Alajuelense Motagua Copa Centroamericana Semifinal First Leg
COSTA RICA · SPORTS
Key Facts
- —What is happening Alajuelense and Motagua drew 0-0 in Tegucigalpa on Thursday, 22 October 2026, in the first leg of their Central American Cup semifinal.
- —Why it matters The tie winner reaches the final, and the champion earns a bye to the 2027 Champions Cup Round of 16.
- —The numbers The tie is level at 0-0, so neither club has an away goal; away goals are the first tiebreaker.
- —Who is who Alajuelense, from Alajuela, is the three-time defending champion; Motagua, from Tegucigalpa, is unbeaten in this edition.
- —What to watch Alajuelense hosts the return at Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto on Thursday, 29 October, 8 pm local (10 pm ET).
- —Power Index Costa Rica ranks 9th of 14 in The Rio Times Latin America Power Index, with 36.5 points (October 2026 edition).
- —What it means for you There is no direct effect on travel, prices or investments, and the story contains no money amounts.
Alajuelense and Motagua drew 0-0 in Honduras. The Central American Cup semifinal is decided in Alajuela on 29 October.
The Alajuelense Motagua Copa Centroamericana semifinal first leg ended 0-0 on Thursday, 22 October 2026, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. The tie is level, and the return leg is in Alajuela, Costa Rica, on Thursday, 29 October.
For US readers, this tournament is run by Concacaf, the football body for North and Central America and the Caribbean. The tournament champion gets a bye to the Round of 16 of the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup.
This guide contains no money amounts. Related coverage includes the Rio Times preview of the second leg and the Rio Times Costa Rica page.
What Happened in the Alajuelense Motagua Copa Centroamericana Semifinal First Leg
Concacaf’s match report shows FC Motagua 0, LD Alajuelense 0 at the Estadio Nacional Chelato Uclés in Tegucigalpa on Thursday, 22 October. Kick-off was 7 pm local time, which is 9 pm Eastern, on the Concacaf schedule.
Concacaf says Alajuelense had about 60% possession and five shots on target, while Motagua kept a third straight clean sheet. It was Alajuelense’s first goalless draw in the Central American Cup after 37 matches.
La Teja wrote that Alajuelense could not strike in Honduras and left the tie open for the return. El Mundo wrote that Alajuelense kept a clean sheet and controlled much of the match but lacked depth.
Midfielder Celso Borges left injured in the first half and Aarón Salazar replaced him, La Teja and El Mundo reported. Left back Rónald Matarrita missed the match, suspended after two yellow cards, La Nación reported.
What the Central American Cup Is
The Concacaf Central American Cup is a club tournament for teams from Central America. La Nación calls this the fourth edition, with the semifinals and a play-in both played over two legs.
Four clubs reached the semifinals: Cartaginés and Alajuelense of Costa Rica, and Olimpia and Motagua of Honduras. Concacaf says all four have already qualified for the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup.
Four other clubs, Saprissa, Firpo, Alianza and Marathón, play a two-leg play-in for two more Champions Cup places, Concacaf says. The eventual champion earns a bye to the Round of 16.
The Two Clubs
Concacaf calls Alajuelense the three-time defending champion, now seeking a fourth straight title. It reached the semifinals with a 5-3 aggregate win over Honduran club Marathón.
Motagua is unbeaten in this edition, Concacaf says. It beat Alianza of El Salvador 3-0 on aggregate in the quarterfinals.
Óscar Ramírez coaches Alajuelense and Javier López coaches Motagua, El Mundo reported. La Nación names Motagua’s home ground as the Estadio José de la Paz Herrera, the stadium Concacaf calls Chelato Uclés.
How the Tie Is Decided
Concacaf’s 2026 regulations decide a tie on aggregate over two legs, then on away goals scored in regulation time. La Nación and CRHoy report the same rule.
If aggregate and away goals are level, two 15-minute extra periods follow and then a penalty shootout, according to the regulations. Away goals do not count in extra time.
Because the first leg was 0-0, neither club has an away goal yet. A 1-1 or 2-2 draw in Alajuela would send Motagua through on away goals, El Mundo explained.
Any Alajuelense win would send the Costa Ricans through, and any Motagua win would send the Hondurans through. A second 0-0 would go to extra time and then penalties.
Concacaf’s regulations give the return leg to the higher-ranked club on accumulated points, which is Alajuelense with 13. Concacaf’s semifinal standings show Motagua on 12 points.
The Other Semifinal and the Final
In the other semifinal, Cartaginés beat Olimpia 1-0 in Cartago on Wednesday, 21 October. Alonso Hernández scored in the 14th minute, and the return is on Wednesday, 28 October, in Tegucigalpa.
The two winners meet in a two-leg final in December, La Nación says, and El Heraldo reports 2 and 6 December. Concacaf’s pages reviewed give no venue for it.
The Rio Times previewed the other tie in Costa Rica Hosts Honduras in Cup Semifinal. That piece covers Cartaginés and Olimpia, not this tie.
What It Means for US Readers
The tie has no direct effect on US travel, prices or investments. It matters to US fans of Concacaf football because the champion skips a round of the 2027 Champions Cup.
Check the US State Department advisories for Costa Rica and Honduras before travelling to either match. Background is in the Rio Times guides to Costa Rica’s role in Latin America and Costa Rica geopolitics.
Visitors planning a trip can read the San José cost-of-living guide and the San José city page. Alajuela, where the return is played, is a separate city in the same country.
What Is Not Known
The sources reviewed do not give the stadium capacity, ticket details or broadcast arrangements for the return leg. They do not say whether Celso Borges will be fit to play.
They also give no venue for the final. Its 2 and 6 December dates come from El Heraldo alone, and Concacaf’s pages reviewed do not confirm them.
What Comes Next
Olimpia host Cartaginés on Wednesday, 28 October, and Alajuelense host Motagua on Thursday, 29 October. Kick-off in Alajuela is 8 pm local (10 pm ET), per Concacaf, La Nación and El Heraldo.
The winners meet in the final in December, where the champion earns the Champions Cup bye. Read the second-leg preview for the decisive night in Alajuela.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the score of the first leg?
Motagua and Alajuelense drew 0-0 on Thursday, 22 October 2026, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Neither club scored an away goal.
When and where is the second leg?
It is on Thursday, 29 October 2026, at the Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto in Alajuela, Costa Rica. Kick-off is 8 pm local time, which is 10 pm Eastern.
How is the tie decided?
Aggregate score decides it first, then away goals, then two 15-minute extra periods and penalties, under Concacaf’s 2026 regulations. Away goals do not count in extra time.
What does the winner get?
The winner of the tie reaches the final in December against the Cartaginés or Olimpia winner. The champion earns a bye to the Round of 16 of the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup.
What is the Central American Cup?
It is a Concacaf club tournament for teams from Central America, now in its fourth edition. Alajuelense is the three-time defending champion.
Is Alajuelense in danger of going out?
Not yet, since the tie is level at 0-0. Alajuelense must avoid a draw with goals, because that would send Motagua through on away goals.
Sources: Concacaf, first-leg report; Concacaf, semifinal schedule; Concacaf, semifinals preview; Concacaf, Cartaginés v Olimpia; La Teja; El Mundo (Costa Rica); Concacaf, 2026 Central American Cup regulations; La Nación, lineup; La Nación, away-goals rule; La Nación, format; CRHoy; El Heraldo (Honduras) (all accessed 23 October 2026).
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief