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{{About|the defunct national team competition|the current club tournament|CONCACAF Central American Cup|the former club tournament|Campeonato Centroamericano}}
{{Infobox football tournament
| name                 = Copa Centroamericana/Copa de Naciones UNCAF
| current              = 
| image                = [[File:UNCAF Copa Centroamericana logo.png|250px]]
| caption              = Official logo of the competition as Copa Centroamericana (2011–2017)
| organiser            = [[Central American Football Union|UNCAF]]
| founded              = {{start date and age|1991}}, ''as Copa de Naciones UNCAF''
| abolished            = {{end date and age|2017}}
| region               = [[Central America]]
| related comps        = [[North American Nations Cup]]<br>[[Caribbean Cup]]/[[CFU Championship]]
| number of teams      = 7
| current champions    = {{fb|HON|1949}}<br>(4th title)
| most successful team = {{fb|CRC}}<br>(8 titles)
| broadcasters         = 
| website              = 
}}

The '''Copa Centroamericana''' ({{Langx|en|Central American Cup}}) was an [[association football]] competition organized by [[Central American Football Union|UNCAF]] as its top regional tournament for men's senior national teams from [[Central America]]. The tournament was held from 1991 to 2017, every two years in the years before and after the [[FIFA World Cup]] and also served as a qualification method for the [[CONCACAF Gold Cup]]. It was originally known as '''Copa de Naciones UNCAF''' ({{Langx|en|UNCAF Nations Cup}}) from 1991 to 2009, changing to the latter name in the [[2011 Copa Centroamericana|2011 edition]].

The tournament consisted of two stages, in the group stage of the tournament finals, the seven teams competed in two groups with a [[Round-robin tournament|round-robin]] format, one group with four teams and the other with three teams, with the top two teams in each group qualified for the semifinal, where the winners advanced into the final while the losers disputed a third place match. The fifth place match was disputed between the third-ranked teams of the group stage. Depending on their performance in the Copa Centroamericana, teams then went on to participate in other competitions, such as the [[CONCACAF Gold Cup]] and the [[Copa América]].

The 14 editions of the Central American competition were won by four different national teams: [[Costa Rica national football team|Costa Rica]] were the most successful national team with 8 titles. [[Honduras national football team|Honduras]] won 4 titles, [[Guatemala national football team|Guatemala]] and [[Panama national football team|Panama]] won one title each. Costa Rica and Honduras were the only sides in history to win consecutive titles, with the former winning an unprecedented three titles in [[2003 UNCAF Nations Cup|2003]], [[2005 UNCAF Nations Cup|2005]] and [[2007 UNCAF Nations Cup|2007]].

The last edition was held in [[2017 Copa Centroamericana|2017]], with its place in the fixture schedule being taken by the [[CONCACAF Nations League]].

==History==
Due to the success of the [[Costa Rica national football team]] at the [[1990 FIFA World Cup]] and the approaching [[1994 FIFA World Cup]] to be hosted in the [[United States of America|United States]], the CONCACAF Congress in [[Kingston, Jamaica|Kingston]], [[Jamaica]] decided to stage a continental championship itself; the [[CONCACAF Gold Cup]] was ratified on August 18, 1990.<ref name="Reference 1">{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=BZGggv0hN9sC&dat=19910124&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |title=Torneo de Naciones de CONCACAF: Costa Rica busca la ratificacion de sede |trans-title=CONCACAF Nations Cup: Costa Rica looks for ratification on host bid |page=39A |work=[[La Nación (San José)|La Nación]] |format=Web |date=January 25, 1991 |access-date=October 13, 2014 |language=es }}</ref> Costa Rica were given a bye into the competition due to its title at the [[1989 CONCACAF Championship]], which also served as a qualification phase for the World Cup hosted by Italy.<ref name="Reference 1" /> However, due to mainly economic reasons, the United States were chosen as the venue for the continental tournament.<ref name="Reference 2">{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=BZGggv0hN9sC&dat=19910127&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |title=En Julio Copa de Naciones |trans-title=Nations Cup in July |page=42A |work=[[La Nación (San José)|La Nación]] |format=Web |date=January 27, 1991 |access-date=October 13, 2014 |language=es }}</ref>

During that same conference, the qualification format for the Central American associations were also decided on.<ref name="Reference 1" /> The final qualification round of the Central American zone had two bids: the United States and Costa Rica.<ref name="Reference 2" /> Costa Rica, now three-time CONCACAF champions and to celebrate their [[anniversary]] of the nation's World Cup performance by its team, was named by CONCACAF and UNCAF as the host country of the inaugural edition of the regional tournament organized by UNCAF ([[1991 UNCAF Nations Cup]]) on February 19, 1991.<ref name="Reference 4">{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=BZGggv0hN9sC&dat=19910220&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |title=Torneo de Naciones Inicia el 26 de Mayo |trans-title=Nations Cup starts May 26 |page=29A |work=[[La Nación (San José)|La Nación]] |format=Web |date=February 20, 1991 |access-date=October 13, 2014 |language=es }}</ref>

==Participating teams==
The 7 [[Central American Football Union|UNCAF]] members participated on the tournament:

*{{fb|BLZ}}
*{{fb|CRC}}
*{{fb|SLV}}
*{{fb|GUA}}
*{{fb|HON}}
*{{fb|NCA}}
*{{fb|PAN}}

==Results==
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
!#
!Year
!Hosts
!style="background:gold"|Champions
!Results
!style="background:silver"|Runners-up
!style="background:#c96"|Third place
!Results
!style="background:#9acddf|Fourth place
!Teams
|-
|- bgcolor=#cccccc align=center
|colspan=10|'''Copa de Naciones UNCAF'''
|-
|1
|[[1991 UNCAF Nations Cup|1991]]||{{flag|Costa Rica}}||{{fb|CRC}}||rowspan=2|''Round-Robin''||{{fb|HON|1949}}||{{fb|GUA}}||rowspan=2|''Round-Robin''||{{fb|SLV}}
|4
|-
|2
|[[1993 UNCAF Nations Cup|1993]]||{{flag|Honduras|1949}}||{{fb|HON|1949}}||{{fb|CRC}}||{{fb|PAN}}||{{fb|SLV}}
|5
|-
|3
|[[1995 UNCAF Nations Cup|1995]]||{{flag|El Salvador}}||{{fb|HON|1949}}||3–0||{{fb|GUA}}||{{fb|SLV}}||2–1||{{fb|CRC}}
|7
|-
|4
|[[1997 UNCAF Nations Cup|1997]]||{{flag|Guatemala}}||{{fb|CRC}}||rowspan=4|''Round-Robin''||{{fb|GUA}}||{{fb|SLV}}||rowspan=4|''Round-Robin''||{{fb|HON|1949}}
|7
|-
|5
|[[1999 UNCAF Nations Cup|1999]]||{{flag|Costa Rica}}||{{fb|CRC}}||{{fb|GUA}}||{{fb|HON|1949}}||{{fb|SLV}}
|6
|-
|6
|[[2001 UNCAF Nations Cup|2001]]||{{flag|Honduras|1949}}||{{fb|GUA}}||{{fb|CRC}}||{{fb|SLV}}||{{fb|PAN}}
|7
|-
|7
|[[2003 UNCAF Nations Cup|2003]]||{{flag|Panama}}||{{fb|CRC}}||{{fb|GUA}}||{{fb|SLV}}||{{fb|HON|1949}}
|6
|-
|8
|[[2005 UNCAF Nations Cup|2005]]||{{flag|Guatemala}}||{{fb|CRC}}||1–1<br><small>{{pso|7–6}}</small>||{{fb|HON|1949}}||{{fb|GUA}}||3–0||{{fb|PAN}}
|7
|-
|9
|[[2007 UNCAF Nations Cup|2007]]||{{flag|El Salvador}}||{{fb|CRC}}||1–1<br><small>{{pso|4–1}}</small>||{{fb|PAN}}||{{fb|GUA}}||1–0||{{fb|SLV}}
|7
|-
|10
|[[2009 UNCAF Nations Cup|2009]]||{{flag|Honduras|1949}}||{{fb|PAN}}||0–0<br><small>{{pso|5–3}}</small>||{{fb|CRC}}||{{fb|HON|1949}}||1–0||{{fb|SLV}}
|7
|-
|- bgcolor=#cccccc align=center
|colspan=10|'''Copa Centroamericana'''
|-
|11
|[[2011 Copa Centroamericana|2011]]||{{flag|Panama}}||{{fb|HON|1949}}||2–1||{{fb|CRC}}||{{fb|PAN}}||0–0<br><small>{{pso|5–4}}</small>||{{fb|SLV}}
|7
|-
|12
|[[2013 Copa Centroamericana|2013]]||{{flag|Costa Rica}}||{{fb|CRC}}||1–0||{{fb|HON|1949}}||{{fb|SLV}}||1–0||{{fb|BLZ|1981}}
|7
|-
|13
|[[2014 Copa Centroamericana|2014]]||{{flag|United States}}||{{fb|CRC}}||2–1||{{fb|GUA}}||{{fb|PAN}}||1–0||{{fb|SLV}}
|7
|-
|14
|[[2017 Copa Centroamericana|2017]]||{{flag|Panama}}||{{fb|HON|1949}}||''Round-Robin''||{{fb|PAN}}||{{fb|SLV}}||''Round-Robin''||{{fb|CRC}}
|6
|}

==Performances==
===Top 4===
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
!Team
!Champions
!Runners-up
!Third place
!Fourth place
!Total 
|-
|align=left|{{fb|CRC}}
|style="background:gold"|8<br>(''[[1991 UNCAF Nations Cup|1991]]'', [[1997 UNCAF Nations Cup|1997]], ''[[1999 UNCAF Nations Cup|1999]]'', [[2003 UNCAF Nations Cup|2003]], [[2005 UNCAF Nations Cup|2005]], [[2007 UNCAF Nations Cup|2007]], ''[[2013 Copa Centroamericana|2013]]'', [[2014 Copa Centroamericana|2014]])
|style="background:silver"|4<br>([[1993 UNCAF Nations Cup|1993]], [[2001 UNCAF Nations Cup|2001]], [[2009 UNCAF Nations Cup|2009]], [[2011 Copa Centroamericana|2011]])
|–
|style="background:#9acddf"|2<br>([[1995 UNCAF Nations Cup|1995]], [[2017 Copa Centroamericana|2017]])
|14
|-
|align=left|{{fb|HON|1949}}
|style="background:gold"|4<br>(''[[1993 UNCAF Nations Cup|1993]]'', [[1995 UNCAF Nations Cup|1995]], [[2011 Copa Centroamericana|2011]], [[2017 Copa Centroamericana|2017]])
|style="background:silver"|3<br>([[1991 UNCAF Nations Cup|1991]], [[2005 UNCAF Nations Cup|2005]], [[2013 Copa Centroamericana|2013]])
|style="background:#c96"|2<br>([[1999 UNCAF Nations Cup|1999]], [[2009 UNCAF Nations Cup|2009]])
|style="background:#9acddf"|2<br>([[1997 UNCAF Nations Cup|1997]], [[2003 UNCAF Nations Cup|2003]])
|11
|-
|align=left|{{fb|GUA}}
|style="background:gold"|1<br>([[2001 UNCAF Nations Cup|2001]])
|style="background:silver"|5<br>([[1995 UNCAF Nations Cup|1995]], ''[[1997 UNCAF Nations Cup|1997]]'', [[1999 UNCAF Nations Cup|1999]], [[2003 UNCAF Nations Cup|2003]], [[2014 Copa Centroamericana|2014]])
|style="background:#c96"|3<br>([[1991 UNCAF Nations Cup|1991]], [[2005 UNCAF Nations Cup|2005]], [[2007 UNCAF Nations Cup|2007]])
|–
|9
|-
|align=left|{{fb|PAN}}
|style="background:gold"|1<br>([[2009 UNCAF Nations Cup|2009]])
|style="background:silver"|2<br>([[2007 UNCAF Nations Cup|2007]], ''[[2017 Copa Centroamericana|2017]]'')
|style="background:#c96"|3<br>([[1993 UNCAF Nations Cup|1993]], ''[[2011 Copa Centroamericana|2011]]'', [[2014 Copa Centroamericana|2014]])
|style="background:#9acddf"|2<br>([[2001 UNCAF Nations Cup|2001]], [[2005 UNCAF Nations Cup|2005]])
|8
|-
|align=left|{{fb|SLV}}
|–
|–
|style="background:#c96"|6<br>(''[[1995 UNCAF Nations Cup|1995]]'', [[1997 UNCAF Nations Cup|1997]], [[2001 UNCAF Nations Cup|2001]], [[2003 UNCAF Nations Cup|2003]], [[2013 Copa Centroamericana|2013]], [[2017 Copa Centroamericana|2017]])
|style="background:#9acddf"|7<br>([[1991 UNCAF Nations Cup|1991]], [[1993 UNCAF Nations Cup|1993]], [[1999 UNCAF Nations Cup|1999]], ''[[2007 UNCAF Nations Cup|2007]]'', [[2009 UNCAF Nations Cup|2009]], [[2011 Copa Centroamericana|2011]], [[2014 Copa Centroamericana|2014]])
|13
|-
|align=left|{{fb|BLZ|1981}}
|–
|–
|–
|style="background:#9acddf"|1<br>([[2013 Copa Centroamericana|2013]])
|1
|}
;Notes:
''Italic'' — Hosts
===Medals===
{{Medals table
 | caption        = 
 | host           = 
 | flag_template  = 
 | event          = 
 | team           = 
 | gold_CRC = 8 | silver_CRC = 4 | bronze_CRC = 0
 | gold_HON = 4 | silver_HON = 3 | bronze_HON = 2
 | gold_GUA = 1 | silver_GUA = 5 | bronze_GUA = 3
 | gold_PAN = 1 | silver_PAN = 2 | bronze_PAN = 3
 | gold_ESA = 0 | silver_ESA = 0 | bronze_ESA = 6
}}

==Overall statistics==

{{#invoke:Sports table|main|style=WDL
|showteam=
|only_pld_pts=
|show_matches=

|name_BLZ={{fb|BLZ|1981}}
|name_CRC={{fb|CRC}}
|name_GUA={{fb|GUA}}
|name_HON={{fb|HON|1949}}
|name_NCA={{fb|NCA}}
|name_PAN={{fb|PAN}}
|name_SLV={{fb|SLV}}

|win_BLZ=1 |draw_BLZ=6 |loss_BLZ=26|gf_BLZ=20 |ga_BLZ=81 
|win_CRC=36|draw_CRC=16|loss_CRC=9 |gf_CRC=109|ga_CRC=38 
|win_GUA=23|draw_GUA=14|loss_GUA=14|gf_GUA=63 |ga_GUA=48 
|win_HON=34|draw_HON=12|loss_HON=14|gf_HON=108|ga_HON=49 
|win_NCA=5 |draw_NCA=5 |loss_NCA=34|gf_NCA=29 |ga_NCA=116
|win_PAN=21|draw_PAN=13|loss_PAN=18|gf_PAN=56 |ga_PAN=52 
|win_SLV=22|draw_SLV=14|loss_SLV=27|gf_SLV=62 |ga_SLV=72


|team1=CRC |team2=HON |team3=GUA |team4=SLV |team5=PAN |team6=NCA |team7=BLZ
}}

==See also==
*[[Central American Football Union|UNCAF]]
*[[North American Football Union|NAFU]]
*[[Caribbean Football Union|CFU]]
*[[North American Nations Cup]]
*[[Caribbean Cup]]/[[CFU Championship]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://uncafut.com/web/copa-centroamericana|UNCAF's official site for the Copa Centroamericana}} {{in lang|es}}
* {{Official website|http://www.concacaf.com/category/central-american-cup|CONCACAF's official site for the Copa Centroamericana}} {{in lang|en|es}}

{{Copa Centroamericana}}
{{CONCACAF competitions}}
{{UNCAF}}
{{International football}}

[[Category:Copa Centroamericana| ]]
[[Category:International association football competitions in Central America]]
[[Category:Men's international association football competitions in North America]]
[[Category:Defunct international association football competitions in North America]]
[[Category:Central American Football Union competitions|Nations Cup]]
[[Category:Association football competitions in North America for men's national teams]]
[[Category:CONCACAF Gold Cup qualification]]
[[Category:1991 establishments in North America]]
[[Category:2017 disestablishments in North America]]
[[Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1991]]
[[Category:Recurring sporting events disestablished in 2017]]