Nicaragua national football team explained

Nicaragua
Badge:	Nicaragua FA logo.svg
Badge Size:	200px
Nickname:	Spanish; Castilian: La Azul y Blanco (The Blue and White) Spanish; Castilian: Los Pinoleros (The Pinoleros)
Association:	Federación Nicaragüense de Fútbol (FENIFUT)
Coach:	Marco Antonio Figueroa
Captain:	Juan Barrera
Most Caps:	Josué Quijano (95)
Top Scorer:	Juan Barrera (25)
Home Stadium:	Estadio Nacional de Fútbol
Fifa Trigramme:	NCA
Fifa Max:	92
Fifa Max Date:	December 2015
Fifa Min:	193
Fifa Min Date:	May 2001
Elo Max:	126
Elo Max Date:	3 July 2017
Elo Min:	204
Elo Min Date:	May–November 2001
Pattern B1:	_NCA_a22
Pattern Sh1:	_shorts
Pattern So1:	_socks
Leftarm1:	FFFFFF
Body1:	FFFFFF
Rightarm1:	FFFFFF
Shorts1:	FFFFFF
Socks1:	FFFFFF
Pattern B2:	_NCA_h22
Pattern Sh2:	_shorts
Pattern So2:	_socks
Leftarm2:	0B0770
Body2:	0B0770
Rightarm2:	0B0770
Shorts2:	0B0770
Socks2:	0B0770
First Game:	9–0 (San Salvador, El Salvador; 1 May 1929)
Largest Win:
Largest Loss:	10–0 (San José, Costa Rica; 13 March 1946) 11–1 (Guatemala City, Guatemala; 2 March 1950)
Regional Name:	CONCACAF Championship / Gold Cup
Regional Cup Apps:	5
Regional Cup First:	1963
Regional Cup Best:	Sixth place (1967)

The Nicaragua national football team (Spanish; Castilian: 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.^[1] 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.^[2]

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.^[3]

Nicaragua qualified directly for the 2023 Gold Cup and was promoted to Nations League A as group winners in Nations League B but was disqualified on 12 June 2023 for fielding an ineligible player. As a result, they were replaced in the Gold Cup and League A by Trinidad and Tobago, who was the best second-place team overall in League B and must stay in Nations League B.^[4]

Team image

Kit sponsorship

Kit supplier	Period
	2004–2021
	2022–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.

2025

Coaching staff

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 history

• José "Chingolo" Rodríguez (Unknown)
• Omar Zambrana (Unknown)
• Octavio Edmundo Salas Urbina (1941–1943)
• Eduardo Kosovic (1943)
• José Antonio Pipa Cordero (1947)
• Santiago Bonilla (1952–1953)
• Ferenc Mészáros (1961)
• Carlos Ruiz (1961–1962)
• Santiago Berrini (1965–1967)
• Livio Bendaña Espinoza (1967–1969)
• Omar Muraco (1969–1970)
• Salvador Dubois Leiva (1977, 1991–1992)
• Orlando Casares (1980–1981)
• Ján Fülöp (1984–1986)
• Mauricio Cruz Jiron (1993–2001, 2008)
• Florencio Levia (2001–2002)
• Maurizio Battistini (2003–2004)
• Marcelo Javier Zuleta (2005)
• Carlos de Toro (2007–2008)
• Ramón Otoniel Olivas (2008–2009)
• Enrique Llena (2010–2014)
• Javier Londono (2014)
• Henry Duarte (2014–2020)
• Juan Vita (2020–2022)
• Marco Antonio Figueroa (2022–)

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up to the squad for 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Montserrat and Belize on 5 and 8 June 2024.^[5]

Caps and goals correct as of 8 June 2024, after the match against Belize.

Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up for the team in the last twelve months.^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

^[6]

Players in bold are still active with Nicaragua.

Most appearances

width=30px	Rank	width=160px	Player	width=50px	Caps	width=50px	Goals	width=100px	Career
1	Josué Quijano	95	3	2011–present
2	Juan Barrera	89	25	2009–present
3	Manuel Rosas	60	2	2013–2022
4	David Solórzano	49	1	1999–2014
5	Carlos Chavarría	44	11	2013–2021
6	Marlon López	40	0	2014–2020
7	Luis Copete	39	3	2014–2023
	Denis Espinoza	39	1	2004–2021
9	Jaime Moreno	38	12	2016–present
10	Carlos Alonso	37	0	1999–2011

Top goalscorers

width=30px	Rank	width=150px	Player	width=50px	Goals	width=50px	Caps	width=50px	Ratio	width=100px	Career
1	Juan Barrera	25	89		2009–present
2	Jaime Moreno	12	38		2016–present
3		11	26		2001–2009
		11	44		2013–2021
5		8	23		2011–2016
6	Ariagner Smith	7	20		2017–present
	Matías Moldskred	7	25		2021–present
8	Byron Bonilla	6	33		2016–present
		6	35		2015–2022
10	Jacob Montes	4	9		2023–present
		4	26		2001–2011
		4	29		2001–2013

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									width=1% rowspan=28		Qualification record
Year	Round	Position
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	Qualification in progress								2	2	0	0	8	1
2030	To be determined	To be determined
2034
Total	–		–	–	–	–	–	–	27	11	1	15	43	46

CONCACAF Gold Cup

See main article: Nicaragua at the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

CONCACAF Championship & Gold Cup record										width=1% rowspan=30		Qualification record
Year	Round	Position							Squad
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		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	Disqualified^[7]									6	4	2	0	15	5
Total	Sixth place	5/27	18	0	1	17	6	50	—	68	17	8	43	74	149

CONCACAF Nations League

CONCACAF Nations League record
League											Finals
Season	Division	Group	width=28		width=28		width=28		width=28			width=28		width=28		width=35		Year	Result
2019–20	B	D	6	2	1	3	9	11			2021	Ineligible
2022–23	B	C	6	4	2	0	15	5			2023
2023–24	B	B	6	5	1	0	17	1			2024
2024–25	A	B	To be determined								2025	To be determined
Total	—	—	18	11	4	3	41	17	—		Total	0 Titles	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

Copa Centroamericana

Copa Centroamericana record
Year	Round	Position
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 Championship

CCCF Championship record
Year	Round	Position
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 Games

Pan American Games record
Year	Round	Position
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
2023
Total	Preliminary round	2/19	6	0	0	6	3	43

Central American and Caribbean Games

Central American and Caribbean Games record
Year	Round	Position
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 Games

Central American Games record
Year	Round	Position
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 record

As of 8 June 2024 after the match against .^[8]

Opponents	width=30		width=30		width=30		width=30		width=35		width=35		width=35
	3	3	0	0	14	0	+14
	1	0	0	1	1	5	−4
	2	2	0	0	6	0	+6
	4	3	0	1	10	2	+8
	14	6	4	4	24	14	+10
	5	2	0	3	5	7	−2
	3	0	1	2	4	6	−2
	1	1	0	0	3	1	+2
	1	1	0	0	1	0	+1
	1	0	0	1	2	7	−5
	19	1	1	17	10	72	−62
	14	4	3	7	16	25	−9
	8	0	1	7	3	34	−31
	4	4	0	0	10	1	+9
	4	1	1	2	2	4	−2
	31	1	3	27	21	120	−99
	1	0	0	1	0	1	−1
	1	0	0	1	0	2	−2
	28	2	5	21	18	74	−56
	9	1	2	6	9	16	−7
	25	1	3	21	16	80	−64
	1	0	0	1	0	1	−1
	2	1	0	1	3	4	−1
	2	0	0	2	0	4	−4
	3	0	0	3	1	10	−9
	3	3	0	0	10	1	+9
	28	5	1	22	26	79	−53
	1	0	0	1	0	2	−2
	1	0	0	1	0	2	−2
	5	3	1	1	9	6	+3
	1	0	0	1	1	2	−1
	2	0	2	0	0	0	0
	7	2	3	2	12	11	+1
	5	2	0	3	6	11	−5
	7	2	2	3	7	12	−5
	1	1	0	0	7	0	+7
	1	0	0	1	0	3	−3
	1	0	0	1	1	4	−3
	1	0	1	0	1	1	0
Total (39)	251	52	34	165	258	624	−366

See also

• Nicaragua national under-20 football team
• List of football clubs in Nicaragua

External links

• • Nicaragua FIFA profile
• Nicaragua – List of International Matches at RSSSF

Notes and References

1. Web site: CONCACAF. Nicaragua shocks Guatemala 2–0 to claim last berth in CONCACAF Gold Cup. 2009-01-29. 2009-01-29. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090202060729/http://concacaf.com/view_article.aspx?id=4610. 2009-02-02.
2. Web site: Nicaragua - List of International Matches. RSSSF. 4 January 2017. 24 February 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230224193802/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesn/nica-intres.html. live.
3. Web site: Bermuda downs Nicaragua to earn first ever Gold Cup victory. New Jersey. 24 June 2019. 9 August 2019. Gold Cup. 6 March 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210306173450/https://www.goldcup.org/en/article/bermuda-downs-nicaragua-to-earn-first-ever-gold-cup-victory. dead.
4. 12 June 2023 . Concacaf Disciplinary Committee decision regarding Nicaragua and the Eligibility of Players . CONCACAF . 12 June 2023.
5. Web site: Convocatoria Oficial. Nicaraguan Football Federation. 18 May 2024. es. Facebook.
6. Web site: Passo Alpuin . Luis Fernando . Nicaragua – Record International Players . RSSSF . 2 February 2023 . 5 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230405223800/https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/nica-recintlp.html . live .
7. 12 June 2023 . Concacaf Disciplinary Committee decision regarding Nicaragua and the Eligibility of Players . CONCACAF . 12 June 2023.
8. Web site: World Football Elo Ratings: Nicaragua.