HONDURAS · FOOTBALL EXPLAINED
Key Facts
- The country Honduras is a Central American country where football is the favourite sport.
- What happened Olimpia beat Choloma 3-0 away on Saturday 31 October 2026, in round 12 of 16.
- The table Olimpia lead with 29 points, two ahead of Real España with 27.
- Why it matters The top two teams after round 16 skip the first playoff round.
- For US readers About 1.1 million Hispanics of Honduran origin lived in the United States in 2021.
Olimpia’s big win over Choloma, 3-0 on Saturday 31 October 2026, put Honduras’s best-known club back on top of the Liga Nacional, the national league. All three goals came in the second half at the Rubén Deras stadium in Choloma.
This guide explains what the result changes in the title race and why the club matters to fans in Honduras and the United States. Our companion guide on Olimpia’s next fixtures and the title race covers what comes next.
How Olimpia’s Big Win Over Choloma Unfolded
The first half ended without goals, and Olimpia goalkeeper Édrick Menjívar made several saves to keep Choloma out. In the second half Imanol Enríquez, Olimpia’s Argentine signing, headed in a cross to open the score.
Enríquez scored again a few minutes later, and Nicolás Dibble added a third goal in stoppage time. Choloma also missed a penalty late in the game.
Olimpia had lost days earlier in the Central American Cup semifinals to Costa Rica’s Cartaginés, which ended its run in the Concacaf tournament. That exit made the trip to Choloma a chance to recover.
What Olimpia’s Big Win Means for the Table
After Olimpia’s big win the club leads with 29 points from 12 matches. Real España, from San Pedro Sula, are second with 27 after beating Juticalpa 3-1 the same day.
Marathón and Motagua, two other big clubs, have 22 points each and were due to meet on Sunday 1 November. Estrella Roja have 16 points and Lobos UPNFM, a club linked to a Honduran university, have 15, which puts them fifth and sixth.
Choloma stay on 13 points in eighth place, outside the playoff places. The club has lost ground in the race for the last spots.
How the Liga Nacional Title Race Works
Each of the 12 clubs plays 16 matches in the regular season, so four rounds remain for Olimpia. After round 16 the six best teams in the overall table reach the liguilla, the playoff phase.
The top two teams skip the first round and go straight to the semifinals. Teams in third to sixth place first play two-leg series, third against sixth and fourth against fifth.
The winners of those series take the other two semifinal places, and the semifinal winners meet in the final. That is why Olimpia’s big win matters, because the top two avoid an extra round of risk.
Who Olimpia Are and Why Honduras Cares
Olimpia were founded on 12 June 1912 in Tegucigalpa and have won the Honduran league 40 times, more than any other club. They play at the Estadio Nacional, which holds about 35,000 people.
Olimpia also won the Concacaf Champions Cup, the region’s top club trophy, twice, the first time in 1972. Their main local rival Motagua also comes from Tegucigalpa and is the reigning league champion.
What It Means for US Readers
About 1.1 million Hispanics of Honduran origin lived in the United States in 2021, according to the Pew Research Center, a US research group. For many of them, results like Olimpia’s big win are a link to home.
The winner of the Central American Cup earns a place in the Concacaf Champions Cup. Clubs from Major League Soccer (MLS), the top US league, also play there, so Honduran clubs share a regional path with American teams.
What Is Not Known
Four rounds remain, and Olimpia lead Real España by only two points, so the order at the top can still change. Olimpia have not yet secured a semifinal place.
Olimpia’s big win does not settle the title, and Marathón and Motagua are only seven points behind the leaders. Any slip in the next four rounds could hand the top spot to a rival.
More: Honduras news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the score of Olimpia’s big win over Choloma?
Olimpia won 3-0 away on Saturday 31 October 2026, in round 12 of the Apertura. Imanol Enríquez scored twice and Nicolás Dibble once.
Who leads the Liga Nacional table?
Olimpia lead with 29 points after 12 rounds. Real España are second with 27, and Marathón and Motagua have 22 each.
How does a team win the Apertura?
After 16 rounds the top two teams go to the semifinals, and teams in third to sixth place play off for the other two places. The semifinal winners meet in the final.
Who are Olimpia?
Olimpia are a club from Tegucigalpa, the Honduran capital, founded in 1912. They have won the Honduran league 40 times.
Sources: Liga Nacional de Honduras, Choloma 0, Olimpia 3, Apertura 2026 round 12, 31 October 2026, 31 October 2026; Liga Nacional de Honduras, Apertura 2026 table after round 12, 31 October 2026, 31 October 2026; Liga Nacional de Honduras, Apertura 2026 format with 12 clubs and the liguilla, 31 July 2026; Facts on Hispanics of Honduran origin in the United States, 2021 (survey estimate), 16 August 2023.
This article was drafted with automated assistance and reviewed before publication. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief