a fuel nozzle assembly. The fuel nozzle assembly includes a hub, a shroud disposed about the hub, a flow sleeve disposed about the shroud, and an air flow path extending between the flow sleeve and the shroud in an upstream direction toward an opening region between the shroud and the hub, wherein the air flow path extends between the hub and the shroud in a downstream direction from the opening region toward an outlet region of the fuel nozzle assembly. The fuel nozzle assembly also includes a fuel flow path extending to at least one fuel port along the air flow path, and a flow guide disposed along the air flow path in the opening region, wherein the flow guide includes a first guide portion configured to guide an air flow radially outward from the hub toward the shroud.