Nicaragua national football team

Men's association football team From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Nicaragua national football team (Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Nicaragua) represents Nicaragua in men's international football, which is governed by the Federación Nicaragüense de Fútbol (English: Nicaraguan Football Federation) founded in 1931. It has been an affiliate member of FIFA since 1950 and a founding affiliate member of CONCACAF since 1961. Regionally, it is an affiliate member of UNCAF in the Central American Zone.

Nickname(s)La Azul y Blanco (The Blue and White)
Los Pinoleros (The Pinoleros)
ConfederationCONCACAF (North America)
Sub-confederationUNCAF (Central America)
Quick facts Nickname(s), Association ...
Nicaragua
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)La Azul y Blanco (The Blue and White)
Los Pinoleros (The Pinoleros)
AssociationFederación Nicaragüense de Fútbol (FENIFUT)
ConfederationCONCACAF (North America)
Sub-confederationUNCAF (Central America)
Head coachJuan Cruz Real
CaptainJuan Barrera
Most capsJosué Quijano (108)
Top scorerJuan Barrera (26)
Home stadiumEstadio Nacional de Fútbol
FIFA codeNCA
First colours
Second colours
Third colours
FIFA ranking
Current 131 Steady (1 April 2026)[1]
Highest92 (December 2015)
Lowest193 (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
Appearances5 (first in 1963)
Best resultSixth place (1967)
CONCACAF Nations League
Appearances4 (first in 2019–20)
Best resultGroup stage (2024–25)
CCCF Championship
Appearances6 (first in 1941)
Best resultThird place (1951)
Copa Centroamericana
Appearances14 (first in 1991)
Best resultFifth place (2005, 2009, 2017)
Medal record
Close

Nicaragua has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup, but has participated five times in CONCACAF's premier continental competition, finishing sixth place in the 1967 CONCACAF Championship. It has participated three times in League B and once in League A of the CONCACAF Nations League.

Regionally, the team finished in third place in the CCCF Championship in 1957, and also finished in fifth place three times in the Copa Centroamericana.[2]

Nicaragua's first appearance in international competition was in the 1941 CCCF Championship. Their first appearance in World Cup qualifiers was in the 1994 CONCACAF qualification.

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

More information Kit supplier, Period ...
Kit supplier Period
Germany Puma1998-2003
Spain Joma2004–2021
Mexico Keuka2022–2024
United States Orion2025-present
Close

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

2025

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)
25 March 2025 Gold Cup qualification Nicaragua  0–1
(0–2 agg.)
 Guadeloupe Managua, Nicaragua
18:30 UTC−6 Report
Stadium: Estadio Nacional de Fútbol
Referee: Fernando Hernández (Mexico)
Note: Guadeloupe won 2–0 on aggregate and qualified for the Finals.
1 June Friendly Puerto Rico  1–1  Nicaragua Pawtucket, United States
16:30 UTC−4
Report
  • Hernández 60'
Stadium: Centreville Bank Stadium
10 June 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Panama  3–0  Nicaragua Panama City, Panama
19:00 UTC−5
Report Stadium: Estadio Rommel Fernández
Referee: Ismael López (Mexico)
5 September 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Nicaragua  1–1  Costa Rica Managua, Nicaragua
20:00 UTC−6
Report
Stadium: Estadio Nacional
Attendance: 19,532
Referee: Marco Ortíz (Mexico)
9 October 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Nicaragua  0–3  Haiti Managua, Nicaragua
18:00 UTC−6 Report
Stadium: Estadio Nacional
Referee: Víctor Cáceres Hernández (Mexico)
13 October 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Costa Rica  4–1  Nicaragua San José, Costa Rica
20:00 UTC−6
Report
  • Arteaga 26'
Stadium: Estadio Nacional
Referee: Ismael Cornejo (El Salvador)
13 November 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Nicaragua  2–0  Honduras Managua, Nicaragua
20:00 UTC−6
Report Stadium: Estadio Nacional
Referee: Ismail Elfath (United States)

2026

27 March Friendly Russia  3–1  Nicaragua Krasnodar, Russia
19:30 UTC+3
Report
Stadium: Krasnodar Stadium
Attendance: 31,625
Referee: Abdurashid Khudoyberganov (Uzbekistan)

Coaching staff

More information Position, Name ...
Position Name
Technical director Nicaragua Roger Rodriguez
Caretaker Head coach Argentina Juan Cruz Real
Assistant coach Vacant
Assistant coach Vacant
Goalkeeping coach Vacant
Physical coordinator Vacant
Doctor Vacant
Physiotherapist Vacant
Team coordinator Nicaragua Cesar Castro Trinidad
Team coordinator Nicaragua Nestor Díaz
Close

Coaching history

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up to the squad for the friendly match against Russia on 27 March 2026.[6]

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

More information No., Pos. ...
No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Alyer López (1999-05-16) 16 May 1999 (age 26) 4 0 Nicaraguan Football Federation Managua
12 1GK Adonis Pineda (1997-04-02) 2 April 1997 (age 29) 0 0 Costa Rican Football Federation Puntarenas
23 1GK Darryl Parker (1993-03-07) 7 March 1993 (age 33) 0 0 Nicaraguan Football Federation Real Estelí

2 2DF Josué Quijano (1991-03-10) 10 March 1991 (age 35) 99 3 Nicaraguan Football Federation Real Estelí
3 2DF Óscar Acevedo (1997-03-18) 18 March 1997 (age 29) 29 2 Nicaraguan Football Federation Real Estelí
5 2DF Justing Cano (2002-03-02) 2 March 2002 (age 24) 3 0 Nicaraguan Football Federation Diriangén
6 2DF Joab Gutiérrez (2006-03-31) 31 March 2006 (age 20) 1 0 Nicaraguan Football Federation Real Estelí
18 2DF Leyner Moses (2005-10-17) 17 October 2005 (age 20) 0 0 Nicaraguan Football Federation Real Estelí
19 2DF Evert Martínez (2002-03-08) 8 March 2002 (age 24) 1 0 Nicaraguan Football Federation Real Estelí
21 2DF Christian Reyes (1998-01-03) 3 January 1998 (age 28) 12 0 Costa Rican Football Federation Liberia
22 2DF Anyelo Velásquez (2004-12-22) 22 December 2004 (age 21) 1 0 Nicaraguan Football Federation Diriangén

4 3MF Jefferson Rivera (1996-11-03) 3 November 1996 (age 29) 0 0 Costa Rican Football Federation Pérez Zeledón
8 3MF Jacob Montes (1998-12-20) 20 December 1998 (age 27) 11 4 Royal Belgian Football Association RWD Molenbeek
13 3MF Marvin Barahona (2005-09-05) 5 September 2005 (age 20) 0 0 Nicaraguan Football Federation Jalapa
14 3MF Jason Coronel (1993-10-06) 6 October 1993 (age 32) 32 0 Nicaraguan Football Federation Real Estelí
15 3MF Jonathan Moncada (1998-01-03) 3 January 1998 (age 28) 16 0 Nicaraguan Football Federation Diriangén
17 3MF Marlon López (1992-11-02) 2 November 1992 (age 33) 44 0 Nicaraguan Football Federation Real Estelí

7 4FW Bancy Hernández (2000-06-27) 27 June 2000 (age 25) 14 2 Costa Rican Football Federation Saprissa
9 4FW José Martínez (2005-02-13) 13 February 2005 (age 21) 0 0 Nicaraguan Football Federation Managua
10 4FW Byron Bonilla (1993-08-30) 30 August 1993 (age 32) 35 6 Nicaraguan Football Federation Real Estelí
11 4FW Juan Barrera (captain) (1989-05-02) 2 May 1989 (age 36) 93 26 Nicaraguan Football Federation Real Estelí
16 4FW Jorge García (1998-08-27) 27 August 1998 (age 27) 12 1 Nicaraguan Football Federation Matagalpa
20 4FW Edgar Castillo (2002-05-21) 21 May 2002 (age 23) 1 0 Nicaraguan Football Federation Sébaco
Close

Recent call-ups

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

More information Pos., Player ...
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 Nicaragua Real Estelí v.  Haiti, 18 November 2025
GK Brandon Mayorga (1998-01-06) 6 January 1998 (age 28) 0 0 Nicaragua UNAN Managua v.  Haiti, 18 November 2025
GK Miguel Rodríguez (2003-06-13) 13 June 2003 (age 22) 13 0 Honduras Atlético Independiente v.  Costa Rica, 13 October 2025
GK Jason Vega (1995-11-06) 6 November 1995 (age 30) 3 0 Nicaragua Real Estelí v.  Guadeloupe, 25 March 2025

DF Juan Luis Pérez (1999-06-29) 29 June 1999 (age 26) 15 3 Nicaragua Diriangén Microcycle, March 2026
DF Henry Niño (1997-10-03) 3 October 1997 (age 28) 25 1 Nicaragua Real Estelí v.  Haiti, 18 November 2025
DF Emmanuel Gómez (2000-05-17) 17 May 2000 (age 25) 6 0 Panama UMECIT v.  Haiti, 18 November 2025
DF Junior Delgado (1993-09-24) 24 September 1993 (age 32) 1 0 Nicaragua Real Estelí v.  Haiti, 18 November 2025
DF Steven Cáceres (1993-09-24) 24 September 1993 (age 32) 1 0 Nicaragua Managua v.  Honduras, 13 November 2025
DF Melvin Hernández (1994-04-26) 26 April 1994 (age 32) 12 0 Nicaragua UNAN Managua v.  Honduras, 9 September 2025
DF Marvin Fletes (1997-11-12) 12 November 1997 (age 28) 37 2 Nicaragua Real Estelí v.  Guadeloupe, 25 March 2025

MF Junior Arteaga (1999-12-09) 9 December 1999 (age 26) 18 2 Nicaragua Diriangén v.  Haiti, 18 November 2025
MF Matías Moldskred Belli (1997-08-12) 12 August 1997 (age 28) 29 7 Norway Sandnes Ulf v.  Haiti, 9 October 2025
MF Nextaly Rodríguez (1998-03-03) 3 March 1998 (age 28) 10 1 Costa Rica Liberia v.  Panama, 10 June 2025
MF Kevin Serapio (1996-04-09) 9 April 1996 (age 30) 28 1 Nicaragua Managua v.  Puerto Rico, 1 June 2025

FW Ariagner Smith (1998-12-13) 13 December 1998 (age 27) 20 7 Lithuania FK Panevėžys Microcycle, March 2026
FW Edwin Zepeda (2009-05-22) 22 May 2009 (age 16) 0 0 Nicaragua Managua Microcycle, March 2026
FW Brayan López (1990-06-03) 3 June 1990 (age 35) 11 0 Costa Rica Puntarenas v.  Haiti, 18 November 2025
FW Jaime Moreno (1995-03-30) 30 March 1995 (age 31) 42 13 Indonesia Barito Putera v.  Haiti, 18 November 2025
FW Ariel Arauz (2001-05-30) 30 May 2001 (age 24) 3 0 Costa Rica Herediano v.  Haiti, 18 November 2025
FW Widman Talavera (2003-01-12) 12 January 2003 (age 23) 15 3 Nicaragua Real Estelí v.  Haiti, 18 November 2025

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.

Close

Records

As of 9 October 2025[7]
Players in bold are still active with Nicaragua.

Most appearances

Josué Quijano is Nicaragua's most-capped player with 105 international appearances.
More information Rank, Player ...
Rank Player Caps Goals Career
1 Josué Quijano 105 3 2011–present
2 Juan Barrera 99 26 2009–present
3 Manuel Rosas 60 2 2013–2022
4 David Solórzano 49 1 1999–2014
5 Jaime Moreno 48 14 2016–present
6 Carlos Chavarría 44 11 2013–2021
7 Byron Bonilla 42 7 2016–present
8 Marlon López 40 0 2014–2020
9 Luis Copete 39 3 2014–2023
Denis Espinoza 39 1 2004–2021
Close

Top goalscorers

Juan Barrera is Nicaragua's all-time top scorer with 26 goals.
More information Rank, Player ...
Rank Player Goals Caps Ratio Career
1Juan Barrera26990.262009–present
2Jaime Moreno14480.292016–present
3Emilio Palacios11260.422001–2009
Carlos Chavarría11440.252013–2021
5Raúl Leguías8230.352011–2016
6Ariagner Smith7250.282017–present
Matías Moldskred7340.212021–present
Byron Bonilla7420.172016–present
9Luis Galeano6350.172015–2022
10Jacob Montes4140.292023–present
Rudel Calero4260.152001–2011
Samuel Wilson4290.142001–2013
Close

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.

More information FIFA World Cup record, Qualification record ...
FIFA World Cup record Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
Uruguay 1930 Not a FIFA member Not a FIFA member
Italy 1934
France 1938
Brazil 1950 Declined participation Declined participation
Switzerland 1954
Sweden 1958
Chile 1962
England 1966
Mexico 1970
West Germany 1974
Argentina 1978
Spain 1982
Mexico 1986
Italy 1990
United States 1994 Did not qualify 2 0 0 2 1 10
France 1998 2 0 0 2 1 3
South Korea Japan 2002 4 0 0 4 0 10
Germany 2006 2 0 1 1 3 6
South Africa 2010 2 0 0 2 0 3
Brazil 2014 4 2 0 2 5 7
Russia 2018 6 5 0 1 15 5
Qatar 2022 3 2 0 1 10 1
Canada Mexico United States 2026 10 4 1 5 13 16
Morocco Portugal Spain 2030 To be determined To be determined
Saudi Arabia 2034
Total 0/19 35 13 2 20 48 61
Close

CONCACAF Gold Cup

More information CONCACAF Championship & Gold Cup record, Qualification record ...
CONCACAF Championship & Gold Cup record Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA Squad Pld W D L GF GA
El Salvador 1963 Group stage8th4004215Squad Qualified automatically
Guatemala 1965 Did not qualify 2 1 0 1 2 4
Honduras 1967 Sixth place6th5014312Squad 2 1 0 1 4 4
Costa Rica 1969 Did not enter Did not enter
Trinidad and Tobago 1971 Did not qualify 2 0 0 2 2 4
Haiti 1973 Did not enter Did not enter
Mexico 1977
Honduras 1981
1985
1989
United States 1991 Did not qualify 2 0 0 2 2 5
Mexico United States 1993 2 0 0 2 0 8
United States 1996 2 0 0 2 0 7
United States 1998 2 0 0 2 2 11
United States 2000 2 0 0 2 0 2
United States 2002 3 0 0 3 2 19
Mexico United States 2003 5 1 0 4 1 11
United States 2005 3 1 0 2 2 9
United States 2007 4 1 0 3 6 14
United States 2009 Group stage11th300308Squad 4 1 2 1 5 6
United States 2011 Did not qualify 4 0 1 3 2 7
United States 2013 3 0 1 2 2 5
Canada United States 2015 3 0 0 3 0 6
United States 2017 Group stage10th300317 Squad 7 2 1 4 9 9
Costa Rica Jamaica United States 2019 15th300308Squad 4 3 0 1 9 2
United States 2021 Did not qualify 6 2 1 3 9 11
Canada United States 2023 Disqualified[5] 6 4 2 0 15 5
Canada United States 2025 Did not qualify 6 2 1 3 5 7
TotalSixth place5/28180117650741994679154
Close

CONCACAF Nations League

More information CONCACAF Nations League record, 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 Same position United States 2021 Ineligible
2022–23 B C 6 4 2 0 15 5 Same position United States 2023
2023–24 B B 6 5 1 0 17 1 Rise United States 2024
2024–25 A B 4 2 1 1 5 5 Same position United States 2025 Did not qualify
2026–27 A To be determined 2027 To be determined
Total 22 13 5 4 46 22 Total 0 Titles
Close

Copa Centroamericana

More information Copa Centroamericana record, Year ...
Copa Centroamericana record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA
Costa Rica 1991Preliminary round5th200225
Honduras 19935th200208
El Salvador 19957th200207
Guatemala 1997First round6th2002211
Costa Rica 19995th200202
Honduras 20017th3003219
Panama 2003Sixth place6th5104111
Guatemala 2005Fifth place5th310229
El Salvador 2007Sixth place6th4103614
Honduras 2009Fifth place5th412156
Panama 2011Sixth place6th401327
Costa Rica 2013Seventh place7th301225
United States 2014Sixth place6th300306
Panama 2017Fifth place5th511356
TotalFifth place14/1444553429116
Close

CCCF Championship

More information CCCF Championship record, Year ...
CCCF Championship record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA
Costa Rica 1941Fifth place5th4004529
El Salvador 1943Fourth place4th6006739
Costa Rica 1946Sixth place6th5104531
Guatemala 1948Did not enter
Panama 1951Third place3rd4004422
Costa Rica 1953Sixth place6th6105418
Honduras 1955Did not enter
Netherlands Antilles 1957
Cuba 1960
Costa Rica 1961Ninth place9th3003318
TotalThird place6/1028202628157
Close

Pan American Games

More information Pan American Games record, Year ...
Pan American Games record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA
Argentina 1951Did not enter
Mexico 1955
United States 1959
Brazil 1963
Canada 1967
Colombia 1971
Mexico 1975Preliminary round13th3003223
Puerto Rico 1979Did not enter
Venezuela 1983
United States 1987
Cuba 1991Preliminary round8th3003120
Argentina 1995Did not qualify
Since 1999Youth teams participated
TotalPreliminary round2/126006343
Close

Central American and Caribbean Games

More information Central American and Caribbean Games record, Year ...
Central American and Caribbean Games record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA
Cuba 1930Did not qualify
El Salvador 1935
Panama 1938
Colombia 1946
Guatemala 1950Group stage8th3003419
Mexico 1954Did not qualify
Venezuela 1959
Jamaica 1962
Puerto Rico 1966
Panama 1970
Dominican Republic 1974
Colombia 1978
Cuba 1982Group stage7th301226
Dominican Republic 1986Did not qualify
Since 1990Youth teams participated
TotalGroup stage2/146015625
Close

Head-to-head record

As of 27 March 2026.[8]

  Positive Record   Neutral Record   Negative Record

More information Opponents, Pld ...
Close
  1. Includes matches against the Netherlands Antilles.

Honours

Subregional

See also

References

Related Articles

Wikiwand AI