Concacaf U-20 Championship Preview: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama

A closer look at the Central American teams preparing to battle for the 2026 Concacaf U-20 title.

MIAMI – Ahead of the 2026 Concacaf U-20 Championship, we take a closer look at the 12 national teams that will compete for the regional title.

Below is a look at the Central American participants entering the ninth edition of the Concacaf Men's U-20 Championship.

Costa Rica and El Salvador secured their places by winning their respective groups in the 2026 Concacaf U-20 Qualifiers, while Guatemala, Honduras, and Panama qualified directly as three of the top six nations in the Concacaf U-20 Ranking.

Costa Rica

Costa Rica will make its 23rd appearance in the Concacaf U-20 Championship as it pursues a third regional title and first since 2009. Los Ticos qualified by finishing atop Group E in the 2026 Concacaf U-20 Qualifiers with an unbeaten 3-1-0 record.

Costa Rica won the Concacaf U-20 Championship in 1988 and 2009 and also reached the Final in 1994 and 2011. In this edition, Costa Rica will play in Group B alongside hosts Mexico, Guatemala, and Antigua and Barbuda.

El Salvador

El Salvador enters its 20th Concacaf U-20 Championship looking to win its second regional title and first since 1964. La Selecta topped Group A in the 2026 Concacaf U-20 Qualifiers with a 4-1-0 record, collecting 12 points while scoring 16 goals and conceding just three.

The Salvadorans will compete in Group A alongside the United States, Cuba, and Haiti.

Guatemala

Guatemala will make its 23rd appearance in the Concacaf U-20 Championship after qualifying directly as one of the top-ranked nations in the Concacaf U-20 Ranking. Los Chapines will compete in Group B alongside Mexico, Costa Rica, and Antigua and Barbuda.

The Guatemalans are seeking their first regional title after twice finishing as runners-up, in 1962 and 1973.

Honduras

Honduras will make its 23rd appearance in the competition after qualifying directly as one of the top-ranked nations in the Concacaf U-20 Ranking. La H was drawn into Group C with Canada, Jamaica, and Panama.

The Hondurans are seeking a third Concacaf U-20 Championship title after lifting the trophy in 1982 and 1994. Honduras has also finished as runners-up on three occasions (1964, 1976, and 2017).

Panama

Panama enters its 14th Concacaf U-20 Championship after qualifying directly as one of the top-ranked nations in the Concacaf U-20 Ranking. Los Canaleros will face Honduras, Canada, and Jamaica in Group C.

The Panamanians will look to improve on their runners-up finish in 2015.