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Nicaragua national football team

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This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Nicaragua women's national football 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 its first qualification to 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 win over Guatemala in the fifth place match in the 2009 Nations Cup.[3] However, the team has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup.

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 (83)
Top scorerJuan Barrera (24)
Home stadiumEstadio Nacional de Fútbol
FIFA codeNCA
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 140 Increase 2 (6 April 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
Appearances6 (first in 1963)
Best resultSixth place (1967)
Medal record
CCCF Championship
Bronze medal – third place 1951 Panama Team

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.

HistoryEdit

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.[4]

Recent timesEdit

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.[5]

Results and fixturesEdit

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

2022Edit

3 June 2022–23 Nations League Nicaragua   2–1   Trinidad and Tobago Managua, Nicaragua
20:00 UTC−6
  • Quijano   45+1'
  • Bonilla   78'
 Report Reyes   46' (o.g.) Stadium: Estadio Nacional de Fútbol
Referee: Keylor Herrera (Costa Rica)
6 June 2022–23 Nations League Saint Vincent and the Grenadines   2–2   Nicaragua Arnos Vale, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
15:00 UTC−4
Report
Stadium: Arnos Vale Stadium
Referee: Benjamin Whitty (Cayman Islands)
10 June 2022–23 Nations League Bahamas   0–2   Nicaragua Nassau, Bahamas
17:00 UTC−4 Report
Stadium: Thomas Robinson Stadium
Referee: Joseph Dickerson (United States)
13 June 2022–23 Nations League Nicaragua   4–0   Bahamas Managua, Nicaragua
18:00 UTC−6
Report Stadium: Estadio Nacional de Fútbol
Referee: Julio Luna (Guatemala)
22 September Friendly Suriname   2–1   Nicaragua Almere, Netherlands
20:00 UTC+2
Report
Stadium: Yanmar Stadion
Referee: Serdar Gözübüyük (Netherlands)
27 September Friendly Nicaragua   0–1   Ghana Lorca, Spain
20:00 UTC+2 Report
Stadium: Estadio Francisco Artés Carrasco
Referee: Dario Bel (Croatia)
13 October Friendly Qatar   2–1   Nicaragua Marbella, Spain
20:00 UTC+2
Report
Stadium: Estadio Municipal de Marbella
10 November Friendly Iran   1–0   Nicaragua Tehran, Iran
19:00 UTC+3:30
Report Stadium: Azadi Stadium
Referee: Golmorad Saadollah (Tajikistan)
16 November Friendly Nicaragua   1–0   El Salvador Managua, Nicaragua
20:00 UTC−6
Report Stadium: Estadio Nacional de Fútbol
Referee: Melvin Matamoros (Honduras)
19 November Friendly Guatemala   3–1   Nicaragua Carson, United States
19:00 UTC−8
Report
Stadium: Dignity Health Sports Park
Referee: Oshane Nation (Jamaica)

2023Edit

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)
27 March 2022–23 Nations League Trinidad and Tobago   1–1   Nicaragua Bacolet, Trinidad and Tobago
20:00 UTC−4
Report
Stadium: Dwight Yorke Stadium
Referee: Armando Villarreal (United States)
10 June Friendly Panama   v   Nicaragua Penonomé, Panama
Report Stadium: Estadio Universidad Latina
14 June Friendly Uruguay   v   Nicaragua Montevideo, Uruguay
Report Stadium: Estadio Centenario
18 June Friendly Paraguay   v   Nicaragua Paraguay
--:-- UTC−4 Report
25 June 2023 Gold Cup GS Nicaragua   v TBD Fort Lauderdale, United States
Stadium: DRV PNK Stadium
28 June 2023 Gold Cup GS Jamaica   v   Nicaragua St. Louis, United States
Stadium: CityPark
2 July 2023 Gold Cup GS United States   v   Nicaragua Charlotte, United States
Stadium: Bank of America Stadium


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 historyEdit

PlayersEdit

Current squadEdit

The following players were called up for the 2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League match against Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago on 24 and 27 March 2023 respecitvely.[6]

Caps and goals correct as of 28 March 2023, after the match against Trinidad and Tobago.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Alyer López (1999-05-16) 16 May 1999 (age 24) 2 0   Managua
12 1GK Miguel Rodríguez (2003-06-13) 13 June 2003 (age 19) 2 0   Diriangén
1GK César Salandia (2004-06-13) 13 June 2004 (age 18) 1 0   Real Estelí
2 2DF Josué Quijano (1991-03-10) 10 March 1991 (age 32) 83 3   Real Estelí
3 2DF Óscar Acevedo (1997-03-18) 18 March 1997 (age 26) 11 0   Real Estelí
4 2DF Erick Téllez (1989-11-28) 28 November 1989 (age 33) 31 0   Diriangén
6 2DF Luis Copete (1989-02-12) 12 February 1989 (age 34) 38 3   Diriangén
15 2DF Melvin Hernández (1994-04-26) 26 April 1994 (age 29) 8 0   UNAN Managua
21 2DF Francisco Flores (1988-04-02) 2 April 1988 (age 35) 26 1   Diriangén
2DF Francisco Vallecillo (2002-10-20) 20 October 2002 (age 20) 0 0   Real Estelí
8 3MF Jonathan Moncada (1998-01-03) 3 January 1998 (age 25) 12 0   Walter Ferretti
14 3MF Jason Coronel (1993-10-06) 6 October 1993 (age 29) 19 0   Diriangén
16 3MF Harold Medina (2002-01-30) 30 January 2002 (age 21) 9 0   Real Estelí
17 3MF Matías Moldskred Belli (1997-08-12) 12 August 1997 (age 25) 15 4   Sandnes Ulf
18 3MF Luis Fernando Coronel (1997-02-25) 25 February 1997 (age 26) 4 0   Diriangén
3MF Agenor Báez (1997-12-18) 18 December 1997 (age 25) 3 0   Managua
3MF Kevin Serapio (1996-04-09) 9 April 1996 (age 27) 22 1   Managua
7 4FW Ariagner Smith (1998-12-13) 13 December 1998 (age 24) 12 6   Panevėžys
9 4FW Jaime Moreno (1995-03-30) 30 March 1995 (age 28) 30 8   SJK
10 4FW Byron Bonilla (1993-08-30) 30 August 1993 (age 29) 30 6   Real Estelí
11 4FW Juan Barrera (captain) (1989-05-02) 2 May 1989 (age 34) 75 24   Real Estelí
13 4FW Henry García (1991-08-03) 3 August 1991 (age 31) 22 0   Real Estelí
19 4FW Abner Acuña (1997-03-05) 5 March 1997 (age 26) 7 0   Diriangén
22 4FW Brayan López (1990-06-03) 3 June 1990 (age 32) 9 0   Sporting

Recent call-upsEdit

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 (age 31) 7 0   Real Estelí v.   Guatemala, 19 November 2022
GK Denver Fox (1997-11-22) 22 November 1997 (age 25) 2 0   Real Sociedad v.   Guatemala, 19 November 2022
DF Marvin Fletes (1997-11-12) 12 November 1997 (age 25) 15 1   Real Estelí v.   Guatemala, 19 November 2022
DF Mario Dávila (1997-11-07) 7 November 1997 (age 25) 2 0   Diriangén v.   Guatemala, 19 November 2022
DF Joel Obando (2000-11-20) 20 November 2000 (age 22) 1 0   Real Estelí v.   Guatemala, 19 November 2022
DF Cristian Gutiérrez (1993-01-06) 6 January 1993 (age 30) 18 0   Real Estelí v.   Iran, 10 November 2022
DF Jeffrey Chávez (1997-02-10) 10 February 1997 (age 26) 0 0   Municipal Liberia v.   Iran, 10 November 2022
DF Henry Niño (1997-10-03) 3 October 1997 (age 25) 15 1   Chalatenango v.   Ghana, 27 September 2022
DF Christian Reyes (1995-11-02) 2 November 1995 (age 27) 8 0   Pérez Zeledón v.   Bahamas, 13 June 2022
MF Widman Talavera (2003-01-12) 12 January 2003 (age 20) 1 0   Real Estelí v.   Guatemala, 19 November 2022
MF Marlon López (1992-11-02) 2 November 1992 (age 30) 39 0   Real Estelí v.   El Salvador, 17 November 2022
MF Waldner Vásquez (2002-03-20) 20 March 2002 (age 21) 1 0   Managua v.   El Salvador, 17 November 2022
MF Ismael Mendieta (2001-02-20) 20 February 2001 (age 22) 0 0   Walter Ferretti v.   El Salvador, 17 November 2022
MF Luis Galeano (1991-10-15) 15 October 1991 (age 31) 32 5   Sébaco v.   Iran, 10 November 2022
MF Nahúm Peralta (1994-10-21) 21 October 1994 (age 28) 3 0   Managua v.   Iran, 10 November 2022
MF Junior Arteaga (1999-12-09) 9 December 1999 (age 23) 2 0   Diriangén v.   Iran, 10 November 2022
MF Jeremy Cuarezma (2000-05-28) 28 May 2000 (age 23) 0 0   Managua v.   Iran, 10 November 2022
MF Richard Rodríguez (1992-07-13) 13 July 1992 (age 30) 19 1   Real Estelí v.   Bahamas, 13 June 2022
FW Adrián Chavarría (1997-08-31) 31 August 1997 (age 25) 0 0   Juventus v.   El Salvador, 17 November 2022
FW Anderson Treminio (1997-04-17) 17 April 1997 (age 26) 2 0   UNAN Managua v.   Iran, 10 November 2022
FW Cristian Flores (1996-08-27) 27 August 1996 (age 26) 1 1   Real Estelí v.   Iran, 10 November 2022
FW Keylon Batiz (2004-02-01) 1 February 2004 (age 19) 0 0   Real Estelí v.   Qatar, 13 October 2022
FW Bancy Hernández INJ (2000-06-27) 27 June 2000 (age 22) 3 0   Walter Ferretti v.   Bahamas, 10 June 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.

RecordsEdit

As of 27 March 2023[7]
Players in bold are still active with Nicaragua.

Most appearancesEdit

 
Josué Quijano is Nicaragua's most-capped player with 83 international appearances.
Rank Player Caps Goals Career
1 Josué Quijano 83 3 2011–present
2 Juan Barrera 75 24 2009–present
3 Manuel Rosas 60 2 2013–present
4 David Solórzano 49 1 1999–2014
5 Carlos Chavarría 44 11 2013–present
6 Marlon López 40 0 2014–present
7 Denis Espinoza 39 1 2004–2021
8 Carlos Alonso 37 0 1999–2011
Luis Copete 38 3 2014–present
10 Daniel Cadena 34 3 2014–present

Top goalscorersEdit

 
Juan Barrera is Nicaragua's all-time top scorer with 24 goals.
Rank Player Goals Caps Ratio Career
1 Juan Barrera 24 75 0.32 2009–present
2 Emilio Palacios 11 26 0.42 2001–2009
Carlos Chavarría 11 44 0.25 2013–present
4 Raúl Leguías 8 23 0.35 2011–2016
Jaime Moreno 8 30 0.27 2016–present
6 Byron Bonilla 6 30 0.2 2016–present
Luis Galeano 6 33 0.18 2015–present
8 Ariagner Smith 5 13 0.38 2017–present
9 Matias Belli Moldskred 4 14 0.29 2021–present
Rudel Calero 4 26 0.15 2001–2011

Competitive recordEdit

FIFA World CupEdit

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
  1930 Not a FIFA member Not a FIFA member
  1934
  1938
  1950 Did not enter Declined participation
  1954
  1958
  1962
  1966
  1970
  1974
  1978
  1982
  1986
  1990
  1994 Did not qualify 2 0 0 2 1 10
  1998 2 0 0 2 1 3
    2002 4 0 0 4 0 10
  2006 2 0 1 1 3 6
  2010 2 0 0 2 0 3
  2014 4 2 0 2 5 7
  2018 6 5 0 1 15 5
  2022 3 2 0 1 10 1
      2026 To be determined To be determined
Total – 0/22 – – – – – – 25 9 1 15 35 45

CONCACAF Gold CupEdit

Main article: Nicaragua at the CONCACAF Gold Cup
CONCACAF Championship & Gold Cup record Qualification record
Year Result 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 Qualified 6 4 2 0 15 5
Total Sixth place 6/27 18 0 1 17 6 50 — 68 17 8 43 74 149

CONCACAF Nations LeagueEdit

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
Total 12 6 3 3 24 16 15th

Copa CentroamericanaEdit

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 ChampionshipEdit

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 GamesEdit

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
Total Preliminary round 2/18 6 0 0 6 3 43

Central American and Caribbean GamesEdit

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 GamesEdit

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 recordEdit

As of 27 March 2023 after the match against   Trinidad and Tobago.[8]

  Positive Record   Neutral Record   Negative Record

  1. ^ Includes matches against   Netherlands Antilles.

See alsoEdit

ReferencesEdit

  1. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 6 April 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  2. ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 30 March 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  3. ^ "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.
  4. ^ "Nicaragua - List of International Matches". RSSSF. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  5. ^ "Bermuda downs Nicaragua to earn first ever Gold Cup victory". New Jersey: Gold Cup. 24 June 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  6. ^ "Con Todo Para Nations League". Fenifut Nicaragua - Twitter. 17 March 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  7. ^ Passo Alpuin, Luis Fernando. "Nicaragua - Record International Players". RSSSF.
  8. ^ "World Football Elo Ratings: Nicaragua".

External linksEdit

 
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