This page is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Nicaragua women's national football team.
Quick facts for kids
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 |
Marco Antonio Figueroa |
| Captain |
Juan Barrera |
| Most caps |
Josué Quijano (92) |
| Top scorer |
Juan Barrera (24) |
| Home stadium |
Estadio Nacional de Fútbol |
| FIFA code |
NCA |
|
|
|
|
| FIFA ranking |
| Current |
128  1 (7 February 2019) |
| Highest |
92 (December 2015) |
| Lowest |
193 (May 2001) |
| Elo ranking |
| Current |
141 2 (3 March 2019) |
| Highest |
126 (3 July 2017) |
| Lowest |
204 (May–November 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 |
| Bronze |
1951 Panama |
Team |
|
The Nicaragua national football team (Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Nicaragua) represents Nicaragua in men's international football and is controlled by the 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. However, the team has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup.
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.
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.
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.
Team image
| Kit supplier |
Period |
 Joma |
2004–2021 |
 Keuka |
2022–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
2023
| Friendly 10 June |
Panama  |
3–2 |
Nicaragua |
Penonomé, Panama |
|
| 19:00 UTC−5 |
- Murillo
 55', 81'
- Miller 84'
|
https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2023/06/11/world/friendlies/panama/nicaragua/4073593/ |
- Talavera 44'
- Acevedo 62'
|
Stadium: Estadio Universitario F.C.
Referee: David Gómez (Costa Rica)
|
|
| Friendly 14 June |
Uruguay  |
4–1 |
Nicaragua |
Montevideo, Uruguay |
|
| 20:30 UTC−3 |
- Arezo 8'
- Zalazar 37', 82'
- Brian 56'
|
https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2023/06/15/world/friendlies/uruguay/nicaragua/4074341/ |
- Coronel 90+2'
|
Stadium: Estadio Centenario
Referee: Wagner do Nascimento Magalhães (Brazil)
|
|
| Friendly 18 June |
Paraguay  |
2–0 |
Nicaragua |
Asunción, Paraguay |
|
| 10:30 UTC−4 |
|
https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2023/06/18/world/friendlies/paraguay/nicaragua/4070097/ |
|
Stadium: Estadio Defensores del Chaco
Referee: Gustavo Tejeda (Uruguay)
|
|
| 2023–24 Nations League 8 September |
Dominican Republic  |
0–2 |
Nicaragua |
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic |
|
| 19:00 UTC−4 |
|
https://www.concacaf.com/en/nations-league/game-details?matchid=712926 |
- Acevedo 38', 41'
|
Stadium: Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez
Referee: Patrick Senecharles (Haiti)
|
|
| 2023–24 Nations League 11 September |
Nicaragua |
5–1 |
 Barbados |
Managua, Nicaragua |
|
| 20:00 UTC−6 |
- Smith 11'
- Pérez 40'
- Moreno 45+1', 76'
- Montes 69'
|
https://www.concacaf.com/en/nations-league/game-details?matchid=712938 |
- Gale 89'
|
Stadium: Estadio Nacional de Fútbol
Referee: Bryan López (Guatemala)
|
|
| 2023–24 Nations League 13 October |
Montserrat  |
0–3 |
Nicaragua |
Wildey, Barbados |
|
| 15:00 UTC−4 |
|
https://www.concacaf.com/en/nations-league/game-details?matchid=712960 |
- Pérez 5'
- Medina 72'
- Montes 90+4'
|
Stadium: Wildey Turf
Referee: Jorge Leira (Panama)
|
|
| 2023–24 Nations League 16 October |
Nicaragua |
3–0 |
Montserrat |
Managua, Nicaragua |
|
| 20:00 UTC−6 |
- Pérez 38'
- Coronel 43'
- Moldskred Belli 48'
|
https://www.concacaf.com/en/nations-league/game-details?matchid=712972 |
|
Stadium: Estadio Nacional de Fútbol
Referee: José Valladares (Honduras)
|
|
| 2023–24 Nations League 17 November |
Barbados |
0–4 |
Nicaragua |
Wildey, Barbados |
|
| 17:00 UTC−4 |
|
https://www.concacaf.com/en/nations-league/game-details?matchid=712989 |
- Arteaga 22' (pen.)
- N. Rodríguez 43'
- L. Coronel 55'
- Montes 59'
|
Stadium: Wildey Turf
Referee: Kwinsi Williams (Trinidad and Tobago)
|
|
| 2023–24 Nations League 21 November |
Nicaragua |
0–0 |
Dominican Republic |
Managua, Nicaragua |
|
| 20:00 UTC−6 |
|
https://www.concacaf.com/en/nations-league/game-details?matchid=712997 |
|
Stadium: Estadio Nacional de Fútbol
Referee: Ignacio Fuentes (Guatemala)
|
|
2024
| Friendly 22 March |
Peru  |
2–0 |
Nicaragua |
Lima, Peru |
|
| 20:30 UTC−5 |
|
https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2024/03/23/world/friendlies/peru/nicaragua/4309120/ |
|
Stadium: Estadio Alejandro Villanueva
Referee: Paulo Cesar Zanovelli da Silva (Brazil)
|
|
| Friendly 26 March |
Nicaragua |
0–1 |
 Cuba |
Managua, Nicaragua |
|
| 19:00 UTC−6 |
|
https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2024/03/27/world/friendlies/nicaragua/cuba/4327999/ |
- Reyes 81'
|
Stadium: Nicaragua National Football Stadium
|
|
| 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification 5 June |
Nicaragua |
v |
Montserrat |
Nicaragua |
|
| TBD |
|
|
|
|
|
| 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification 8 June |
Belize  |
v |
Nicaragua |
Belize |
|
| TBD |
|
|
|
|
|
2025
| 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification 6 June |
Nicaragua |
v |
 Guyana |
Nicaragua |
|
| TBD |
|
|
|
|
|
| 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification 10 June |
Panama |
v |
Nicaragua |
Panama |
|
| TBD |
|
|
|
|
|
Coaching staff
| Position |
Name |
| Head coach |
 Marco Antonio Figueroa |
| Technical director |
Roger Rodriguez |
| Assistant coach |
Tyron Acevedo |
| 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–)
Players
Current squad
The following players were called up to the squad for friendly match against Peru on 22 March 2024.
Caps and goals correct as of 18 June 2023, after the match against Paraguay.
Recent call-ups
The following players have been called up for the team in the last twelve months.
Records
- Players in bold are still active with Nicaragua.
Most appearances
Josué Quijano is Nicaragua's most-capped player with 92 international appearances.
| Rank |
Player |
Caps |
Goals |
Career |
| 1 |
Josué Quijano |
92 |
3 |
2011–present |
| 2 |
Juan Barrera |
85 |
24 |
2009–present |
| 3 |
Manuel Rosas |
60 |
2 |
2013–2022 |
| 4 |
David Solórzano |
49 |
1 |
1999–2014 |
| 5 |
Carlos Chavarría |
44 |
11 |
2013–present |
| 6 |
Marlon López |
40 |
0 |
2014–2020 |
| 7 |
Luis Copete |
39 |
3 |
2014–2023 |
| Denis Espinoza |
39 |
1 |
2004–2021 |
| 9 |
Carlos Alonso |
37 |
0 |
1999–2011 |
| 10 |
Jaime Moreno |
36 |
10 |
2016–present |
Top goalscorers
Juan Barrera is Nicaragua's all-time top scorer with 24 goals.
| Rank |
Player |
Goals |
Caps |
Ratio |
Career |
| 1 |
Juan Barrera |
24 |
85 |
0.28 |
2009–present |
| 2 |
Emilio Palacios |
11 |
26 |
0.42 |
2001–2009 |
| Carlos Chavarría |
11 |
44 |
0.25 |
2013–present |
| 4 |
Jaime Moreno |
10 |
36 |
0.28 |
2016–present |
| 5 |
Raúl Leguías |
8 |
23 |
0.35 |
2011–2016 |
| 6 |
Ariagner Smith |
7 |
18 |
0.39 |
2017–present |
| 7 |
Byron Bonilla |
6 |
33 |
0.18 |
2016–present |
| Luis Galeano |
6 |
35 |
0.17 |
2015–present |
| 9 |
Matías Moldskred |
7 |
22 |
0.32 |
2021–present |
| 10 |
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.
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 |
Group stage |
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 |
6 |
4 |
2 |
0 |
15 |
5 |
| Total |
Sixth place |
5/27 |
18 |
0 |
1 |
17 |
6 |
50 |
— |
68 |
17 |
8 |
43 |
74 |
149 |
CONCACAF Nations League
| CONCACAF Nations League record |
| Season |
Division |
Group |
Pld |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
P/R |
RK |
| 2019−20 |
B |
D |
6 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
9 |
11 |
 |
23rd |
| 2022–23 |
B |
C |
6 |
4 |
2 |
0 |
15 |
5 |
 |
15th |
 2023–24 |
B |
B |
6 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
17 |
1 |
|
17th |
| Total |
18 |
11 |
4 |
3 |
41 |
17 |
15th |
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 |
Central American Games
| Central American Games record |
| Year |
Round |
Position |
Pld |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
| 1973 |
Runners-up |
2nd |
4 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
3 |
| 1977 |
Third place |
3rd |
6 |
2 |
0 |
4 |
6 |
23 |
| 1986 |
Third place |
3rd |
3 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
| 1990 |
Third place |
3rd |
4 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
11 |
| 1994 |
Group stage |
6th |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
17 |
| 1997 |
Group stage |
6th |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
8 |
| 2001 |
Group stage |
5th |
3 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
5 |
8 |
| 2006 |
Not held |
| 2010 |
| 2013 |
Group stage |
7th |
3 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
9 |
| 2017 |
Third place |
3rd |
4 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
| Total |
Runners-up |
9/11 |
31 |
6 |
5 |
20 |
23 |
85 |
Head-to-head record
As of 26 March 2024 after the match against Cuba.
Positive Record Neutral Record Negative Record
See also
In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Nicaragua para niños
- Nicaragua national under-20 football team
- List of football clubs in Nicaragua
SJK
Sandnes Ulf
Real Santa Cruz
Real Sociedad
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Qatar, 13 October 2022
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