2026 Concacaf Central American Cup Semifinals and Play-In Kick Off Tuesday

Two finalists and the remaining two clubs to qualify for 2027 Champions Cup will be determined.

• Four clubs compete for a place in the Final, with all four already qualified for the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup
• Play-In round to determine the final two clubs to qualify for the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup
• First-leg matches scheduled for October 20–22, followed by second legs from October 27–29

Miami, FL – The 2026 Concacaf Central American Cup Semifinals and Play-In kick off today, Tuesday, October 20, with eight clubs continuing their pursuit of regional honors and qualification for the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup.

The first-leg matches will take place from October 20–22, followed by the second legs from October 27–29, as the competition moves closer to determining its two finalists and the remaining two clubs to qualify for next year's Concacaf Champions Cup.

Club Olimpia Deportivo (HON), CS Cartaginés (CRC), FC Motagua (HON), and three-time defending champion LD Alajuelense (CRC) will compete in the Semifinals for a place in the Final. All four clubs have already secured qualification for the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup, with the eventual Central American Cup champion earning a bye to the Round of 16.

Meanwhile, CD Marathón (HON), Alianza FC (SLV), L.A. Firpo (SLV), and Deportivo Saprissa (CRC) will compete in the Play-In round, with the winners of each series claiming the final two Champions Cup berths available through the competition.

Road to the Semifinals

The four Semifinalists secured their places following the conclusion of the Quarterfinals in September, setting up two matchups between clubs from Honduras and Costa Rica.

Club Olimpia Deportivo (HON) enters the Semifinals after defeating L.A. Firpo 6-0 on aggregate. The Honduran club has won all six of its matches in this year's competition and will face CS Cartaginés for a place in the Final.

CS Cartaginés (CRC) secured its first-ever Central American Cup Semifinals appearance following a 5-4 aggregate victory over fellow Costa Rican side Deportivo Saprissa. The club advanced after a dramatic 3-2 second-leg win at home.

FC Motagua (HON) advanced to the Semifinals after defeating Alianza FC 3-0 on aggregate. The Honduran side remains unbeaten in the competition and will meet defending champion LD Alajuelense.

LD Alajuelense (CRC) continued its pursuit of a fourth consecutive Central American Cup title with a 5-3 aggregate victory over CD Marathón. The Costa Rican club will look to take another step toward defending its crown when it faces FC Motagua.

Play-In: Two Champions Cup Berths at Stake

While the Semifinalists continue their pursuit of the Central American Cup title, four clubs remain in contention for the final two places in the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup.

The Play-In round will feature two home-and-away series, with CD Marathón facing Alianza FC and L.A. Firpo meeting Deportivo Saprissa.

The two series winners will join the four Semifinalists as the six clubs qualifying for the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup through this year's tournament.

Where to Watch

Fans can follow the 2026 Concacaf Central American Cup through the Confederation's official broadcast partners, including CBS/Paramount+ (United States – English), FOX (Mexico), ESPN and Disney+ (Central America, South America, Brazil, and the Caribbean), and OneSoccer (Canada).

2026 Concacaf Central American Cup Semifinals and Play-In Schedule

Kickoff times listed in ET (local time); home club listed first.

Semifinals First Leg Matches

Wednesday, October 21, 2026

• 22:30 (20:30) – CS Cartaginés (CRC) vs Club Olimpia Deportivo (HON) – Estadio José Rafael "Fello" Meza

Thursday, October 22, 2026

• 21:00 (19:00) – FC Motagua (HON) vs LD Alajuelense (CRC) – Estadio José de la Paz Herrera

Semifinals Second Leg Matches

Wednesday, October 28, 2026

• 23:00 (21:00) – Club Olimpia Deportivo (HON) vs CS Cartaginés (CRC) – Estadio José de la Paz Herrera

Thursday, October 29, 2026

• 22:00 (20:00) – LD Alajuelense (CRC) vs FC Motagua (HON) – Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto

Play-In First Leg Matches

Tuesday, October 20, 2026

• 22:00 (20:00) – CD Marathón (HON) vs Alianza FC (SLV) – Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano

Wednesday, October 21, 2026

• 20:30 (18:30) – L.A. Firpo (SLV) vs Deportivo Saprissa (CRC) – Estadio Jorge "El Mágico" González

Play-In Second Leg Matches

Tuesday, October 27, 2026

• 22:00 (20:00) – Alianza FC (SLV) vs CD Marathón (HON) – Estadio Jorge "El Mágico" González
• 20:30 (18:30) – Deportivo Saprissa (CRC) vs L.A. Firpo (SLV) – Estadio Ricardo Saprissa

For more information on the 2026 Concacaf Central American Cup, visit concacaf.com/competitions/central-american-cup/.