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2023 CONCACAF Central American Cup

{{Short description|Association football tournament}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}

{{Infobox international football competition

| tourney_name = CONCACAF Central American Cup

| year = 2023

| other_titles =

| image =

| dates = 1 August – 7 December

| num_teams = 20

| associations = 7

| champion_other = {{nowrap|{{flagicon|CRC}} Alajuelense}}

| count = 1

| second_other = {{flagicon|NCA}} Real Estelí

| matches = 58

| goals = 166

| attendance =

| top_scorer = {{flagicon|ARG}} Agustín Auzmendi
(7 goals)

| player = {{flagicon|CRC}} Aarón Suárez

| goalkeeper = {{flagicon|CRC}} Leonel Moreira

| young_player = {{flagicon|CRC}} Doryan Rodríguez

| fair_play =

| prevseason =

| nextseason = 2024

| updated =

}}

The 2023 CONCACAF Central American Cup was the first edition of the CONCACAF Central American Cup, the first-tier annual international club football competition in the Central American region. It was contested by clubs whose football associations are affiliated with the Central American Football Union (UNCAF), a sub-confederation of CONCACAF.

The winners of the 2023 CONCACAF Central American Cup qualified to the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16, while the second through sixth place teams qualified to Round One in the same competition.{{cite news |title=Concacaf launches major expansion of its Champions League as part of new calendar of regional club competitions |url=https://www.concacaf.com/en/champions-league/news/concacaf-launches-major-expansion-of-its-champions-league-as-part-of-new-calendar-of-regional-club-competitions/ |access-date=1 June 2022 |work=Concacaf |date=21 September 2021}}

Teams

Twenty teams from the seven UNCAF member associations qualified for the tournament based on results from their domestic leagues.{{cite web|url=https://stconcacafwp001.blob.core.windows.net/media/xprftii3/2024-cac-cup_english-regulations-mt71523.pdf|title=CONCACAF Central American Cup 2023 Regulations|publisher=CONCACAF|orig-date=Approved on 24 February 2023|date=17 July 2023|access-date=20 July 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.concacaf.com/en/champions-league/news/concacaf-announces-qualification-criteria-for-confederation-s-expanded-champions-league-starting-in-2024/|title=Concacaf announces qualification criteria for Confederation’s expanded Champions League starting in 2024|publisher=CONCACAF|location=Miami|date=1 June 2022|access-date=19 May 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.concacaf.com/news/four-teams-complete-field-for-2023-central-american-cup/|title=Four teams complete field for 2023 Central American Cup|publisher=CONCACAF|location=Miami|date=2 June 2023|access-date=3 June 2023}} For this edition only, Honduras and Costa Rica have been awarded an extra berth based on performance in the 2022 CONCACAF League.{{cite web|url=https://www.concacaf.com/news/concacaf-announces-qualification-criteria-update-for-2023-concacaf-central-american-cup/|title=Concacaf announces qualification criteria update for 2023 Concacaf Central American Cup|publisher=CONCACAF|location=Miami|date=3 August 2022|access-date=3 August 2022}}

  • Costa Rica and Honduras: 4 berths
  • El Salvador, Guatemala and Panama: 3 berths
  • Nicaragua: 2 berths
  • Belize: 1 berth

class="wikitable"
Association

!Team

!Qualifying method

{{fba|BLZ}} {{nowrap|{{small|(1 berth)}}}}

|Verdes

|2022–23 Premier League (Opening and Closing) champions.

rowspan=4|{{fba|CRC}}
{{nowrap|{{small|(4 berths)}}}}

|Saprissa

|2022–23 Liga FPD Apertura and Clausura champions{{cite web|url=https://costaricacdn.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Normas-de-Competicio%CC%81n-Liga-Promerica-Temporada-2022-2023.pdf|title=NORMAS DE COMPETICIÓN TEMPORADA 2022-2023|publisher=UNAFUT|date=7 July 2022|access-date=30 May 2023|language=es}}

Herediano

|2022–23 Liga FPD aggregate table best team not yet qualified

Alajuelense

|2022–23 Liga FPD aggregate table 2nd best team not yet qualified

Cartaginés

|2022–23 Liga FPD aggregate table 3rd best team not yet qualified

rowspan=3|{{fba|SLV}}
{{nowrap|{{small|(3 berths)}}}}

|FAS

|2022–23 Primera División Apertura champions{{cite web|url=https://www.fesfut.org.sv/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bases-Primera-Division-2022-2023.pdf|title=BASES DE COMPETENCIA DE LA PRIMERA DIVISION DE FUTBOL PROFESIONAL TEMPORADA 2022-2023|publisher=Salvadoran Football Federation|date=12 September 2022|access-date=30 May 2023|language=es}}{{cite web|url=https://www.fesfut.org.sv/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Comunicado-terminacion-campeonato.pdf|title=COMUNICADO OFICIAL ENTRE FESFUT Y PRIMERA DIVISIÓN|publisher=Salvadoran Football Federation|date=24 May 2023|access-date=30 May 2023|language=es}}

Jocoro

|2022–23 Primera División Apertura runners-up{{Cref2|Note SLV}}

Águila

|2022–23 Primera División aggregate table best team not yet qualified

rowspan=3|{{fba|GUA}}
{{nowrap|{{small|(3 berths)}}}}

|Cobán Imperial

|2022–23 Liga Nacional Torneo Apertura champions{{cite web|url=https://republica.gt/deportes/liga-nacional-de-guatemala-estos-seran-los-nuevos-criterios-para-la-clasificacion-a-la-copa-centroamericana-de-la-concacaf-202351014320|title=Liga Nacional de Guatemala: estos serán los nuevos criterios para la clasificación a la Copa Centroamericana de la Concacaf|trans-title=Liga Nacional de Guatemala: these will be the new qualifying criteria for the CONCACAF Central American Cup|publisher=República|last=Utrera|first=Alicia|date=10 May 2023|access-date=30 May 2023|language=es}}

Xelajú

|2022–23 Liga Nacional Torneo Clausura champions

Comunicaciones

|2022–23 Liga Nacional aggregate table best team not yet qualified

rowspan=4|{{fba|HON}}
{{nowrap|{{small|(4 berths)}}}}

|Olimpia

|2022–23 Honduran Liga Nacional Apertura and Clausura champions{{cite web|url=https://hondurascdn.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Bases-del-Campeonato-Temporada-2022-2023..pdf|title=BASES DEL TORNEO DE APERTURA Y CLAUSURA 2022-2023 DE LA LIGA NACIONAL DE FUTBOL PROFESIONAL DE PRIMERA DIVISIÓN DE HONDURAS|publisher=Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional de Honduras|date=22 June 2022|access-date=30 May 2023|language=es}}

Olancho

|2022–23 Honduran Liga Nacional aggregate table best team not yet qualified

Real España

|2022–23 Honduran Liga Nacional aggregate table 2nd best team not yet qualified

Motagua

|2022–23 Honduran Liga Nacional aggregate table 3rd best team not yet qualified

rowspan=2|{{fba|NCA}}
{{nowrap|{{small|(2 berths)}}}}

|Real Estelí

|2022–23 Liga Primera Apertura and Clausura champions

Diriangén

|2022–23 Liga Primera aggregate table best team not yet qualified

rowspan=3|{{fba|PAN}}
{{nowrap|{{small|(3 berths)}}}}

|Independiente

|2022 Liga Panameña Torneo Clausura and 2023 Liga Panameña Torneo Apertura champions{{cite web|url=https://lpf.com.pa/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/REGLAMENTO-DE-COMPETENCIA-LPF_TC2022.pdf|title=REGLAMENTO COMPETENCIA LPF TEMPORADA - 2022|publisher=Liga Panameña de Fútbol|website=lpf.com.pa|date=14 January 2022|access-date=5 March 2023|language=es}}{{cite web|url=https://lpf.com.pa/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/REGLAMENTO-DE-COMPETENCIA-LPF-2023.pdf|title=REGLAMENTO COMPETENCIA LPF TEMPORADA - 2023|publisher=Liga Panameña de Fútbol|website=lpf.com.pa|date=27 December 2022|access-date=30 May 2023|language=es}}

Sporting San Miguelito

|2022 Liga Panameña Torneo Clausura and 2023 Liga Panameña Torneo Apertura aggregate table best team not yet qualified

Universitario

|2022 Liga Panameña Torneo Clausura and 2023 Liga Panameña Torneo Apertura aggregate table 2nd best team not yet qualified

;Notes

{{Cnote2 Begin|liststyle=disc}}

{{Cnote2|Note SLV|n=0|El Salvador (SLV): Originally, El Salvador's berths were reserved for the 2022 Apertura tournament champions, the 2023 Clausura tournament champions and the best team in the aggregate table,{{cite web|url=https://www.elgrafico.com/futbol/Aguila-clasifico-a-la-Copa-Centroamericana-20230510-0005.html|title=Águila clasificó a la Copa Centroamericana|trans-title=Águila qualified for the Central American Cup|publisher=El Gráfico|last=Viana|first=Diego|date=10 May 2023|access-date=30 May 2023|language=es}} however the Clausura tournament was terminated early without proclaiming a champion due to the events that occurred on 20 May 2023 during the match between Alianza and FAS at Estadio Cuscatlán. As a result, the Salvadoran Football Federation decided to reassign the Clausura champions' berth to the Apertura runners-up.}}

{{Cnote2 End}}

Draw

{{location map+|Central America|float=right|width=600|caption=Location of teams of the 2023 CONCACAF Central American Cup|places=

{{location map~|Central America|lat=17.1603|long=-89.0697|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|Verdes}}|mark=Red pog.svg|marksize=7|position=top}}

{{location map~|Central America|lat=9.9654|long=-84.0755|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|Saprissa}}|mark=Red pog.svg|marksize=7|position=right}}

{{location map~|Central America|lat=9.9996|long=-84.1231|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|Herediano}}|mark=Red pog.svg|marksize=7|position=top}}

{{location map~|Central America|lat=10.0217|long=-84.2089|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|Alajuelense}}|mark=Red pog.svg|marksize=7|position=left}}

{{location map~|Central America|lat=9.8585|long=-83.9187|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|Cartaginés}}|mark=Red pog.svg|marksize=7|position=bottom}}

{{location map~|Central America|lat=13.9765|long=-89.5688|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|FAS}}|mark=Red pog.svg|marksize=7|position=left}}

{{location map~|Central America|lat=13.6159|long=-88.0282|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|Jocoro}}|mark=Red pog.svg|marksize=7|position=right}}

{{location map~|Central America|lat=13.4826|long=-88.1690|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|Águila}}|mark=Red pog.svg|marksize=7|position=left}}

{{location map~|Central America|lat=15.4762|long=-90.3769|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|Cobán Imperial}}|mark=Red pog.svg|marksize=7|position=top}}

{{location map~|Central America|lat=14.8419|long=-91.5172|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|Xelajú}}|mark=Red pog.svg|marksize=7|position=top}}

{{location map~|Central America|lat=14.6258|long=-90.5105|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|Comunicaciones}}|mark=Red pog.svg|marksize=7|position=right}}

{{Location map~|Central America|lat=14.0984|long=-87.2040|label_size=70|label=Tegucigalpa|mark=Black pog.svg|position=right}}

{{location map~|Central America|lat=14.6586|long=-86.2163|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|Olancho}}|mark=Red pog.svg|marksize=7|position=top}}

{{location map~|Central America|lat=15.5075|long=-88.0333|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|Real España}}|mark=Red pog.svg|marksize=7|position=right}}

{{location map~|Central America|lat=13.0978|long=-86.3531|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|Real Estelí}}|mark=Red pog.svg|marksize=7|position=right}}

{{location map~|Central America|lat=11.8611|long=-86.2436|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|Diriangén}}|mark=Red pog.svg|marksize=7|position=left}}

{{location map~|Central America|lat=8.8875|long=-79.7756|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|Independiente}}|mark=Red pog.svg|marksize=7|position=left}}

{{location map~|Central America|lat=9.0491|long=-79.5103|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|Sporting San Miguelito}}|mark=Red pog.svg|marksize=7|position=right}}

{{location map~|Central America|lat=8.4857|long=-80.3311|label_size=70|label={{nowrap|Universitario}}|mark=Red pog.svg|marksize=7|position=bottom}}

{{Location map~ |Europe | mark=TransparentPlaceholder.png |marksize=1 |lat=65 |long=55 |label_size=80 |label=

{{nowrap|Tegucigalpa teams}}

{{nowrap|8px Olimpia

8px Motagua}}

|position=right}}

}}

{{#lst:2023 CONCACAF Central American Cup group stage|Draw}}

Schedule

The schedule of the competition was as follows.{{cite web|url=https://www.concacaf.com/news/draw-details-announced-for-inaugural-concacaf-central-american-cup/|title=Draw details announced for inaugural Concacaf Central American Cup|publisher=CONCACAF|date=18 May 2023|access-date=19 May 2023}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

!Stage

!Round

!First leg

!Second leg

rowspan="5" |Group stage

|Matchday 1

| colspan="2" |1–3 August

Matchday 2

| colspan="2" |8–10 August

Matchday 3

| colspan="2" |15–17 August

Matchday 4

| colspan="2" |22–24 August

Matchday 5

| colspan="2" |29–31 August

rowspan="3" |Knockout stage

|Quarterfinals

|26–28 September

|3 October – 5 October

Semifinals and play-in

|24–26 October

|31 October – 2 November

Finals

|28–30 November

|5–7 December

Group stage

{{main|2023 CONCACAF Central American Cup group stage}}

{{#lst:2023 CONCACAF Central American Cup group stage|Format}}

=Group A=

{{2023 CONCACAF Central American Cup group tables|Group A|show_matches=yes}}

=Group B=

{{2023 CONCACAF Central American Cup group tables|Group B|show_matches=yes}}

=Group C=

{{2023 CONCACAF Central American Cup group tables|Group C|show_matches=yes}}

=Group D=

{{2023 CONCACAF Central American Cup group tables|Group D|show_matches=yes}}

Knockout stage

{{main|2023 CONCACAF Central American Cup knockout stage}}

{{#lst:2023 CONCACAF Central American Cup knockout stage|Format}}

=Qualified teams=

{{#lst:2023 CONCACAF Central American Cup knockout stage|Qualified teams}}

=Seeding=

{{#lst:2023 CONCACAF Central American Cup knockout stage|Seeding}}

The following was the seeding for the quarter-finals round only:

{{#lst:2023 CONCACAF Central American Cup knockout stage|QF seeding}}

=Bracket=

{{#lst:2023 CONCACAF Central American Cup knockout stage|Bracket}}

=Quarter-finals=

{{#lst:2023 CONCACAF Central American Cup knockout stage|Quarter-finals}}

=Play-in=

{{#lst:2023 CONCACAF Central American Cup knockout stage|Play-in}}

=Semi-finals=

{{#lst:2023 CONCACAF Central American Cup knockout stage|Semi-finals}}

=Finals=

{{#lst:2023 CONCACAF Central American Cup knockout stage|Finals}}

Top goalscorers

{{smalldiv|{{legend|silver|Team eliminated for this round.}}}}

{{smalldiv|{{legend|#DDDDDD|Team inactive for this round.}}}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"

!Rank

!Player

!Team

!{{Tooltip|GS1|Group stage Matchday 1}}

!{{Tooltip|GS2|Group stage Matchday 2}}

!{{Tooltip|GS3|Group stage Matchday 3}}

!{{Tooltip|GS4|Group stage Matchday 4}}

!{{Tooltip|GS5|Group stage Matchday 5}}

!{{Tooltip|QF1|Quarter-finals 1st leg}}

!{{Tooltip|QF2|Quarter-finals 2nd leg}}

!{{Tooltip|PI1|Play-in 1st leg}}

!{{Tooltip|PI2|Play-in 2nd leg}}

!{{Tooltip|SF1|Semi-finals 1st leg}}

!{{Tooltip|SF2|Semi-finals 2nd leg}}

!{{Tooltip|F1|Finals 1st leg}}

!{{Tooltip|F2|Finals 2nd leg}}

!Total

rowspan=1|1

|align=left|{{flagicon|ARG}} Agustín Auzmendi

|align=left|{{fbaicon|HON}} Motagua

|3|| || ||bgcolor="DDDDDD"| ||1||1|| ||2|| ||bgcolor=silver colspan=4|

!rowspan=1|7

rowspan=1|2

|align=left|{{flagicon|PAN}} Carlos Small

|align=left|{{fbaicon|PAN}} Independiente

|1||bgcolor="DDDDDD"| || ||1||1|| ||2||bgcolor="DDDDDD" colspan=2| || || ||bgcolor=silver colspan=2|

!rowspan=1|5

rowspan=5|3

|align=left|{{flagicon|JAM}} Javon East

|align=left|{{fbaicon|CRC}} Saprissa

|1|| ||bgcolor="DDDDDD"| || ||2|| ||1|| || ||bgcolor=silver colspan=4|

!rowspan=5|4

align=left|{{flagicon|CUB}} Marcel Hernández

|align=left|{{fbaicon|CRC}} Cartaginés

|

bgcolor="DDDDDD"|1111bgcolor=silver colspan=4|
align=left|{{flagicon|CRC}} Ariel Rodríguez

|align=left|{{fbaicon|CRC}} Saprissa

|

2bgcolor="DDDDDD"|11bgcolor=silver colspan=4|
align=left|{{flagicon|CRC}} Orlando Sinclair

|align=left|{{fbaicon|CRC}} Saprissa

|

bgcolor="DDDDDD"|211bgcolor=silver colspan=4|
align=left|{{flagicon|CRC}} Aarón Suárez

|align=left|{{fbaicon|CRC}} Alajuelense

|1

1bgcolor="DDDDDD"|11bgcolor="DDDDDD" colspan=2|
rowspan=10|8

|align=left|{{flagicon|PAN}} Jorman Aguilar

|align=left|{{fbaicon|GUA}} Comunicaciones

| ||1|| bgcolor="DDDDDD"| || ||1|| || || ||1||bgcolor=silver colspan=4|

!rowspan=10|3

align=left|{{flagicon|CRC}} Michael Barrantes

|align=left|{{fbaicon|CRC}} Alajuelense

|

1bgcolor="DDDDDD"|1bgcolor="DDDDDD" colspan=2|1
align=left|{{flagicon|HON}} Jorge Benguché

|align=left|{{fbaicon|HON}} Olimpia

|1

bgcolor="DDDDDD"|2bgcolor=silver colspan=8|
align=left|{{flagicon|CRC}} Joel Campbell

|align=left|{{fbaicon|CRC}} Alajuelense

|

bgcolor="DDDDDD"|1bgcolor="DDDDDD" colspan=2|11
align=left|{{flagicon|MEX}} Jesús Godínez

|align=left|{{fbaicon|CRC}} Herediano

|

2bgcolor="DDDDDD"|bgcolor="DDDDDD" colspan=2|1bgcolor=silver colspan=2|
align=left|{{flagicon|PAN}} Freddy Góndola

|align=left|{{fbaicon|CRC}} Alajuelense

|

1bgcolor="DDDDDD"|1bgcolor="DDDDDD" colspan=2|1
align=left|{{flagicon|HON}} Yeison Mejía

|align=left|{{fbaicon|HON}} Motagua

|

21bgcolor="DDDDDD"|bgcolor=silver colspan=4|
align=left|{{flagicon|CRC}} Joshua Navarro

|align=left|{{fbaicon|CRC}} Alajuelense

|

bgcolor="DDDDDD"|2bgcolor="DDDDDD" colspan=2|1
align=left|{{flagicon|ARG}} Ramiro Rocca

|align=left|{{fbaicon|HON}} Real España

|

bgcolor="DDDDDD"|3bgcolor=silver colspan=8|
align=left|{{flagicon|CRC}} Johan Venegas

|align=left|{{fbaicon|CRC}} Alajuelense

|

bgcolor="DDDDDD"|11bgcolor="DDDDDD" colspan=2|1

Awards

The following awards were given at the end of the tournament:

class="wikitable"
Award

!Player

!Team

Golden Ball{{cite web|url=https://www.concacaf.com/central-american-cup/news/borges-medina-headline-central-american-cup-best-xi/|title= Borges, Medina headline Central American Cup Best XI|publisher=CONCACAF|date=6 December 2023|access-date=27 March 2024}}

|{{flagicon|CRC}} Aarón Suárez

|{{fbaicon|CRC}} Alajuelense

Golden Boot

|{{flagicon|ARG}} Agustín Auzmendi

|{{fbaicon|HON}} Motagua

Golden Glove

|{{flagicon|CRC}} Leonel Moreira

|{{fbaicon|CRC}} Alajuelense

Best Young Player{{cite web|url=https://www.crhoy.com/deportes/alajuelense-arraso-en-los-premios-individuales-de-la-copa-centroamericana/|title=Alajuelense arrasó en los premios individuales de la Copa Centroamericana|publisher=CRHoy.com|language=spanish|date=6 December 2023|access-date=27 March 2024}}

|{{flagicon|CRC}} Doryan Rodríguez

|{{fbaicon|CRC}} Alajuelense

Fair Play Award

|align=center|—

|{{flagicon|CRC}} Alajuelense

class="wikitable"

|+Team of the Tournament

Position

!Player

!Team

align=center|{{abbr|GK|Goalkeeper}}

|{{flagicon|CRC}} Leonel Moreira

|{{fbaicon|CRC}} Alajuelense

align=center rowspan=3|{{abbr|DF|Defenders}}

|{{flagicon|NCA}} Bancy Hernández

|{{fbaicon|NCA}} Real Estelí

{{flagicon|NCA}} Evert Martínez

|{{fbaicon|NCA}} Real Estelí

{{flagicon|COL}} José Corena

|{{fbaicon|GUA}} Comunicaciones

align=center rowspan=4|{{abbr|MF|Midfielders}}

|{{flagicon|CRC}} Celso Borges

|{{fbaicon|CRC}} Alajuelense

{{flagicon|PAN}} Héctor Hurtado

|{{fbaicon|PAN}} CAI

{{flagicon|NCA}} Harold Medina

|{{fbaicon|NCA}} Real Estelí

{{flagicon|CRC}} Aarón Suárez

|{{fbaicon|CRC}} Alajuelense

align=center rowspan=3|{{abbr|FW|Forwards}}

|{{flagicon|CRC}} Joel Campbell

|{{fbaicon|CRC}} Alajuelense

{{flagicon|ARG}} Agustín Auzmendi

|{{fbaicon|HON}} Motagua

{{flagicon|PAN}} Carlos Small

|{{fbaicon|PAN}} CAI

See also

References

{{reflist}}

{{CONCACAF Central American Cup}}

{{2023–24 in North and Central America, and Caribbean football (CONCACAF)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Central American Cup 2023}}

Category:2023 in Central American football

Category:2023–24 in CONCACAF football

Category:2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup