The 2026 CONCACAF Central American Cup returns for its fourth edition, bringing together 20 of Central America’s best clubs in a battle for regional supremacy and qualification to the 2027 CONCACAF Champions Cup. Organized by CONCACAF, the tournament has quickly become one of the most important annual club competitions in the region, featuring top clubs from Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, Panama, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Belize.
Defending champions LD Alajuelense will be aiming to extend their dominance after lifting the trophy in the previous three editions, including the 2025 CONCACAF Central American Cup. However, clubs such as Saprissa, Olimpia, Herediano, Motagua, Municipal, and Real Estelí will all be looking to dethrone the Costa Rican giants.
Here’s everything you need to know about the 2026 CONCACAF Central American Cup, including the teams, groups, tournament format, schedule, qualification process, and key dates.
2026 CONCACAF Central American Cup Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Tournament | 2026 CONCACAF Central American Cup |
| Edition | 4th |
| Organizer | CONCACAF |
| Teams | 20 |
| Member Associations | 7 |
| Competition Dates | July–December 2026 |
| Defending Champions | LD Alajuelense |
| Qualification Reward | Six clubs qualify for the 2027 CONCACAF Champions Cup |
| Champion Reward | Bye to the 2027 Champions Cup Round of 16 |
What is the CONCACAF Central American Cup?
The CONCACAF Central American Cup is the premier regional club competition for Central America. Launched in 2023 as the successor to the CONCACAF League, the tournament serves two purposes:
- Crown the best club in Central America.
- Qualify clubs for the 2027 CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Twenty clubs qualify through their domestic leagues and cup competitions before competing in a group stage followed by knockout rounds.
2026 Participating Teams
The tournament features clubs from seven Central American nations.
Costa Rica
- LD Alajuelense
- CS Herediano
- Deportivo Saprissa
- CS Cartaginés
Guatemala
- Club Xelajú
- Antigua GFC
- Deportivo Mixco
- CSD Municipal
Honduras
- Club Olimpia
- FC Motagua
- CD Marathón
Panama
- Plaza Amador
- Alianza FC (Panama)
- UMECIT FC
El Salvador
- Luis Ángel Firpo
- Alianza FC (El Salvador)
- CD FAS
Nicaragua
- Real Estelí
- Diriangén FC
Belize
- Verdes FC
2026 CONCACAF Central American Cup Groups and Points Table
Group A
- LD Alajuelense (Costa Rica)
- Plaza Amador (Panama)
- Xelajú (Guatemala)
- Luis Ángel Firpo (El Salvador)
- Diriangén FC (Nicaragua)
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alajuelense (Costa Rica) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 6 |
| 2 | Diriangén (Nicaragua) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 3 |
| 3 | Plaza Amador (Panama) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 | −1 | 3 |
| 4 | Firpo (El Salvador) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 0 |
| 5 | Xelajú (Guatemala) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 | 0 |
Group B
- Herediano (Costa Rica)
- Antigua GFC (Guatemala)
- Marathón (Honduras)
- Real Estelí (Nicaragua)
- Alianza FC (El Salvador)
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alianza (El Salvador) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | +2 | 6 |
| 2 | Real Estelí (Nicaragua) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 3 |
| 3 | Marathón (Honduras) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 4 | Herediano (Costa Rica) | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 | 1 |
| 5 | Antigua (Guatemala) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | −3 | 0 |
Group C
- Olimpia (Honduras)
- Saprissa (Costa Rica)
- Deportivo Mixco (Guatemala)
- Alianza FC (Panama)
- UMECIT FC (Panama)
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Olimpia (Honduras) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 6 |
| 2 | Saprissa (Costa Rica) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 6 |
| 3 | Alianza (Panama) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 0 |
| 4 | UMECIT (Panama) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | −2 | 0 |
| 5 | Mixco (Guatemala) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | −2 | 0 |
Group D
- Municipal (Guatemala)
- Motagua (Honduras)
- Cartaginés (Costa Rica)
- FAS (El Salvador)
- Verdes FC (Belize)
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Motagua (Honduras) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | +5 | 3 |
| 2 | Municipal (Guatemala) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 3 | Cartaginés (Costa Rica) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 4 | FAS (El Salvador) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Verdes (Belize) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | −5 | 0 |
Tournament Format
The competition follows a two-stage format.
Group Stage
- Four groups of five teams.
- Each club plays four matches.
- Two home matches and two away matches.
- Top two clubs from each group advance.
Knockout Stage
The eight qualified clubs progress to:
- Quarterfinals
- Semifinals
- Play-In
- Final
Every knockout tie is played over two legs, with aggregate score deciding the winner.
Qualification for the 2027 CONCACAF Champions Cup
The Central American Cup is also the official qualifying tournament for the 2027 CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Qualification spots are awarded to:
- Four semifinalists
- Two Play-In winners
The Central American Cup champion also receives a bye directly into the Round of 16 of the 2027 CONCACAF Champions Cup.
2026 CONCACAF Central American Cup Schedule
| Tournament Stage | Date Window |
|---|---|
| Group Stage Week 1 | July 28–30, 2026 |
| Group Stage Week 2 | August 4–6, 2026 |
| Group Stage Week 3 | August 11–13, 2026 |
| Group Stage Week 4 | August 18–20, 2026 |
| Group Stage Week 5 | August 25–27, 2026 |
| Quarterfinals | September 8–10 & September 15–17, 2026 |
| Semifinals | October 20–22 & October 27–29 |
| Play-In | October 20–22 & October 27–29 |
| Finals | December 2 & December 6, 2026 |
Key Opening Week Fixtures
Some of the standout matches during the opening week include:
- Verdes FC vs Motagua
- Diriangén FC vs Plaza Amador
- Olimpia vs Deportivo Mixco
- UMECIT FC vs Saprissa
- Alianza (El Salvador) vs Antigua GFC
- LD Alajuelense vs Xelajú
- Herediano vs Marathón
- Municipal vs Cartaginés
Teams to Watch
LD Alajuelense
The Costa Rican powerhouse enters the tournament as the defending champion and remains the team to beat.
Deportivo Saprissa
One of the region’s most successful clubs, Saprissa has the experience and squad depth to challenge for another continental title.
Olimpia
The Honduran giants consistently perform well in CONCACAF competitions and will be among the favorites.
Herediano
Herediano boasts one of the strongest domestic records in Costa Rica and has the quality to make a deep run.
Municipal
The Guatemalan club has assembled a competitive squad capable of upsetting any opponent.
Why the Tournament Matters
Winning the Central American Cup is about more than lifting a trophy. The competition offers:
- Regional bragging rights.
- Qualification to the 2027 CONCACAF Champions Cup.
- A direct Round of 16 berth for the champion.
- Opportunities to face elite clubs from Liga MX, MLS, and the Caribbean in CONCACAF’s premier club tournament.
How many teams are playing in the 2026 CONCACAF Central American Cup?
Twenty clubs from seven Central American member associations are participating.
How many groups are there?
The competition consists of four groups with five clubs in each.
How many teams qualify for the knockout stage?
The top two clubs from each group advance to the quarterfinals.
What does the winner receive?
The champion wins the Central American Cup, qualifies for the 2027 CONCACAF Champions Cup, and receives a bye into the Round of 16.
When is the 2026 Central American Cup Final?
The two-legged final is scheduled for December 2 and December 6, 2026.
