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 coachMarco Antonio Figueroa
CaptainJuan Barrera
Most capsJosué Quijano (92)
Top scorerJuan Barrera (24)
Home stadiumEstadio Nacional de Fútbol
FIFA codeNCA
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 134 Steady (21 December 2023)[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)
Medal record

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.[2] 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.[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 as winners of their group in Nations League B, but were disqualified on 12 June 2023 for fielding an ineligible player. As a result, they were replaced in the Gold Cup by Trinidad and Tobago and would not be promoted to Nations League A.[5]

Team image

Kit sponsorship

Kit supplier Period
Spain Joma2004–2021
Mexico Keuka2022–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

24 March 2022–23 Nations League Nicaragua  4–1  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Managua, Nicaragua
18:00 UTC−6
Report
Stadium: Estadio Nacional de Fútbol
Referee: Adonai Escobedo (Mexico)
10 June Friendly Panama  3–2  Nicaragua Penonomé, Panama
19:00 UTC−5
Report
  • Talavera 44'
  • Acevedo 62'
Stadium: Estadio Universitario F.C.
Referee: David Gómez (Costa Rica)
14 June Friendly Uruguay  4–1  Nicaragua Montevideo, Uruguay
20:30 UTC−3
Report
  • Coronel 90+2'
Stadium: Estadio Centenario
Referee: Wagner do Nascimento Magalhães (Brazil)
18 June Friendly Paraguay  2–0  Nicaragua Asunción, Paraguay
10:30 UTC−4 Report Stadium: Estadio Defensores del Chaco
Referee: Gustavo Tejeda (Uruguay)
8 September 2023–24 Nations League Dominican Republic  0–2  Nicaragua Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
19:00 UTC−4 Report
  • Acevedo 38', 41'
Stadium: Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez
Referee: Patrick Senecharles (Haiti)
11 September 2023–24 Nations League Nicaragua  5–1  Barbados Managua, Nicaragua
20:00 UTC−6
Report
Stadium: Estadio Nacional de Fútbol
Referee: Bryan López (Guatemala)
13 October 2023–24 Nations League Montserrat  0–3  Nicaragua Wildey, Barbados
15:00 UTC−4 Report
Stadium: Wildey Turf
Referee: Jorge Leira (Panama)
16 October 2023–24 Nations League Nicaragua  3–0  Montserrat Managua, Nicaragua
20:00 UTC−6
Report Stadium: Estadio Nacional de Fútbol
Referee: José Valladares (Honduras)
17 November 2023–24 Nations League Barbados  0–4  Nicaragua Wildey, Barbados
17:00 UTC−4 Report
  • Arteaga 22' (pen.)
  • N. Rodríguez 43'
  • L. Coronel 55'
  • Montes 59'
Stadium: Wildey Turf
Referee: Kwinsi Williams (Trinidad and Tobago)

Coaching staff

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

Coaching history

Players

Current squad

The following 26 players are called up to the squad for friendly matches against Panama, Uruguay and Paraguay on 10, 14 and 18 June 2023 respectively.[6]

Caps and goals correct as of 18 June 2023, after the match against Paraguay.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Alyer López (1999-05-16) 16 May 1999 4 0 Nicaragua Managua
1GK Miguel Rodríguez (2003-06-13) 13 June 2003 4 0 Nicaragua Diriangén
1GK César Salandia (2004-06-13) 13 June 2004 1 0 Nicaragua Real Estelí

2DF Josué Quijano (1991-03-10) 10 March 1991 87 3 Nicaragua Real Estelí
2DF Erick Téllez (1989-11-28) 28 November 1989 33 0 Nicaragua Diriangén
2DF Francisco Flores (1988-04-02) 2 April 1988 26 1 Nicaragua Diriangén
2DF Óscar Acevedo (1997-03-18) 18 March 1997 15 1 Nicaragua Real Estelí
2DF Melvin Hernández (1994-04-26) 26 April 1994 11 0 Nicaragua UNAN Managua
2DF Christian Reyes (1998-01-03) 3 January 1998 10 0 Costa Rica Pérez Zeledón
2DF Juan Luis Pérez (1999-06-29) 29 June 1999 1 0 Costa Rica Alajuelense

3MF Kevin Serapio (1996-04-09) 9 April 1996 25 1 Nicaragua Managua
3MF Jason Coronel (1993-10-06) 6 October 1993 21 0 Nicaragua Diriangén
17 3MF Matías Moldskred Belli (1997-08-12) 12 August 1997 17 5 Norway Sandnes Ulf
3MF Harold Medina (2002-01-30) 30 January 2002 13 0 Nicaragua Real Estelí
3MF Luis Fernando Coronel (1997-02-25) 25 February 1997 7 1 Nicaragua Diriangén
3MF Jacob Montes (1998-12-20) 20 December 1998 2 0 Brazil Botafogo

4FW Juan Barrera (captain) (1989-05-02) 2 May 1989 79 24 Nicaragua Real Estelí
4FW Byron Bonilla (1993-08-30) 30 August 1993 32 6 Nicaragua Real Estelí
4FW Jaime Moreno (1995-03-30) 30 March 1995 31 8 Finland SJK
4FW Henry García (1991-08-03) 3 August 1991 22 0 Nicaragua Real Estelí
4FW Ariagner Smith (1998-12-13) 13 December 1998 15 6 Lithuania FK Panevėžys
4FW Nextaly Rodríguez (1998-03-03) 3 March 1998 1 0 Costa Rica Herediano

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 Douglas Forvis (1992-05-17) 17 May 1992 8 0 Nicaragua Real Estelí v.  Guatemala, 19 November 2022
GK Denver Fox (1997-11-22) 22 November 1997 3 0 Honduras Real Sociedad v.  Guatemala, 19 November 2022

DF Luis Copete (1989-02-12) 12 February 1989 39 3 Nicaragua Diriangén v.  Trinidad and Tobago, 27 March 2023
DF Francisco Vallecillo (2002-10-20) 20 October 2002 0 0 Nicaragua Real Estelí v.  Trinidad and Tobago, 27 March 2023
DF Marvin Fletes (1997-11-12) 12 November 1997 22 1 Nicaragua Real Estelí v.  Guatemala, 19 November 2022
DF Mario Dávila (1997-11-07) 7 November 1997 3 0 Nicaragua Diriangén v.  Guatemala, 19 November 2022
DF Joel Obando (2000-11-20) 20 November 2000 1 0 Nicaragua Real Estelí v.  Guatemala, 19 November 2022
DF Cristian Gutiérrez (1993-01-06) 6 January 1993 20 1 Nicaragua Real Estelí v.  Iran, 10 November 2022
DF Jeffrey Chávez (1997-02-10) 10 February 1997 0 0 Costa Rica Municipal Liberia v.  Iran, 10 November 2022
DF Henry Niño (1997-10-03) 3 October 1997 16 1 El Salvador Chalatenango v.  Ghana, 27 September 2022

MF Jonathan Moncada (1998-01-03) 3 January 1998 13 0 Nicaragua Walter Ferretti v.  Trinidad and Tobago, 27 March 2023
MF Agenor Báez (1997-12-18) 18 December 1997 4 0 Nicaragua Managua v.  Trinidad and Tobago, 27 March 2023
MF Widman Talavera (2003-01-12) 12 January 2003 6 1 Nicaragua Real Estelí v.  Guatemala, 19 November 2022
MF Marlon López (1992-11-02) 2 November 1992 40 0 Nicaragua Real Estelí v.  El Salvador, 17 November 2022
MF Waldner Vásquez (2002-03-20) 20 March 2002 1 0 Nicaragua Managua v.  El Salvador, 17 November 2022
MF Ismael Mendieta (2001-02-20) 20 February 2001 0 0 Nicaragua Walter Ferretti v.  El Salvador, 17 November 2022
MF Luis Galeano (1991-10-15) 15 October 1991 35 6 Nicaragua Sport Sébaco v.  Iran, 10 November 2022
MF Nahúm Peralta (1994-10-21) 21 October 1994 5 0 Nicaragua Managua v.  Iran, 10 November 2022
MF Junior Arteaga (1999-12-09) 9 December 1999 6 0 Nicaragua Diriangén v.  Iran, 10 November 2022
MF Jeremy Cuarezma (2000-05-28) 28 May 2000 0 0 Nicaragua Managua v.  Iran, 10 November 2022

FW Abner Acuña (1997-03-05) 5 March 1997 7 0 Nicaragua Diriangén v.  Trinidad and Tobago, 27 March 2023
FW Brayan López (1990-06-03) 3 June 1990 9 0 Costa Rica Sporting v.  Trinidad and Tobago, 27 March 2023
FW Adrián Chavarría (1997-08-31) 31 August 1997 0 0 Nicaragua Juventus v.  El Salvador, 17 November 2022
FW Anderson Treminio (1997-04-17) 17 April 1997 5 0 Nicaragua UNAN Managua v.  Iran, 10 November 2022
FW Cristian Flores (1996-08-27) 27 August 1996 1 1 Nicaragua Real Estelí v.  Iran, 10 November 2022
FW Keylon Batiz (2004-02-01) 1 February 2004 0 0 Nicaragua Real Estelí v.  Qatar, 13 October 2022

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 21 November 2023[7]
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 84 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
1Juan Barrera24840.292009–present
2Emilio Palacios11260.422001–2009
Carlos Chavarría11440.252013–present
4Jaime Moreno10360.282016–present
5Raúl Leguías8230.352011–2016
6Ariagner Smith7180.392017–present
7Byron Bonilla6330.182016–present
Luis Galeano6350.172015–present
9Matías Moldskred7220.322021–present
10Rudel Calero4260.152001–2011
Samuel Wilson4290.142001–2013

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
Uruguay 1930 Not a FIFA member Not a FIFA member
Italy 1934
France 1938
Brazil 1950 Did not enter 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 To be determined To be determined
Morocco Portugal Spain 2030
Saudi Arabia 2034
Total 0/19 25 9 1 15 35 45

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
El Salvador 1963Group stage8th4004215 Squad Qualified automatically
Guatemala 1965Did not qualify 2 1 0 1 2 4
Honduras 1967Sixth place6th5014312 Squad 2 1 0 1 4 4
Costa Rica 1969Did not enter Did not enter
Trinidad and Tobago 1971Did not qualify 2 0 0 2 2 4
Haiti 1973Did not enter Did not enter
Mexico 1977
Honduras 1981
1985
1989
United States 1991Did 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 2009Group stage11th300308 Squad 4 1 2 1 5 6
United States 2011Did 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 2017Group stage10th300317 Squad 7 2 1 4 9 9
Costa Rica Jamaica United States 2019Group stage15th300308 Squad 4 3 0 1 9 2
United States 2021 Did not qualify 6 2 1 3 9 11
Canada United States 2023 Disqualified[8] 6 4 2 0 15 5
TotalSixth place5/27180117650681784374149

CONCACAF Nations League

CONCACAF Nations League record
Season Division Group Pld W D L GF GA P/R RK
United States 2019−20 B D 6 2 1 3 9 11 Same position 23rd
United States 2022–23 B C 6 4 2 0 15 5 Rise 15th
2023–24 B B In progress
Total 12 6 3 3 24 16 15th

Copa Centroamericana

Copa Centroamericana record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA
Costa Rica 1991Preliminary round5th200225
Honduras 1993Preliminary round5th200208
El Salvador 1995Preliminary round7th200207
Guatemala 1997First round6th2002211
Costa Rica 1999First round5th200202
Honduras 2001First round7th3003219
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

CCCF Championship

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

Pan American Games

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
Canada 1999
Dominican Republic 2003
Brazil 2007
Mexico 2011
Canada 2015
Peru 2019
Chile 2019
TotalPreliminary round2/196006343

Central American and Caribbean Games

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
Mexico 1990
Puerto Rico 1993
Venezuela 1998Quarter-finals8th4103313
El Salvador 2002Quarter-finals8th310227
Colombia 2006Did not qualify
Puerto Rico 2010
Mexico 2014
Colombia 2018
TotalQuarter-finals4/221321101145

Central American Games

Central American Games record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA
Guatemala 1973Runners-up2nd421143
El Salvador 1977Third place3rd6204623
Guatemala 1986Third place3rd302115
Honduras 1990Third place3rd4004111
El Salvador 1994Group stage6th2002017
Honduras 1997Group stage6th200238
Guatemala 2001Group stage5th310258
Honduras 2006Not held
Panama 2010
Costa Rica 2013Group stage7th300319
Nicaragua 2017Third place3rd412121
TotalRunners-up9/113165202385

Head-to-head record

As of 21 November 2023 after the match against  Dominican Republic.[9]

  Positive Record   Neutral Record   Negative Record

  1. Includes matches against  Netherlands Antilles.

See also

References

  1. "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 21 December 2023. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  2. "Nicaragua shocks Guatemala 2–0 to claim last berth in CONCACAF Gold Cup". CONCACAF. 29 January 2009. Archived from the original on 2 February 2009. Retrieved 29 January 2009.
  3. "Nicaragua - List of International Matches". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  4. "Bermuda downs Nicaragua to earn first ever Gold Cup victory". New Jersey: Gold Cup. 24 June 2019. Archived from the original on 6 March 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  5. "Concacaf Disciplinary Committee decision regarding Nicaragua and the Eligibility of Players" (Press release). CONCACAF. 12 June 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  6. "Convocatoria Oficial". Twitter. FENIFUT NICARAGUA.
  7. Passo Alpuin, Luis Fernando. "Nicaragua – Record International Players". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  8. "Concacaf Disciplinary Committee decision regarding Nicaragua and the Eligibility of Players" (Press release). CONCACAF. 12 June 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  9. "World Football Elo Ratings: Nicaragua".
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