Nicaragua national football team

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Nicaragua women's national football team.

The Nicaragua national football team (Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Nicaragua) represents Nicaragua in men's international football and is controlled by the Federación Nicaragüense de Fútbol (English: Nicaraguan Football Federation). Nicaragua achieved their first qualification into a major international competition in 2009, as they qualified for the 2009 Gold Cup as the last entrant from Central America, after a 2–0 victory against Guatemala in the fifth place match in the 2009 Nations Cup.^[2] However, the team has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup.

Nicaragua

Nickname(s)	La Azul y Blanco (The Blue and White) Los Pinoleros (The Pinoleros)
Association	Federación Nicaragüense de Fútbol (FENIFUT)
Confederation	CONCACAF (North America)
Sub-confederation	UNCAF (Central America)
Head coach	Vacant
Captain	Juan Barrera
Most caps	Josué Quijano (103)
Top scorer	Juan Barrera (26)
Home stadium	Estadio Nacional de Fútbol
FIFA code	NCA
First colours Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current	130 3 (10 July 2025)[1]
Highest	92 (December 2015)
Lowest	193 (May 2001)
First international
El Salvador 9–0 Nicaragua  (San Salvador, El Salvador; 1 May 1929)
Biggest win
Turks and Caicos Islands 0–7 Nicaragua  (San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic; 27 March 2021)
Biggest defeat
Honduras 10–0 Nicaragua  (San José, Costa Rica; 13 March 1946)  Curaçao 11–1 Nicaragua  (Guatemala City, Guatemala; 2 March 1950)
CONCACAF Championship / Gold Cup
Appearances	5 (first in 1963)
Best result	Sixth place (1967)
CCCF Championship
Appearances	6 (first in 1941)
Best result	Third place (1951)
Medal record CCCF Championship 1951 Panama Team

Due to American influence throughout the country's history, baseball has more of a following as both a pursuit and spectator event in Nicaragua than football.

History

Nicaragua traveled to El Salvador for their first ever international, losing 9–0 to the hosts on 1 May 1929. They did not play another match for over twelve years, until the qualifying group for the 1941 CCCF Championship in Costa Rica. They lost all 4 games: 7–2 to the hosts Costa Rica on 10 May, 8–0 to El Salvador on 13 May, 9–1 to the Netherlands Antilles on 15 May and 5–2 to Panama on 18 May. Therefore, Nicaragua finished bottom of the group and did not make the final group.^[3]

Recent times

After qualifying for the 2019 Gold Cup on the back of finishing ninth in Nations League qualifying, they would go on to finish bottom of the group with losses to Costa Rica, Haiti and Bermuda.^[4]

Nicaragua qualified directly for the 2023 Gold Cup and was promoted to Nations League A as group winners in Nations League B but was disqualified on 12 June 2023 for fielding an ineligible player. As a result, they were replaced in the Gold Cup and League A by Trinidad and Tobago, who was the best second-place team overall in League B and must stay in Nations League B.^[5]

Team image

Kit sponsorship

Kit supplier	Period
Puma	1998
None	2000–2003
Joma	2004–2021
Keuka	2022–2024
Orion	2024–present

Results and fixtures

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixture

2024

French Guiana  v  Nicaragua

6 September 2024–25 Nations League	French Guiana	0–1	Nicaragua	Remire-Montjoly, French Guiana
16:00 UTC−3		Report	Talavera 90+5'	Stadium: Stade Municipal Dr. Edmard Lama Attendance: 450 Referee: Julio Luna (Guatemala)

Cuba  v  Nicaragua

10 September 2024–25 Nations League	Cuba	1–1	Nicaragua	Santiago de Cuba, Cuba
16:00 UTC−4	Espino 42' (pen.)	Report	Medina 90+7'	Stadium: Estadio Antonio Maceo Attendance: 3,565 Referee: Pierre-Luc Lauzière (Canada)

Nicaragua  v  Jamaica

10 October 2024–25 Nations League	Nicaragua	0–2	Jamaica	Managua, Nicaragua
20:00 UTC−6		Report	Quijano 32' (o.g.) Williams 69'	Stadium: Estadio Nacional de Fútbol Attendance: 16,630 Referee: Mario Escobar (Guatemala)

Nicaragua  v  French Guiana

14 October 2024–25 Nations League	Nicaragua	3–2	French Guiana	Managua, Nicaragua
19:00 UTC−6	Moreno 54' Barrera 79' Fletes 84'	Report	Baal 16' Haabo 62'	Stadium: Estadio Nacional de Fútbol Attendance: 12,634 Referee: Iván Barton (El Salvador)

2025

Guadeloupe  v  Nicaragua

21 March 2025 Gold Cup qualification	Guadeloupe	1–0	Nicaragua	Le Gosier, Guadeloupe
20:00 UTC−4	David 17'	Report		Stadium: Stade Roger Zami Referee: Nelson Salgado (Honduras)

Nicaragua  v  Guadeloupe

25 March 2025 Gold Cup qualification	Nicaragua	0–1 (0–2 agg.)	Guadeloupe	Managua, Nicaragua
18:30 UTC−6		Report	Mirval 64'	Stadium: Estadio Nacional de Fútbol Referee: Fernando Hernández (Mexico)
Note: Guadeloupe won 2–0 on aggregate and qualified for the Finals.

Puerto Rico  v  Nicaragua

1 June Friendly	Puerto Rico	1–1	Nicaragua	Pawtucket, United States
16:30 UTC−4	Ríos 10'	Report	Hernández 60'	Stadium: Centreville Bank Stadium

Nicaragua  v  Guyana

6 June 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification	Nicaragua	1–0	Guyana	Managua, Nicaragua
20:00 UTC−6	Moreno 41'	Report		Stadium: Estadio Nacional de Fútbol Attendance: 18,532 Referee: Katja Koroleva (United States)

Panama  v  Nicaragua

10 June 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification	Panama	3–0	Nicaragua	Panama City, Panama
19:00 UTC−5	Yanis 56' Díaz 88' Davis 90+3'	Report		Stadium: Estadio Rommel Fernández Referee: Ismael López (Mexico)

Nicaragua  v  Costa Rica

5 September 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification	Nicaragua	v	Costa Rica	Managua, Nicaragua
20:00 UTC−6				Stadium: Estadio Nacional

Honduras  v  Nicaragua

9 September 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification	Honduras	v	Nicaragua	Tegucigalpa, Honduras
20:00 UTC−6				Stadium: Estadio Nacional Chelato Uclés

Nicaragua  v  Haiti

9 October 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification	Nicaragua	v	Haiti	Nicaragua
--:--				Stadium: TBD

Costa Rica  v  Nicaragua

13 October 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification	Costa Rica	v	Nicaragua	Costa Rica
--:--				Stadium: TBD

Nicaragua  v  Honduras

13 November 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification	Nicaragua	v	Honduras	Nicaragua
--:--				Stadium: TBD

Haiti  v  Nicaragua

18 November 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification	Haiti	v	Nicaragua	TBD
--:--				Stadium: TBD

Coaching staff

Position	Name
Head coach	Vacant
Technical director	Roger Rodriguez
Assistant coach	Tyron Acevedo
Assistant coach	Mario García
Goalkeeping coach	Carlos Mendieta
Physical coordinator	Jaime Ruiz
Doctor	Dr. Cupertino Borrell
Physiotherapist	Zamir Cerna
Team coordinator	Cesar Castro Trinidad
Team coordinator	Nestor Díaz

Coaching history

• José "Chingolo" Rodríguez (Unknown)
• Omar Zambrana (Unknown)
• Octavio Edmundo Salas Urbina (1941–1943)
• Eduardo Kosovic (1943)
• José Antonio Pipa Cordero (1947)
• Santiago Bonilla (1952–1953)
• Ferenc Mészáros (1961)
• Carlos Ruiz (1961–1962)
• Santiago Berrini (1965–1967)
• Livio Bendaña Espinoza (1967–1969)
• Omar Muraco (1969–1970)
• Salvador Dubois Leiva (1977, 1991–1992)
• Orlando Casares (1980–1981)
• Ján Fülöp (1984–1986)
• Mauricio Cruz Jiron (1993–2001, 2008)
• Florencio Levia (2001–2002)
• Maurizio Battistini (2003–2004)
• Marcelo Javier Zuleta (2005)
• Carlos de Toro (2007–2008)
• Ramón Otoniel Olivas (2008–2009)
• Enrique Llena (2010–2014)
• Javier Londono (2014)
• Henry Duarte (2014–2020)
• Juan Vita (2020–2022)
• Marco Antonio Figueroa (2022–2025)

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up to the squad for 2024–25 CONCACAF Nations League matches against Jamaica and French Guiana on 10 and 14 October 2024.^[6]

Caps and goals correct as of 14 October 2024, after the match against French Guiana.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
	1GK	Miguel Rodríguez	(2003-06-13) 13 June 2003 (age 22)	13	0	SJK
	1GK	Alyer López	(1999-05-16) 16 May 1999 (age 26)	4	0	Managua
	1GK	Jason Vega	(1995-11-06) 6 November 1995 (age 29)	3	0	Real Estelí
	2DF	Josué Quijano	(1991-03-10) 10 March 1991 (age 34)	99	3	Real Estelí
	2DF	Marvin Fletes	(1997-11-12) 12 November 1997 (age 27)	37	2	Real Estelí
	2DF	Óscar Acevedo	(1997-03-18) 18 March 1997 (age 28)	29	2	Real Estelí
	2DF	Juan Luis Pérez	(1999-06-29) 29 June 1999 (age 26)	15	3	Diriangén
	2DF	Christian Reyes	(1998-01-03) 3 January 1998 (age 27)	12	0	AD Municipal Liberia
	2DF	Justing Cano	(2002-03-02) 2 March 2002 (age 23)	3	0	Diriangén
	2DF	Anyelo Velásquez	(2004-12-22) 22 December 2004 (age 20)	1	0	Diriangén
	3MF	Juan Barrera (captain)	(1989-05-02) 2 May 1989 (age 36)	93	26	Managua
	3MF	Jason Coronel	(1993-10-06) 6 October 1993 (age 31)	32	0	Diriangén
	3MF	Matías Moldskred Belli	(1997-08-12) 12 August 1997 (age 28)	29	7	Sandnes Ulf
	3MF	Harold Medina	(2002-01-30) 30 January 2002 (age 23)	27	3	Real Estelí
	3MF	Henry Niño	(1997-10-03) 3 October 1997 (age 27)	25	1	Real Estelí
	3MF	Junior Arteaga	(1999-12-09) 9 December 1999 (age 25)	18	2	Diriangén
	3MF	Jacob Montes	(1998-12-20) 20 December 1998 (age 26)	11	4	RWD Molenbeek
	4FW	Jaime Moreno	(1995-03-30) 30 March 1995 (age 30)	42	13	Barito Putera
	4FW	Byron Bonilla	(1993-08-30) 30 August 1993 (age 31)	35	6	Real Estelí
	4FW	Widman Talavera	(2003-01-12) 12 January 2003 (age 22)	15	3	Real Estelí
	4FW	Bancy Hernández	(2000-06-27) 27 June 2000 (age 25)	14	2	Real Estelí
	4FW	Ariel Arauz	(2001-05-30) 30 May 2001 (age 24)	3	0	CS Herediano
	4FW	Edgar Castillo	(2002-05-21) 21 May 2002 (age 23)	1	0	Deportivo Llacuabamba
	4FW	Ronald Palacios	(2002-09-09) 9 September 2002 (age 22)	1	0	Managua

Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up for the team in the last twelve months.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	César Salandia	(2004-06-13) 13 June 2004 (age 21)	5	0	Real Estelí	v.  Cuba, 10 September 2024
DF	Pablo Rodríguez	(2000-06-04) 4 June 2000 (age 25)	1	0	Managua	v.  Belize, 8 June 2024
DF	Evert Martínez	(2002-03-08) 8 March 2002 (age 23)	1	0	Real Estelí	v.  Cuba, 26 March 2024
DF	Melvin Hernández	(1994-04-26) 26 April 1994 (age 31)	12	0	UNAN Managua	v.  Dominican Republic, 21 November 2023
DF	Jeffrey Chávez	(1997-02-10) 10 February 1997 (age 28)	1	0	Municipal Liberia	v.  Dominican Republic, 21 November 2023
DF	Cristhiam Quinto	(2001-01-17) 17 January 2001 (age 24)	0	0	Managua	v.  Dominican Republic, 21 November 2023
MF	Jonathan Moncada	(1998-01-03) 3 January 1998 (age 27)	16	0	Diriangén	v.  Cuba, 10 September 2024
MF	Nextaly Rodríguez	(1998-03-03) 3 March 1998 (age 27)	10	1	AD Municipal Liberia	v.  Cuba, 10 September 2024
MF	Kevin Serapio	(1996-04-09) 9 April 1996 (age 29)	28	1	Managua	v.  Belize, 8 June 2024
MF	Jeremy Cuarezma	(2000-05-28) 28 May 2000 (age 25)	2	0	Managua	v.  Montserrat, 6 June 2024
FW	Luis Fernando Coronel	(1997-02-25) 25 February 1997 (age 28)	18	3	Diriangén	v.  Cuba, 10 September 2024
FW	Abner Acuña	(1997-03-05) 5 March 1997 (age 28)	11	0	Managua FC	v.  Cuba, 10 September 2024
FW	Brayan López	(1990-06-03) 3 June 1990 (age 35)	11	0	Puntarenas	v.  Cuba, 26 March 2024
FW	Anderson Treminio	(1998-04-17) 17 April 1998 (age 27)	8	0	Real Santa Cruz	v.  Cuba, 26 March 2024
FW	Ariagner Smith	(1998-12-13) 13 December 1998 (age 26)	20	7	FK Panevėžys	v.  Dominican Republic, 21 November 2023
INJ Player withdrew from the squad due to an injury. PRE Preliminary squad. RET Player retired from the national team. SUS Player is serving suspension. WD Player withdrew from the squad due to non-injury issue. INE Ineligible player.

Records

As of 11 June 2025^[7]

Players in bold are still active with Nicaragua.

Most appearances

Josué Quijano is Nicaragua's most-capped player with 102 international appearances.

Rank	Player	Caps	Goals	Career
1	Josué Quijano	104	3	2011–present
2	Juan Barrera	98	26	2009–present
3	Manuel Rosas	60	2	2013–2022
4	David Solórzano	49	1	1999–2014
5	Jaime Moreno	47	14	2016–present
6	Carlos Chavarría	44	11	2013–2021
7	Byron Bonilla	40	6	2016–present
	Marlon López	40	0	2014–2020
9	Luis Copete	39	3	2014–2023
	Denis Espinoza	39	1	2004–2021

Top goalscorers

Juan Barrera is Nicaragua's all-time top scorer with 26 goals.

Rank	Player	Goals	Caps	Ratio	Career
1	Juan Barrera	26	98	0.27	2009–present
2	Jaime Moreno	14	47	0.3	2016–present
3	Emilio Palacios	11	26	0.42	2001–2009
	Carlos Chavarría	11	44	0.25	2013–2021
5	Raúl Leguías	8	23	0.35	2011–2016
6	Ariagner Smith	7	21	0.33	2017–present
	Matías Moldskred	7	33	0.23	2021–present
8	Byron Bonilla	6	40	0.15	2016–present
	Luis Galeano	6	35	0.17	2015–2022
10	Jacob Montes	4	12	0.33	2023–present
	Rudel Calero	4	26	0.15	2001–2011
	Samuel Wilson	4	29	0.14	2001–2013

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

The Nicaragua national football team has never qualified for the World Cup. Their latest attempt was for the 2022 World Cup, when the side failed to advance from the first round.

FIFA World Cup record										Qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1930	Not a FIFA member									Not a FIFA member
1934
1938
1950	Did not enter									Declined participation
1954
1958
1962
1966
1970
1974
1978
1982
1986
1990
1994	Did not qualify									2	0	0	2	1	10
1998										2	0	0	2	1	3
2002										4	0	0	4	0	10
2006										2	0	1	1	3	6
2010										2	0	0	2	0	3
2014										4	2	0	2	5	7
2018										6	5	0	1	15	5
2022										3	2	0	1	10	1
2026	Qualification in progress									4	3	0	1	9	4
2030	To be determined									To be determined
2034
Total	–	0/19	–	–	–	–	–	–		29	12	1	16	44	49

CONCACAF Gold Cup

Main article: Nicaragua at the CONCACAF Gold Cup

CONCACAF Championship & Gold Cup record											Qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA	Squad		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1963	Group stage	8th	4	0	0	4	2	15	Squad		Qualified automatically
1965	Did not qualify										2	1	0	1	2	4
1967	Sixth place	6th	5	0	1	4	3	12	Squad		2	1	0	1	4	4
1969	Did not enter										Did not enter
1971	Did not qualify										2	0	0	2	2	4
1973	Did not enter										Did not enter
1977
1981
1985
1989
1991	Did not qualify										2	0	0	2	2	5
1993											2	0	0	2	0	8
1996											2	0	0	2	0	7
1998											2	0	0	2	2	11
2000											2	0	0	2	0	2
2002											3	0	0	3	2	19
2003											5	1	0	4	1	11
2005											3	1	0	2	2	9
2007											4	1	0	3	6	14
2009	Group stage	11th	3	0	0	3	0	8	Squad		4	1	2	1	5	6
2011	Did not qualify										4	0	1	3	2	7
2013											3	0	1	2	2	5
2015											3	0	0	3	0	6
2017	Group stage	10th	3	0	0	3	1	7	Squad		7	2	1	4	9	9
2019		15th	3	0	0	3	0	8	Squad		4	3	0	1	9	2
2021	Did not qualify										6	2	1	3	9	11
2023	Disqualified[5]										6	4	2	0	15	5
2025	Did not qualify										6	2	1	3	5	7
Total	Sixth place	5/28	18	0	1	17	6	50	—		74	19	9	46	79	154

CONCACAF Nations League

CONCACAF Nations League record
League											Finals
Season	Division	Group	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	P/R		Year	Result	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Squad
2019–20	B	D	6	2	1	3	9	11			2021	Ineligible
2022–23	B	C	6	4	2	0	15	5			2023
2023–24	B	B	6	5	1	0	17	1			2024
2024–25	A	B	4	2	1	1	5	5			2025	Did not qualify
Total	—	—	22	13	5	4	46	22	—		Total	0 Titles	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

Copa Centroamericana

Copa Centroamericana record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1991	Preliminary round	5th	2	0	0	2	2	5
1993	Preliminary round	5th	2	0	0	2	0	8
1995	Preliminary round	7th	2	0	0	2	0	7
1997	First round	6th	2	0	0	2	2	11
1999	First round	5th	2	0	0	2	0	2
2001	First round	7th	3	0	0	3	2	19
2003	Sixth place	6th	5	1	0	4	1	11
2005	Fifth place	5th	3	1	0	2	2	9
2007	Sixth place	6th	4	1	0	3	6	14
2009	Fifth place	5th	4	1	2	1	5	6
2011	Sixth place	6th	4	0	1	3	2	7
2013	Seventh place	7th	3	0	1	2	2	5
2014	Sixth place	6th	3	0	0	3	0	6
2017	Fifth place	5th	5	1	1	3	5	6
Total	Fifth place	14/14	44	5	5	34	29	116

CCCF Championship

CCCF Championship record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1941	Fifth place	5th	4	0	0	4	5	29
1943	Fourth place	4th	6	0	0	6	7	39
1946	Sixth place	6th	5	1	0	4	5	31
1948	Did not enter
1951	Third place	3rd	4	0	0	4	4	22
1953	Sixth place	6th	6	1	0	5	4	18
1955	Did not enter
1957
1960
1961	Ninth place	9th	3	0	0	3	3	18
Total	Third place	6/10	28	2	0	26	28	157

Pan American Games

Pan American Games record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1951	Did not enter
1955
1959
1963
1967
1971
1975	Preliminary round	13th	3	0	0	3	2	23
1979	Did not enter
1983
1987
1991	Preliminary round	8th	3	0	0	3	1	20
1995	Did not qualify
1999
2003
2007
2011
2015
2019
2023
Total	Preliminary round	2/19	6	0	0	6	3	43

Central American and Caribbean Games

Central American and Caribbean Games record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1930	Did not qualify
1935
1938
1946
1950	Group stage	8th	3	0	0	3	4	19
1954	Did not qualify
1959
1962
1966
1970
1974
1978
1982	Group stage	7th	3	0	1	2	2	6
1986	Did not qualify
1990
1993
1998	Quarter-finals	8th	4	1	0	3	3	13
2002	Quarter-finals	8th	3	1	0	2	2	7
2006	Did not qualify
2010
2014
2018
Total	Quarter-finals	4/22	13	2	1	10	11	45

Head-to-head record

As of 10 June 2025 after the match against Panama.^[8]

  Positive Record   Neutral Record   Negative Record

Opponents	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
Anguilla	3	3	0	0	14	0	+14
Argentina	1	0	0	1	1	5	−4
Bahamas	2	2	0	0	6	0	+6
Barbados	4	3	0	1	10	2	+8
Belize	14	6	4	4	24	14	+10
Bermuda	5	2	0	3	5	7	−2
Bolivia	3	0	1	2	4	6	−2
Canada	1	1	0	0	3	1	+2
Cayman Islands	1	1	0	0	1	0	+1
Colombia	1	0	0	1	2	7	−5
Costa Rica	19	1	1	17	10	72	−62
Cuba	15	4	4	7	17	26	−9
Curaçao[a]	8	0	1	7	3	34	−31
Dominica	4	4	0	0	10	1	+9
Dominican Republic	4	1	1	2	2	4	−2
El Salvador	31	1	3	27	21	120	−99
French Guiana	2	2	0	0	4	2	+2
Ghana	1	0	0	1	0	1	−1
Guadeloupe	3	0	0	3	0	4	−4
Guatemala	28	2	5	21	18	74	−56
Guyana	1	1	0	0	1	0	+1
Haiti	9	1	2	6	9	16	−7
Honduras	25	1	3	21	16	80	−64
Iran	1	0	0	1	0	1	−1
Jamaica	3	1	0	2	3	6	−3
Martinique	2	0	0	2	0	4	−4
Mexico	3	0	0	3	1	10	−9
Montserrat	3	3	0	0	10	1	+9
Panama	29	5	1	23	26	82	−56
Paraguay	1	0	0	1	0	2	−2
Peru	1	0	0	1	0	2	−2
Puerto Rico	6	3	2	1	10	7	+3
Qatar	1	0	0	1	1	2	−1
Saint Kitts and Nevis	2	0	2	0	0	0	0
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	7	2	3	2	12	11	+1
Suriname	5	2	0	3	6	11	−5
Trinidad and Tobago	7	2	2	3	7	12	−5
Turks and Caicos Islands	1	1	0	0	7	0	+7
United States	1	0	0	1	0	3	−3
Uruguay	1	0	0	1	1	4	−3
Venezuela	1	0	1	0	1	1	0
Total (41)	260	55	36	169	265	635	−370

1. Includes matches against the Netherlands Antilles.

Honours

Regional

• CCCF Championship
  • Third place (1): 1951

See also

• Association football portal
• Nicaragua portal

• Nicaragua national under-20 football team
• List of football clubs in Nicaragua