A dynamic soccer match in a packed Central American stadium, vibrant team jerseys, action shot, bold CONCACAF Central American Cup trophy graphic, energetic atmosphere, photorealistic.
CONCACAF Central American Cup
Overview
The CONCACAF Central American Cup is an annual club football competition organized by CONCACAF for clubs from Central American nations. The tournament serves as a qualifying pathway for the prestigious CONCACAF Champions Cup, with participating clubs competing for regional supremacy and international opportunities.
Tournament Format
The competition features 20 clubs from seven Central American nations: Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. The tournament typically runs from late July through early December, spanning approximately five months of competitive football.
Competition Structure
The tournament is divided into two main phases:
Group Stage:
- 20 teams divided into four groups of five
- Round-robin format within each group
- Top two teams from each group advance to knockout stage
- Quarterfinals (two-legged ties)
- Semifinals (two-legged ties)
- Single-match final
- Champion: Direct qualification to Round of 16
- 2nd-6th Place: Qualification to Round One
- Real España (Honduras) secured a spot in the semifinals by defeating Plaza Amador (Panama), earning qualification for the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup
- FC Motagua vs CS Cartaginés: Second leg played at Estadio Nacional Chelato Uclés in Honduras, with Cartaginés leading 1-0 on aggregate
- Xelajú vs Sporting San Miguelito: Second leg at Estadio Cementos Progreso in Guatemala, with aggregate score tied
- Plaza Amador vs Sporting San Miguelito: Second leg at Estadio Rommel Fernández in Panama City, with Sporting San Miguelito leading 1-0 on aggregate
- Costa Rica: Typically represented by top clubs from the Primera División
- Honduras: Clubs from the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional
- Panama: Teams from the Liga Panameña de Fútbol
- Guatemala: Representatives from the Liga Nacional de Guatemala
- El Salvador: Clubs from the Primera División
- Nicaragua: Teams from the Primera División
- Belize: Representatives from the Premier League of Belize
- Enhanced competitive opportunities for clubs
- Increased regional exposure and development
- Clear pathway to continental competition
- Financial benefits for participating clubs
- Platform for player development and scouting
Knockout Stage:
Qualification for CONCACAF Champions Cup
The Central American Cup serves as the primary qualification route for Central American clubs to the CONCACAF Champions Cup:
Historical Context
The 2025 edition marks the third installment of the CONCACAF Central American Cup, which was established to streamline and enhance club competition in the Central American region. The tournament replaced previous qualifying formats and provides a more structured pathway for clubs to compete at the continental level.
Recent Tournament Developments (2025 Edition)
Current Stage
As of October 2025, the tournament is progressing through its knockout stages, with the quarterfinal matches underway. The competition began on July 29, 2025, and is scheduled to conclude on December 4, 2025.
Notable Quarterfinal Results
Participating Nations and Club Representation
The tournament brings together clubs from across Central America, representing the diverse football cultures of the region:
Significance and Impact
The CONCACAF Central American Cup has become a crucial competition for Central American football, providing:
The tournament continues to grow in prestige and importance within the CONCACAF region, serving as a vital component of the confederation's club competition structure.
The prompt for this was: concacaf central american cup
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