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Eighteen teams have booked their spot in the 2024 CONCACAF Central American Cup, the annual tournament that crowns a champion of the region and determines six berths to the 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup.
The remaining clubs in the 20-team field will be determined as their respective nations wrap up their domestic seasons. A draw will be held on June 6 to divide the teams into four groups of five.
Here is the list of teams that will participate in the 2024 CONCACAF Central American Cup:
BELIZE
Port Layola FC
Port Layola FC will make its debut in a Concacaf tournament after booking its place in the Central American Cup as the champion with the highest aggregate points over the opening and closing tournaments. The club will become the second Belize team to participate in the tournament.
COSTA RICA
CS Herediano
Semifinalists in 2023, Herediano was eliminated on penalties by eventual champions LD Alajuelense after going undefeated through the group stage. Jesus Godinez is the leading scorer for the club with three goals. The club also boasts having the youngest scorer in the history of the competition in Andy Emanuel Rojas at 17 years, 8 months, and 25 days.
Herediano recently participated in the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup, where they advanced to the quarterfinals before falling to finalists Pachuca. The club reached the semifinals of the 2014-2015 edition and won the CONCACAF League in 2018.
Deportivo Saprissa
The defending champions in Costa Rica have qualified by virtue of their Apertura 2023 title. Saprissa returns for a consecutive participation after going undefeated in the 2023 group stage, prior to bowing out in the quarterfinals. Ariel Rodriguez and Orlando Sinclair led the way in goals with four each in last year’s edition.
Saprissa won the CONCACAF Champions Cup in 1993, 1995, and 2005 and CONCACAF League in 2019.
LD Alajuelense
LD Alajuelense returns to defend its crown as champions of the inaugural edition. The club had a perfect record in the group stage and finished the tournament undefeated. They also posted a tournament-high 24 goals, with Aaron Suarez, Michael Barrantes, Freddy Gondola, Joshua Navarro, Johan Venegas, and Joel Campbell all leading the way with three each.
Alajuelense also won the CONCACAF Champions Cup in 1986 and 2004 and won the CONCACAF League in 2020.
AD Guanacasteca
Guanacasteca will make its debut in a Concacaf tournament after qualifying by its placement in the aggregate table. They will be the fifth Costa Rican side to play in the tournament.
EL SALVADOR
CD Aguila
CD Aguila returns for a second edition after winning the Apertura 2023 tournament in El Salvador. The club will look to get out of the group stage for the first time. Aguila’s storied history includes winning the CONCACAF Champions Cup in 1976.
CD LA Firpo
Luis Angel Firpo will make its Central American Cup debut following its placement in the aggregate regular season league points in El Salvador. LA Firpo may still qualify as the Clausura 2024 champion.
GUATEMALA
Antigua GFC
Antigua will make its Central American Cup debut and become the fourth Guatemalan side to take part in the tournament. The club qualified due to its place in the aggregate regular season league points table. They previously played in the 2016-17 Concacaf Champions League group stage and twice qualified to the Concacaf League.
CSD Municipal
Municipal will be one of the debutants in the Central American Cup. The club has assured its participation in the aggregate regular season league points in Guatemala, but may still qualify as the Clausura champion. Municipal won the CONCACAF Champions Cup in 1974.
Comunicaciones FC
Comunicaciones FC returns for a consecutive edition after bowing out in the group stage. Jorman Aguilar and Jose Corena are the club’s leading scorers in the competition with three goals each. Comunicaciones were CONCACAF Champions Cup winners in 1978 and the CONCACAF Legue in 2021.
HONDURAS
CD Olimpia
CD Olimpia will play in its second Central American Cup after winning the Apertura 2023. The club will look to qualify for the knockout round for the first time. Jorge Benguche is the club’s all-time scorer in the tournament with three goals. Olimpia previously won the CONCACAF Champions Cup in 1972 and 1988 and won the CONCACAF League in 2017 and 2022.
CD Marathon
CD Marathon will make its debut Central American Cup after clinching a place through the aggregate regular season league points in Honduras. Marathon may still qualify as the Clausura 2024 champion.
FC Motagua
Motagua will make in its second consecutive Central American Cup appearance after securing its berth in the accumulated points standings. The Blue Eagles have been a consistent participant in CONCACAF tournament with 17 appearances in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, including its most recent appearance in 2022. The club also made five consecutive CONCACAF League appearances from 2018 to 2022.
NICARAGUA
Diriangen FC
Diriangen returns to the Central American Cup, this time as the champions of the Apertura 2023 tournament in Nicaragua. Luis Copete scored the only goal in the tournament as the team looks to improve on its group stage appearance.
Managua FC
Managua FC will make its first appearance in the Central American Cup following its accumulated points in the Apertura and Clausura tournaments. It will be Managua’s third international tournament participation after competing in the CONCACAF League in 2019 and 2020.
Real Esteli FC
Real Esteli returns to the Central American Cup after finishing runners-up in the inaugural edition. The club booked its place as by reaching the final of the Clausura 2024 tournament, in addition to finishing first in the accumulated points standings. The all-time scorers for the club are Arley Bonilla, Juan Barrera, and Bancy Hernandez with two goals each.
PANAMA
Club Atletico Independiente
Independiente is back in the Central American Cup after winning the Apertura 2023. The Panamanian club will look to build on its run to the semifinals last year. Carlos Small is the team’s all-time scorer in the competition with five goals.
Tauro FC
Tauro FC will make its first appearance in the Central American Cup thanks to its standing in the accumulated points table. The club may still qualify as the Clausura 2024 champion.
