2026 Copa de Primera
Paraguayan Primera División season
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The 2026 Copa de Primera (officially the Copa de Primera Tigo – ueno bank 2026 for sponsorship reasons) is the 92nd season of the División de Honor, the top-flight professional football league in Paraguay. The season, which consists of two tournaments (Apertura and Clausura), began on 23 January and is scheduled to end on 29 November 2026. The fixture draw for both of the season's tournaments was held on 3 December 2025.[1]
| Season | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 23 January – 29 November 2026 |
| Matches | 71 |
| Goals | 161 (2.27 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Apertura: Lorenzo Melgarejo (7 goals) |
| Biggest home win | Nacional 5–1 2 de Mayo (31 January) Guaraní 4–0 Rubio Ñu (1 February) |
| Biggest away win | San Lorenzo 0–7 Libertad (2 March) |
| Highest scoring | San Lorenzo 0–7 Libertad (2 March) |
← 2025 2027 →
All statistics correct as of 23 March 2026. | |
Cerro Porteño entered the season as defending champions, having won the 2025 Clausura tournament.
Teams
Twelve teams compete in this season: the top ten teams in the relegation table of the 2025 season and the top two teams in the 2025 Paraguayan División Intermedia.
Team changes
General Caballero (JLM) and Tembetary were relegated to the second tier league División Intermedia after ending in the bottom two places of the relegation table at the end of the 2025 season, and they were replaced by the 2025 División Intermedia champions Rubio Ñu and runners-up San Lorenzo.
Rubio Ñu, who returned to the top flight after 8 years, clinched promotion with a 1–0 win over Sportivo Carapeguá on 14 September 2025,[2] while San Lorenzo returned to the Copa de Primera for the first time since 2020 by defeating Fernando de la Mora on 4 October 2025, the final matchday of the División Intermedia tournament.[3]
|
|
Stadia and locations
| Team | City | Stadium[i] | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 de Mayo | Pedro Juan Caballero | Río Parapití | 25,000 |
| Cerro Porteño | Asunción | General Pablo Rojas | 45,000 |
| Guaraní | Asunción | La Arboleda[ii] | 8,000 |
| Libertad | Asunción | La Huerta | 14,000 |
| Nacional | Asunción | Arsenio Erico | 7,500 |
| Olimpia | Capiatá | Erico Galeano[iii] | 13,500 |
| Recoleta | Asunción | Ricardo Gregor[iv] | 4,000 |
| Rubio Ñu | Asunción | La Arboleda | 8,000 |
| San Lorenzo | San Lorenzo | Gunther Vogel | 5,000 |
| Sportivo Ameliano | Villeta | Ameliano Villeta | 7,000 |
| Sportivo Luqueño | Capiatá | Erico Galeano[v] | 13,500 |
| Sportivo Trinidense | Asunción | Martín Torres | 3,000 |
- Notes
- Teams occasionally play home matches at Estadio Defensores del Chaco in Asunción.
- Guaraní play their home matches at Estadio La Arboleda since their stadium Estadio Rogelio Livieres was closed for reconstruction.[4]
- Olimpia play their home matches at Estadio Erico Galeano since their stadium Estadio Osvaldo Domínguez Dibb in Asunción was closed for reconstruction.[5]
- Recoleta play their home matches at Estadio Ricardo Gregor since their stadium Estadio Roque Battilana did not meet APF requirements.[6]
- Sportivo Luqueño play their home matches at Estadio Erico Galeano since their stadium Estadio Feliciano Cáceres in Luque is closed for remodeling works.[7]
Personnel and kits
| Team | Head coach | Kit manufacturer | Main shirt sponsors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 de Mayo |  Eduardo Ledesma |
Kyrios | Zero Grau, Banco Continental, Fleming |
| Cerro Porteño | Jorge Achucarro (caretaker) |
Puma | Tigo, Ueno |
| Guaraní |  Leandro Romagnoli |
Kyrios | Tigo, Ueno, Aposta.La |
| Libertad | Francisco Arce |
Puma | Tigo |
| Nacional | Felipe Giménez |
Kappa | Kia, Banco Continental, Coca-Cola, Santa Clara |
| Olimpia | Pablo Sánchez |
Nike | Tigo, Visión Banco |
| Recoleta | Jorge González |
Running Sport | Ueno, BYD, Universidad Central del Paraguay |
| Rubio Ñu | Gustavo Morínigo |
Garcis | Lácteos Trébol, Pinturas Bambi |
| San Lorenzo | Julio César Cáceres |
Temple | Ochsi |
| Sportivo Ameliano | Roberto Nanni |
Netanya Sport | Slots del Sol, Kia, Banco Continental, Ayres |
| Sportivo Luqueño | Pedro Sarabia |
Kyrios | Comercial Vírgen del Rosario, Ueno, Betsson |
| Sportivo Trinidense | José Arrúa |
Lotto | Noroda, Lácteos Trébol, Chorti Beef, Ueno |
Managerial changes
| Team | Outgoing head coach | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming head coach | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Torneo Apertura | ||||||
| Olimpia | Ever Almeida |
Sacked | 26 November 2025[8] | Pre-season | Pablo Sánchez |
28 November 2025[9] |
| 2 de Mayo | Felipe Giménez |
Resigned | 27 November 2025[10] | Eduardo Ledesma |
5 December 2025[11] | |
| Libertad | Pablo Guiñazú |
Sacked | 1 December 2025[12] | Francisco Arce |
5 December 2025[13] | |
| Nacional | Pedro Sarabia |
End of contract | 1 December 2025[14] | Felipe Giménez |
15 December 2025[15] | |
| Rubio Ñu | Héctor Marecos |
11 December 2025[16] | Gustavo Morínigo |
11 December 2025[16] | ||
| San Lorenzo |  Sergio Órteman |
Sacked | 6 February 2026[17] | 12th | Julio César Cáceres |
8 February 2026[18] |
| Sportivo Luqueño | Lucas Barrios |
Resigned | 3 March 2026[19] | 8th | Pedro Sarabia |
3 March 2026[19] |
| Guaraní | Víctor Bernay |
Sacked | 16 March 2026[20] | 10th | Claudio Vargas[i] |
16 March 2026[21] |
| Claudio Vargas |
End of caretaker spell | 19 March 2026 | 8th | Leandro Romagnoli |
19 March 2026[22] | |
| Cerro Porteño | Jorge Bava |
Sacked | 19 March 2026[23] | 3rd | Jorge Achucarro[i] |
19 March 2026[24] |
- Notes
- Caretaker manager.
Torneo Apertura
The Torneo Apertura is the 133rd official División de Honor championship and the first tournament of the 2026 season. It began on 23 January and is scheduled to end on 24 May 2026.[25]
Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Olimpia | 12 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 16 | 6 | +10 | 30 | Qualification for Copa Libertadores group stage |
| 2 | Cerro Porteño | 12 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 17 | 11 | +6 | 23 | |
| 3 | Nacional | 12 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 18 | 10 | +8 | 22 | |
| 4 | Libertad | 12 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 20 | 13 | +7 | 17[a] | |
| 5 | Sportivo Ameliano | 12 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 12 | 9 | +3 | 17[a] | |
| 6 | Sportivo Trinidense | 12 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 15[b] | |
| 7 | Rubio Ñu | 12 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 12 | −2 | 15[b] | |
| 8 | Recoleta | 12 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 15 | 17 | −2 | 13 | |
| 9 | Guaraní | 11 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 16 | 15 | +1 | 12 | |
| 10 | 2 de Mayo | 11 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 15 | −7 | 12 | |
| 11 | Sportivo Luqueño | 12 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 10 | 16 | −6 | 11 | |
| 12 | San Lorenzo | 12 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 25 | −18 | 5 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points, 2) Head-to-head points, 3) Head-to-head goal difference, 4) Overall goal difference, 5) Goals for, 6) Playoff game (if needed to decide championship between two teams) or Drawing of lots (if three teams or more are tied).
Notes:
Results
Top scorers
- As of 23 March 2026
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lorenzo Melgarejo |
Libertad | 8 |
| 2 | Néstor Camacho |
Sportivo Trinidense | 5 |
| Elvio Vera |
Sportivo Ameliano | ||
| Iván Maggi |
Sportivo Luqueño | ||
| 5 | Allan Wlk |
Recoleta | 4 |
| Cecilio Domínguez |
Cerro Porteño | ||
| Estiven Pérez |
Rubio Ñu | ||
| 8 | Juan Iturbe |
Cerro Porteño | 3 |
| Aldo González |
Recoleta | ||
| Federico Carrizo |
Libertad | ||
| Derlis Rodríguez |
Guaraní | ||
| Iván Valdez |
Nacional | ||
| Adrián Alcaraz |
Olimpia |
Source: BeSoccer[26]
Torneo Clausura
The Torneo Clausura will be the 134th official División de Honor championship and the second tournament of the 2026 season. It is scheduled to begin on 24 July and end on 29 November 2026.[27]
Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 de Mayo | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Qualification for Copa Libertadores group stage |
| 2 | Cerro Porteño | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 3 | Guaraní | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 4 | Libertad | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 5 | Nacional | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 6 | Olimpia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 7 | Recoleta | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 8 | Rubio Ñu | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 9 | San Lorenzo | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 10 | Sportivo Ameliano | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 11 | Sportivo Luqueño | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 12 | Sportivo Trinidense | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points, 2) Head-to-head points, 3) Head-to-head goal difference, 4) Overall goal difference, 5) Goals for, 6) Playoff game (if needed to decide championship between two teams) or Drawing of lots (if three teams or more are tied).
Results
Relegation
Relegation is determined at the end of the season by computing an average of the number of points earned per game over the past three seasons. The two teams with the lowest average will be relegated to the División Intermedia for the following season.
| Pos | Team | 2024 Pts | 2025 Pts | 2026 Pts | Total Pts | Total Pld | Avg | Relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cerro Porteño | 74 | 85 | 23 | 182 | 100 | 1.82 | |
| 2 | Olimpia | 80 | 59 | 30 | 169 | 100 | 1.69 | |
| 3 | Guaraní | 66 | 83 | 12 | 161 | 99 | 1.626 | |
| 4 | Libertad | 74 | 70 | 17 | 161 | 100 | 1.61 | |
| 5 | Nacional | 55 | 60 | 22 | 137 | 100 | 1.37 | |
| 6 | 2 de Mayo | 65 | 51 | 12 | 128 | 99 | 1.293 | |
| 7 | Recoleta | — | 59 | 13 | 72 | 56 | 1.286 | |
| 8 | Sportivo Trinidense | 46 | 67 | 15 | 128 | 100 | 1.28 | |
| 9 | Rubio Ñu | — | — | 15 | 15 | 12 | 1.25 | |
| 10 | Sportivo Ameliano | 56 | 48 | 17 | 121 | 100 | 1.21 | |
| 11 | Sportivo Luqueño | 61 | 47 | 11 | 119 | 100 | 1.19 | Relegation to División Intermedia |
| 12 | San Lorenzo | — | — | 5 | 5 | 12 | 0.417 |
Updated to match(es) played on 23 March 2026 (1 of 2 matches finished). Source: APF