2025 CONCACAF Central American Cup

Last updated
2025 CONCACAF Central American Cup
Tournament details
Dates29 July – 4 December
Teams20 (from 7 associations)
2024
2026

The 2025 CONCACAF Central American Cup is the third edition of the CONCACAF Central American Cup, the first-tier annual international club football competition in the Central American region, contested by clubs whose football associations are affiliated with the Central American Football Union (UNCAF), a sub-confederation of CONCACAF.

Contents

The winners of the 2025 CONCACAF Central American Cup will qualify directly for the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16, while the second through sixth place teams will qualify to Round One of the same competition. [1]

Teams

Twenty teams from the seven UNCAF member associations qualified for the tournament based on results from their domestic leagues. [2] [3] Eighteen slots were predetermined by CONCACAF while the remaining two slots were again granted to Costa Rica and Nicaragua as the national associations whose clubs were finalists in the previous edition of the tournament. [4] [5] The slot allocation for this edition was as follows:

AssociationTeamQualifying method
Flag of Belize.svg  Belize (1 berth) Verdes 2024–25 Premier League tournament champions (2025 Closing) with better record in aggregate table. [6]
Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica
(4 berths)
Herediano 2024–25 Liga FPD Apertura and Clausura champions [7]
Alajuelense 2024–25 Liga FPD aggregate table best team not yet qualified [7]
Saprissa 2024–25 Liga FPD aggregate table second-best team not yet qualified [7]
Cartaginés 2024–25 Liga FPD aggregate table third-best team not yet qualified [7]
Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador
(3 berths)
Hércules [note 1] 2024–25 Primera División Apertura champions [8]
Alianza 2024–25 Primera División Clausura champions [8]
Águila 2024–25 Primera División aggregate table best team not yet qualified [8]
Flag of Guatemala.svg  Guatemala
(3 berths)
Xelajú 2024–25 Liga Nacional Torneo Apertura champions [9]
Antigua 2024–25 Liga Nacional Torneo Clausura champions [9]
Municipal 2024–25 Liga Nacional aggregate table best team not yet qualified [9]
Flag of Honduras (2022-).svg  Honduras
(3 berths)
Motagua 2024–25 Honduran Liga Nacional Apertura champions [10] [4]
Olimpia 2024–25 Honduran Liga Nacional Clausura champions [10] [4]
Real España 2024–25 Honduran Liga Nacional aggregate table best team not yet qualified [10] [4]
Flag of Nicaragua.svg  Nicaragua
(3 berths)
Diriangén 2024–25 Liga Primera Apertura champions [11] [12]
Managua 2024–25 Liga Primera Clausura champions [11] [12]
Real Estelí 2024–25 Liga Primera aggregate table best team not yet qualified [11] [12]
Flag of Panama.svg  Panama
(3 berths)
Independiente 2024 Liga Panameña Torneo Clausura champions [13] [14]
Plaza Amador 2025 Liga Panameña Torneo Apertura champions [13] [14]
Sporting San Miguelito 2024 Liga Panameña Torneo Clausura and 2025 Liga Panameña Torneo Apertura aggregate table best team not yet qualified [13] [14]

Draw

The draw for the group stage was held on 8 June 2023, 18:30 EDT (UTC−4), in Miami, Florida, United States. The 20 involved teams were previously seeded into five pots of four teams each based on their CONCACAF Club Ranking as of 2 June 2025. [3] [15]

Pot 1
TeamRank
Flag of Costa Rica.svg Herediano 40
Flag of Costa Rica.svg Alajuelense 46
Flag of Honduras (2022-).svg Olimpia 48
Flag of Costa Rica.svg Saprissa 52
Pot 2
TeamRank
Flag of Guatemala.svg Antigua 54
Flag of Honduras (2022-).svg Motagua 55
Flag of Guatemala.svg Municipal 56
Flag of Guatemala.svg Xelajú 60
Pot 3
TeamRank
Flag of Panama.svg Plaza Amador 61
Flag of Costa Rica.svg Cartaginés 62
Flag of Honduras (2022-).svg Real España 63
Flag of Nicaragua.svg Real Estelí 66
Pot 4
TeamRank
Flag of Panama.svg Independiente 68
Flag of Panama.svg Sporting San Miguelito 74
Flag of El Salvador.svg Águila 83
Flag of El Salvador.svg Alianza 88
Pot 5
TeamRank
Flag of Nicaragua.svg Diriangén 96
Flag of Nicaragua.svg Managua 121
Flag of El Salvador.svg Hércules 137
Flag of Belize.svg Verdes 186

For the group stage, the 20 teams were drawn into four groups (Groups A–D) of five containing a team from each of the five pots. Teams from pot 1 were drawn first and were placed in the first position of their group, starting from Group A to Group D. The same procedure was followed for teams from pots 2, 3, 4 and 5, and they were placed in positions 2, 3, 4 and 5, respectively, within the group to which they were drawn. Each group must contain no more than two clubs from the same national association. [3]

Schedule

The schedule of the competition is as follows. [1]

StageRoundFirst legSecond leg
Group StageMatchday 129–31 July
Matchday 25–7 August
Matchday 312–14 August
Matchday 419–21 August
Matchday 526–28 August
KnockoutQuarterfinals23–25 September30 September – 2 October
Semifinals and play-in21–23 October28–30 October
Finals25–27 November2–4 December

Group stage

In the group stage, each group is played on a single home-and-away round-robin basis, with teams playing against each other once, for a total of four matches per team (two home and two away). The winners and runners-up of each group advanced to the quarter-finals of the knockout stage.

Group A

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification PLA ALA ANT ALI MAN
1 Flag of Panama.svg Plaza Amador 4400116+512Advance to Quarter-finals 1–0 3–2
2 Flag of Costa Rica.svg Alajuelense 430153+29 1–2 1–0
3 Flag of Guatemala.svg Antigua 41127704 3–5 0–0
4 Flag of El Salvador.svg Alianza 41121214 0–1 1–0
5 Flag of Nicaragua.svg Managua 400441060 1–2 1–4
Source: CONCACAF
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head results (points, goal difference, goals scored); 5) Fair play points; 6) Drawing of lots.

Group B

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification SSM MUN DIR HER RES
1 Flag of Panama.svg Sporting San Miguelito (A)321041+37Advance to Quarter-finals 2–1 2–0
2 Flag of Guatemala.svg Municipal 312043+15 1–1 2–1
3 Flag of Nicaragua.svg Diriangén (E)41125504 1–1 4–2
4 Flag of Costa Rica.svg Herediano 31026823 28 Aug 4–2
5 Flag of Honduras (2022-).svg Real España 31024623 28 Aug 1–0
Updated to match(es) played on 21 August 2025. Source: CONCACAF
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head results (points, goal difference, goals scored); 5) Fair play points; 6) Drawing of lots.
(A) Advance to a further round; (E) Eliminated

Group C

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification MOT CAR SAP CAI VER
1 Flag of Honduras (2022-).svg Motagua 422062+48Advance to Quarter-finals 0–0 2–1
2 Flag of Costa Rica.svg Cartaginés 4211123+97 4–0 8–1
3 Flag of Costa Rica.svg Saprissa 421142+27 0–0 2–0
4 Flag of Panama.svg Independiente 42025726 1–0 3–1
5 Flag of Belize.svg Verdes 4004417130 1–4 1–2
Source: CONCACAF
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head results (points, goal difference, goals scored); 5) Fair play points; 6) Drawing of lots.

Group D

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification OLI XEL EST ÁGU HER
1 Flag of Honduras (2022-).svg Olimpia 4310113+810Advance to Quarter-finals 3–0 3–0
2 Flag of Guatemala.svg Xelajú 430194+59 4–1 3–0
3 Flag of Nicaragua.svg Real Estelí 42026716 2–0 3–0
4 Flag of El Salvador.svg Águila 41124734 2–2 2–0
5 Flag of El Salvador.svg Hércules 400411090 1–3 0–2
Source: CONCACAF
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head results (points, goal difference, goals scored); 5) Fair play points; 6) Drawing of lots.

Knockout stage

The knockout stage will be played on a single-elimination tournament with the following rules: [2]

Qualified teams

GroupWinnersRunners-upQualified (Position TBD)
A Flag of Panama.svg Plaza Amador Flag of Costa Rica.svg Alajuelense
B Flag of Panama.svg Sporting San Miguelito
C Flag of Honduras (2022-).svg Motagua Flag of Costa Rica.svg Cartaginés
D Flag of Honduras (2022-).svg Olimpia Flag of Guatemala.svg Xelajú

Seeding

Teams will be seeded 1–8 based on results in the group stage and assigned a position in a fixed bracket. For example, the first semi-final will be contested between the winner of the 1 vs. 8 quarter-final and the winner of the 4 vs. 5 quarter-final. For each round, the host of the second leg will be determined based on performance in all previous rounds, including the group stage.

The following was the seeding for the quarter-finals round only: [16]

SeedGrpTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsMatchups
1 A Flag of Panama.svg Plaza Amador (Y)4400116+512Match QF1
2 D Flag of Honduras (2022-).svg Olimpia (X)4310113+810Match QF3
3 C Flag of Honduras (2022-).svg Motagua (X)422062+48Match QF4
4 B Flag of Panama.svg Sporting San Miguelito (Y)321041+37Match QF2
5 D Flag of Guatemala.svg Xelajú (Z)430194+59Match QF2
6 A Flag of Costa Rica.svg Alajuelense (Z)430153+29Match QF4
7 C Flag of Costa Rica.svg Cartaginés (Z)4211123+97Match QF3
8 B Flag placeholder.svg00000000Match QF1
Updated to match(es) played on 27 August 2025. Source: CONCACAF
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Away goals scored; 5) Wins; 6) Away wins; 7) Disciplinary points (1 point for yellow card, 3 points for second yellow card/indirect red card, 4 points for direct red card, 5 points for yellow card and direct red card); 8) Drawing of lots (Regulations Article 12.11.4). [2]
(X) Will finish as group winners; (Y) May finish as group winners or runners-up; (Z) Will finish as group runners-up

Bracket

The bracket was decided based on the quarter-finals seeding.

Play-in Quarter-finals Semi-finals Finals
7Flag placeholder.svg Team seeded 7
2Flag placeholder.svg Team seeded 2
Flag placeholder.svg Loser QF1/QF2 [†] Flag placeholder.svg Winner QF1/QF2 [†]
Flag placeholder.svg Loser QF2/QF1 [†] 'Flag placeholder.svg Winner QF2/QF1 [†]
6 Flag of Costa Rica.svg Alajuelense
3Flag placeholder.svg Team seeded 3
Flag placeholder.svg SF1/SF2 [†]
Flag placeholder.svg SF2/SF1 [†]
5 Flag of Guatemala.svg Xelajú
4Flag placeholder.svg Team seeded 4
Flag placeholder.svg Loser QF3/QF4 [†] Flag placeholder.svg Winner QF3/QF4 [†]
Flag placeholder.svg Loser QF4/QF3 [†] Flag placeholder.svg Winner QF4/QF3 [†]
8Flag placeholder.svg Team seeded 8
1 Flag of Panama.svg Plaza Amador
  1. Order of legs to be decided, with the higher-ranked team in each tie hosting the second leg.

Quarter-finals

Team 1 Agg. Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
Team seeded 8QF1 Flag of Panama.svg   Plaza Amador 23–25 Sep 30 Sep – 2 Oct
Xelajú   Flag of Guatemala.svg QF2Team seeded 4 23–25 Sep 30 Sep – 2 Oct
Team seeded 7QF3Team seeded 2 23–25 Sep 30 Sep – 2 Oct
Alajuelense   Flag of Costa Rica.svg QF4Team seeded 3 23–25 Sep 30 Sep – 2 Oct

Play-in

Team 1 Agg. Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
Loser QF1/QF2PI1Loser QF2/QF1 21–23 Oct 28–30 Oct
Loser QF3/QF4PI2Loser QF4/QF3 21–23 Oct 28–30 Oct

Semi-finals

Team 1 Agg. Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
Winner QF1/QF2SF1Winner QF2/QF1 21–23 Oct 28–30 Oct
Winner QF3/QF4SF2Winner QF4/QF3 21–23 Oct 28–30 Oct

Finals

Team 1 Agg. Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
Winner SF1/SF2FWinner SF2/SF1 25–27 Nov 2–4 Dec

Top goalscorers

  Team eliminated for this round.
  Team inactive for this round.
As of 26 August 2025
RankPlayerTeamGS1GS2GS3GS4GS5QF1QF2PI1PI2SF1SF2F1F2Total
1 Flag of Costa Rica.svg Johan Venegas Flag of Costa Rica.svg Cartaginés 325
2 Flag of Costa Rica.svg Marco Ureña Flag of Costa Rica.svg Cartaginés 314
3 Flag of Nicaragua.svg Junior Arteaga Flag of Nicaragua.svg Diriangén 1113
Flag of Paraguay.svg Pedro Báez Flag of Guatemala.svg Xelajú 111
Flag of Honduras (2022-).svg Jorge Benguché Flag of Honduras (2022-).svg Olimpia 11
Flag of Paraguay.svg Mauro Caballero Flag of Nicaragua.svg Águila 21
Flag of Panama.svg Everardo Rose Flag of Panama.svg Plaza Amador 111
Flag of Panama.svg Jorlian Sánchez Flag of Panama.svg Plaza Amador 21
9 Flag of Argentina.svg Francisco Apaolaza Flag of Guatemala.svg Antigua 22
Flag of Honduras (2022-).svg Jerry Bengtson Flag of Honduras (2022-).svg Olimpia 11
Flag of Paraguay.svg Renzo Carballo Flag of Nicaragua.svg Diriangén 2
Flag of Cuba.svg Marcel Hernández Flag of Costa Rica.svg Herediano 11
Flag of Costa Rica.svg Diego Mesén Flag of Costa Rica.svg Cartaginés 2
Flag of Costa Rica.svg Jurguens Montenegro Flag of Costa Rica.svg Herediano 11
Flag of Panama.svg Yoameth Murillo Flag of Panama.svg Plaza Amador 11
Flag of Brazil.svg Gustavo Souza Flag of Honduras (2022-).svg Real España 2
Flag of Panama.svg Ángel Valverde Flag of Panama.svg Independiente 11
Flag of Argentina.svg Mauro Verón Flag of Nicaragua.svg Managua 2

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Concacaf confirms key details for 2025 Concacaf Central American Cup". Miami, FL: CONCACAF. 7 May 2025. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 "CONCACAF Central American Cup 2025 Regulations" (PDF). CONCACAF. 21 April 2025 [Approved on 13 March 2025]. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 "Concacaf confirms 2025 Concacaf Central American Cup participating clubs and draw pots". Miami, FL: CONCACAF. 2 June 2025. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Palma, Antoni (5 January 2025). "Se confirma cuántos cupos tendrá Honduras para la Copa Centroamericana 2025" [It is confirmed how many slots Honduras will have for the 2025 Central American Cup] (in Spanish). Canal Deportes TVC.
  5. Torres, Francisco (27 November 2024). "¿Peligra El Salvador? ¿Qué pasaría con sus cupos si el Estelí gana la Copa Centroamericana?" [What would happen to El Salvador's quota if Esteli wins the Central American Cup?] (in Spanish). El Gráfico.
  6. Morales Iglesias, Rubén (30 April 2025). "Premier League of Belize: 2024-2025 Closing Champions Verdes secure Concacaf Central American Cup spot". Breaking Belize News.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Normas de Competición Liga Promerica Temporada 2024 – 2025" (PDF) (in Spanish). UNAFUT. 17 July 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
  8. 1 2 3 Recinos, Raúl (24 December 2024). "¿Quiénes acompañarán al 11 Deportivo a la Copa Centroamericana 2025?" [Who will accompany the 11 Deportivo to the 2025 Central American Cup?] (in Spanish). Diario El Salvador.
  9. 1 2 3 Ordóñez, Oscar (24 December 2024). "Copa Centroamericana: ¿Cómo está la clasificación de los clubes guatemaltecos a la edición del 2025?" [Central American Cup: How are Guatemalan clubs qualifying for the 2025 edition?] (in Spanish). Prensa Libre.
  10. 1 2 3 "BASES DEL TORNEO DE APERTURA Y CLAUSURA TEMPORADA 2024-2025 DE LA LIGA NACIONAL DE FUTBOL PROFESIONAL DE PRIMERA DIVISIÓN DE HONDURAS" (PDF) (in Spanish). Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional de Honduras. 22 June 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  11. 1 2 3 "Los tres equipos que representarán a Nicaragua en la Copa Centroamericana 2025" [The three teams that will represent Nicaragua in the 2025 Central American Cup] (in Spanish). La Prensa. 18 April 2025.
  12. 1 2 3 Rayo, Fernando (11 May 2025). "Listos los tres clubes Nicaragua para Copa Centroamericana 2025" [Three Nicaraguan clubs ready for 2025 Central American Cup] (in Spanish). TN8.
  13. 1 2 3 "REGLAMENTO DE COMPETENCIAS TEMPORADA 2024" (PDF). lpf.com.pa (in Spanish). Liga Panameña de Fútbol. 14 March 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  14. 1 2 3 "REGLAMENTO DE COMPETENCIAS TEMPORADA 2025" (PDF). lpf.com.pa (in Spanish). Liga Panameña de Fútbol. 12 December 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  15. "Concacaf Club Ranking as of June 2, 2025". CONCACAF. 2 June 2025. Retrieved 2 June 2025.

Notes

  1. Originally, Once Deportivo was going to participate. However, the team disbanded due to purchase of the category and change of venue.