CONCACAF Central American Cup

Last updated

CONCACAF Central American Cup
Organizing bodies UNCAF
CONCACAF
Founded2023;2 years ago (2023)
Region Central America
Number of teams20
Qualifier for CONCACAF Champions Cup
Related competitions CONCACAF Caribbean Cup
Leagues Cup
Current champion(s) Flag of Costa Rica.svg Alajuelense
(2nd title)
Most successful club(s) Flag of Costa Rica.svg Alajuelense
(2 titles)
Television broadcastersCONCACAF (YouTube)
Website Official website
Soccerball current event.svg 2024 CONCACAF Central American Cup

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

Contents

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. [2]

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. [3]

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. [3]

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. [3] 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.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. [4] 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. [5]

Results

EditionChampionsResultsRunners-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

Performances

Performance by club
TeamTitlesRunners-upWinning editionsRunners-up editions
Flag of Costa Rica.svg Alajuelense 2– 2023, 2024 –
Flag of Nicaragua.svg Real Estelí –2– 2023, 2024
Performance by nation
NationTitlesRunners-upTotal
Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica 2–2
Flag of Nicaragua.svg  Nicaragua –22

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Concacaf launches Concacaf Champions Cup". www.CONCACAF.com. CONCACAF. 6 June 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  2. ↑ "Concacaf announces expanded Champions League starting in 2024". MLSSoccer.com. 21 September 2021. Archived from the original on 21 September 2021.
  3. 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.
  4. ↑ "Concacaf announces qualification criteria update for 2023 Concacaf Central American Cup". Concacaf. 3 August 2022. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  5. ↑ "Concacaf confirms important details for 2024 Concacaf Central American Cup". Concacaf. 9 May 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
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