MIAMI, Florida – On Tuesday the inaugural Concacaf Central American Cup begins with three matches on the docket, including two-time Concacaf Champions Cup winners Alajuelense of Costa Rica in action in Group D against Olancho of Honduras at the Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto in Alajuela, Costa Rica.
The Ticos are plenty familiar with Concacaf competition, having won the Champions Cup in 1986 and 2004, along with the 2020 Concacaf League.
Alajuelense narrowly missed out on a second Concacaf League crown, falling to Honduran giants Olimpia in the last-ever Concacaf League Final in 2022, so they will be keen for a quick start in this new competition. Veteran FW and all-time Concacaf League top scorer Johan Venegas (17 goals) and youngsters Aaron Suarez and Josimar Alcocer will be key to that effort.
For Olancho FC, these are uncharted waters, as it will mark the club’s maiden voyage in international competition. They will be leaning on the Argentine duo of Rodrigo Faust and Pablo Soda, plus Uruguayan Fabricio Silva, in attack.
Real Esteli vs. Xelaju FC
Concacaf mainstays Real Esteli of Nicaragua will also take the field on opening night in Group B against Guatemalan outfit Xelaju at the Estadio Independencia in Esteli, Nicaragua.
Real Esteli have seven previous Champions Cup appearances and five Concacaf League participations under their belts, so Concacaf competition is nothing new to the winners of the last two domestic seasons in Nicaraguan football.
Up front they will be led by the all-time top scorer in Nicaragua National Team history, Juan Barrera and 20-year-old Widman Talavera.
Xelaju won the 2022 Clausura in Guatemala to qualify and will play in their seventh Concacaf tournament, last appearing in the Champions Cup in 2012-13 edition when they reached the quarterfinals.
Jocoro FC vs. Cobán Imperial
The third contest on Tuesday pits Jocoro of El Salvador against Guatemala’s Coban Imperial in Group A at the Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.
Jocoro are appearing in Concacaf competition for the first time after finishing as runners-up in the 2022 Apertura, while Coban Imperial are in international competition for the first time since the 2004 Copa Interclubes UNCAF. Winners of Guatemala’s 2022 Apertura, Coban Imperial’s lone Champions Cup participation came in 1980.
