Global Courant
Miami, United States.
The groups for the 2023 Concacaf Central American Cup have already been defined, in which the Honduran teams Olimpia, Motagua, Real España and Potros de Olancho met their luck for this new tournament.
Honduran soccer player Roger Rojas was one of those invited by Concacaf to participate in the event as one of the innocent hands to remove the balls from the teams, as well as Costa Rican Bryan Ruiz.
Olimpia, seeded and last champion of the Concacaf League, was in a group called death with other monarchs of the Central American leagues.
Pedro Troglio’s team will face Xelajú from Guatemala, Club Atlético Independiente from Panama, FAS from El Salvador and Real Estelí from Nicaragua in Group B.
For their part, Real España led by Julio ‘Palomo’ Rodríguez will also have a difficult time after being drawn in Group C with Comunicaciones from Guatemala, Herediano from Costa Rica, CD Águila from El Salvador and Diriangén FC from Nicaragua.
CATRACHO SHOWDOWN
Meanwhile, the draw left us with a duel between Honduran teams, with Motagua and Olancho FC included in Group D with Liga Deportiva Alajuelense from Costa Rica, Sporting San Miguelito from Panama and Verdes FC from Belize.
The Ciclón Azul and the Colts will take their rivalry from the National League to the international tournament, a clash that will be exciting for Honduran soccer.
It is important to mention that six teams from this competition will qualify for the new Concacaf Champions Cup, which will be held in 2024. The Central American Cup champion will win a direct place in the round of 16 of the also known as Champions Cup.
THIS IS HOW THE GROUPS WERE:
GROUP A
Saprissa (CRC)
Coban Imperial (GUA)
Carthaginian (CRC)
University CD (PANAMA)
Jocoro FC (ELS)
B GROUP
Olympia (HON)
Xelaju (GUA)
Independent Athletic Club (PAN)
FAS (ELS)
Real Estelí (NIC)
GROUP C
Communications (GUA)
Herediano (CRC)
Royal Spain (HON)
CD Aguila (ELS)
Diriangen FC (NIC)
GROUP D
Alajuelense (CRC)
Motagua (HON)
Olancho FC (HON)
Sporting San Miguelito (PAN)
Greens FC (BEL)
DATES OF THE MATCHES:
The Group Phase of the 2023 Concacaf Central American Cup will be played in August, each of the clubs will play four games (two in each and two away), in five weeks of competition. The schedule for the group stage is as follows:
Group stage
Week 1: August 1-3 (1 vs 3 and 5 vs 2)
Week 2: August 8-10 (5 vs 1 and 2 vs 4)
Week 3: August 15-17 (4 vs 5 and 2 vs 3)
Week 4: August 22-24 (4 vs 1 and 3 vs 5)
Week 5: August 29-31 (1 vs 2 and 3 vs 4)
At the end of the group stage, the top two clubs from each group will advance to the Knockout Phase, which will begin with the Quarterfinals in the last week of September and end with a return final in early December.
Quarter finals:
September 26-28 (first legs) and October 3-5 (second legs)
Semifinals and Repechage:
October 24-26 (First legs) and October 31-November 2 (Return legs)
Finals:
November 28-30 (first legs) and December 5-7 (second legs).
