CONCACAF Central American Cup

Last updated

CONCACAF Central American Cup
CONCACAF Central American Cup logo.png
Organizer(s) UNCAF
CONCACAF
Founded2023;3 years ago (2023)
Region Central America
Teams20
Qualifier for CONCACAF Champions Cup
Related competitions CONCACAF Caribbean Cup
Leagues Cup
Current champion(s) Flag of Costa Rica.svg Alajuelense
(3rd title)
Most championships Flag of Costa Rica.svg Alajuelense
(3 titles)
BroadcasterCONCACAF (YouTube)
Website Official website
Soccerball current event.svg 2025 CONCACAF Central American Cup

The CONCACAF Central American Cup (Spanish : Copa Centroamericana de CONCACAF) is an international association football competition organized by CONCACAF as its top regional tournament for clubs from Central America. It serves as a qualification method for the CONCACAF Champions Cup. [1]

Contents

Alajuelense is the only champion in the tournament's history, winning all three editions played so far. [2]

History

On 21 September 2021, CONCACAF announced plans for an expansion of the CONCACAF Champions League tournament from 16 to 27 teams beginning in 2024. As part of the restructuring, regional qualification tournaments will be held for teams from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean beginning in 2023. The CONCACAF Central American Cup will replace CONCACAF League as the sole method of qualification to CONCACAF Champions Cup for teams from Central America. [3]

Competition format

The tournament will be structured into a group phase and a knockout phase. During the group phase, the 20 teams will be split into four groups of five. Teams will play one game against each team in their group and the top two teams in each group will advance to the knockout phase. The knockout phase will consist of four rounds plus a play-in round for the losers of the quarterfinals. [4]

The two play-in round and four quarterfinal winners qualify for the CONCACAF Champions Cup. The Central American Cup winner will receive a first round bye and advance directly to the Champions Cup Round of 16 while the other qualifying teams enter Round One. [4]

Qualification

A total of 20 teams representing all seven Central American Football Union members will qualify based on the results of their domestic league seasons. [4] The qualification criteria for 18 of the berths is as follows:

NationLeagueParticipants
Flag of Costa Rica.svg Costa Rica Liga FPD 3 clubs
Flag of El Salvador.svg El Salvador Primera División de Fútbol de El Salvador 3 clubs
Flag of Guatemala.svg Guatemala Liga Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala 3 clubs
Flag of Honduras (2022-present).svg Honduras Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional de Honduras 3 clubs
Flag of Panama.svg Panama Liga Panameña de Fútbol 3 clubs
Flag of Nicaragua.svg Nicaragua Liga Primera de Nicaragua 2 clubs
Flag of Belize.svg Belize Premier League of Belize 1 club

For the 2023 edition, Costa Rica and Honduras were awarded an extra slot by having clubs that reached the finals of the 2022 CONCACAF League. [5] For the 2024 edition, Costa Rica and Nicaragua were awarded an extra slot by having clubs that reached the finals of the 2023 CONCACAF Central American Cup. [6]

Results

YearChampionsResultsRunners-upVenue
2023 Flag of Costa Rica.svg Alajuelense 3–0 Flag of Nicaragua.svg Real Estelí Flag of Nicaragua.svg Estadio Independencia, Estelí
1–1 Flag of Costa Rica.svg Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto, Alajuela
2024 Flag of Costa Rica.svg Alajuelense 1–1 Flag of Nicaragua.svg Real Estelí Flag of Nicaragua.svg Estadio Independencia, Estelí
2–1 Flag of Costa Rica.svg Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto, Alajuela
2025 Flag of Costa Rica.svg Alajuelense 1–1 Flag of Guatemala.svg Xelajú Flag of Costa Rica.svg Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto, Alajuela
1–1
(4–3 p)
Flag of Guatemala.svg Cementos Progreso Stadium, Guatemala City

Performances

Performance by club
ClubTitlesRunners-upYears wonYears runners-up
Flag of Costa Rica.svg Alajuelense
3
0
2023, 2024, 2025
Flag of Nicaragua.svg Real Estelí
0
2
2023, 2024
Flag of Guatemala.svg Xelajú
0
1
2025
Performance by nation
NationTitlesRunners-upTotal
Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica 303
Flag of Nicaragua.svg  Nicaragua 022
Flag of Guatemala.svg  Guatemala 011

All-time standings

As of 3 December 2025
Only top-10 showing (2023–present)
NoClubGPWDLGFGADfPts
1 Flag of Costa Rica.svg Alajuelense 30181025326+2764
2 Flag of Nicaragua.svg Real Estelí 2410863026+438
3 Flag of Costa Rica.svg Saprissa 2010643616+2036
4 Flag of Honduras (2022-present).svg Motagua 249873632+435
5 Flag of Costa Rica.svg Herediano 2081023327+634
6 Flag of Honduras (2022-present).svg Olimpia 169523515+2032
7 Flag of Panama.svg Independiente 167362322+124
8 Flag of Costa Rica.svg Cartaginés 166463020+1022
9 Flag of Panama.svg Sporting San Miguelito 127141714+322
10 Flag of Guatemala.svg Comunicaciones 165652220+221

See also

References

  1. "Concacaf launches Concacaf Champions Cup". www.CONCACAF.com. CONCACAF. 6 June 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  2. "Alajuelense tops Xelajú on PKs to win third Central American Cup trophy". Concacaf. 1 December 2025. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  3. "Concacaf announces expanded Champions League starting in 2024". MLSSoccer.com. 21 September 2021. Archived from the original on 21 September 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 "Concacaf announces qualification criteria for Confederation's expanded Champions League starting in 2024". Concacaf. 1 June 2022. Archived from the original on 1 June 2022. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  5. "Concacaf announces qualification criteria update for 2023 Concacaf Central American Cup". Concacaf. 3 August 2022. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  6. "Concacaf confirms important details for 2024 Concacaf Central American Cup". Concacaf. 9 May 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.