2026 Concacaf Central American Cup Team Profiles: Group A
Previewing the five teams in Group A ahead of the 2026 Concacaf Central American Cup.
MIAMI – As the 2026 Concacaf Central American Cup approaches, it's time to take a closer look at the 20 clubs that secured their place in the region's annual club competition.
Group A features defending champions LD Alajuelense, CD Plaza Amador, 2025 runners-up CSD Xelajú MC, CD Luis Ángel Firpo, and Diriangén FC.
LD Alajuelense
Three-time champions and reigning title holders LD Alajuelense will look to continue making history after winning the first three editions of the Central American Cup. The Costa Rican side secured its place in the tournament by winning the Torneo Apertura 2025.
Alajuelense enters the fourth edition as the only club to have played all 30 possible matches in the competition. Los Manudos lead the tournament's all-time standings with 18 victories and 53 goals scored. Overall, they own an 18-10-2 record in Central American Cup play.
CD Plaza Amador
CD Plaza Amador will compete in the Central American Cup for a second consecutive year following an impressive debut campaign in 2025. Los Leones qualified by winning Panama's Torneo Apertura 2025.
Plaza Amador made an immediate impact in its first tournament appearance, finishing atop Group A with a perfect 4-0-0 record and 12 points. Before falling to Real España in the Quarterfinals, the Panamanian club handed eventual champions LD Alajuelense their first defeat in Central American Cup history.
CSD Xelajú MC
CSD Xelajú MC returns to the tournament for a third appearance after reaching the Final in 2025. Los Chivos qualified by reaching the Final of Guatemala's Torneo Clausura 2026.
Xelajú is the only Guatemalan club to have reached a Central American Cup Final. The club has compiled a 5-4-5 record across 14 matches in the competition. Midfielder Antonio López, a key figure in the club's run to the 2025 Final, enters the tournament as the competition's all-time assists leader with eight.
CD Luis Ángel Firpo
Luis Ángel Firpo returns for its second appearance in the Central American Cup after competing in the 2024 edition. The Salvadoran club qualified by winning the Torneo Apertura 2025.
Firpo finished its inaugural campaign with a 0-1-3 record and will look to improve on that performance.
Diriangén FC
Diriangén FC will make its fourth overall and third consecutive appearance after qualifying by winning Nicaragua's Torneo Apertura 2025.
Los Caciques rank second among Nicaraguan clubs in all-time Central American Cup matches played with 12 and hold a 3-4-5 record in the competition. They will be aiming to advance beyond the Group Stage for the first time.
