Just 24 days before the 2026 World Cup begins, Central America already knows its first two monarchs: Club Sport Herediano, in Costa Ricaand Real Estelí, in Nicaragua. For this reason, until now the champions of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Panama are pending, who will compete in the Central American Cup.
In Nicaragua, the Real Esteli won its first First Division title since Clausura 2023, three years ago, and managed to break the recent dominance of the Managua FC —champion of Clausura 2025— and Diriangenwho won four of the last five tournaments and on this occasion fell to the Northern Kamikazes in the penalty shootout.
For its part, in Costa Rica, the CS Herediano resumed the throne after two-time championship of Apertura 2024 and Clausura 2025, which later lost in Apertura 2025 against the Sports League Alajuelensea team that also surpassed the number of leagues won, since the Florenses Rojiamarillos now have 32 First Division titles.
Given this situation, Costa Rica and Nicaragua already know their teams that will participate in the Central American Cup of the 2026given that the Nicaraguan clubs will be Real Estelí and Diriangén, while the Costa Rican teams will be Herediano (CLA. 2026), Alajuelense (APE. 2025), Saprissa (best located) and Carthaginian (second best).
Herediano comeback
After losing 2-1 in the first leg final against Saprissahe CS Herediano managed to come back in the series at home to give enormous joy to its fans, who expected the team to become the second Costa Rican club with the most First Division titles (32) and break the historic tie with the Alajuelense Sports League (31 glasses).
With notes from the Costa Rican right back Keysher Fuller and the Cuban attacker Marcel Hernandezthe Florenses Rojiamarillos came back in the series against Deportivo Saprissa 3-2 and regained the throne in Costa Rica, so now their goal is the 2026 Central American Cup, where Alajuelense is the current three-time champion regional.
Heart-stopping penalties for Real Estelí
On the other hand, after two 1-1 draws in the home and away games, the title of the Closing 2026 in the Nicaraguan League it was decided in the penalty shootout, where Diriangén FC sought their two-time championship national team and Real Estelí wanted to be the king of the country again, after a three-year drought in which they accumulated four runners-up.
The hero of Real Estelí was the Uruguayan right back Richard RodriguezDiriangén FC footballer, who was the only one unable to score from the eleven steps and allowed the Nicaraguan left interior to score. Byron Bonilla was enough for the Northern Kamikazes they once again shouted champions in the First Division.
The rest of Central America
- Guatemala: After beating 4-1 at Xelaju MC in the first leg final, the CSD Municipal He hopes to get a good result in Quetzaltenango to secure his 33rd title.
- Panama: The Sports Club Amador Square will face the team of Alliance next Saturday, May 23 with the aim of reaching the three-time national championship.
- Honduras: The triangular ones will be defined this Monday, May 18, so that a final is expected between the Sports Club Olympia and the Genesis National Police FC.
- El Salvador: The final will be played next Saturday, May 23 between the FAS Sports and the Deportivo Águilatwo of the three most successful teams in the nation.
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