2025–26 Liga Primera

Liga Primera
Season2025–26
ChampionsTBD (Apertura)
TBD (Clausura)
RelegatedTBDl
Top goalscorerApertura:
TBD
(TBD goals)
Clausura:
TBD
(TBD goals)
Biggest home winApertura:
TBD 6–0 TBD
Biggest away winApertura:
TBD 3-4 TBD (3 November 2024)
Highest scoringApertura:
TBD 4-4 TBD (5 October 2024)
2026–27 →
All statistics correct as of 7 November 2024.

The 2025–26 Liga Primera de Nicaragua football season was to be divided into two tournaments, Apertura and Clausura. The season will determine the 81st and 82nd champions in the history of the Liga Primera de Nicaragua, the top division of football in Nicaragua. The Apertura tournament is to be played in the second half of 2025, while the Clausura is to be played in the first half of 2026.

Teams

Team information

A total of ten teams contested the league, including nine sides from the 2024–25 Primera División, and one side from the 2024–25 Segunda División.

Ocotal finished last in the aggregate table and were relegated to the Segunda División.[1] The champions from the Segunda División, Real Madriz, were promoted in their place.[2]

The 9th place team in the aggregate table, Rancho Santana FC, faced the second-place team from the Segunda División, Rio Blanco, in a playoff for a spot in the Primera División. Rancho Santana FC won 2–1 over two legs, meaning they remained in the Primera División.[1]

Promotion and relegation

Promoted from Segunda División as of June, 2025.

Relegated to Segunda División as of June, 2025.

Personnel and kits

Team Chairman Head coach Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor(s)
ART Jalapa TBD Jairo Basabe TBD Huriver Ferreter Lenar, Noelito
Diriangén TBD Jose Giacone TBD Macron Credifacil, Doradobet, Claro, Proplisa
CS Sebaco TBD Sergio Ivan rodriguez TBD La Cabra Sport Cafe OX, Siles, Transporte Tovel
Managua TBD Emilio Aburto TBD Orion Elite Claro, Chevron, Fetesa
Matagalpa FC TBD Héctor Medina Robinson Luiz El Brother Standard Chontal
Central Gas
Segruidad Aguila
La Bodeguita
Distarija
Rancho Santana FC TBD Alexis Santana Johan Padilla Mi Ropa Favorita.com Miropa Favorito.com, BlackSwan
Real Esteli TBD Otoniel Olivas TBD Orion Elite Tigo, Cafe Ox, Baterias KOBE,
Real Madriz TBD Jorge Vanegas Ender Rivas La Cabra Sport Liver Hotels, Alacadia Municipal Somoto Nadriz,
UNAN Managua TBD Oscar Blanco TBD Joma Universided de Managua
Walter Ferretti TBD Sting Lopez TBD La Cabra Sport Claro
Nica Logistics
INiser

Managerial Changes

Before the start of the season

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Replaced by Date of appointment Position in table
Walter Ferretti Mauricio Cruz Mutual Consent May, 2025 Sting Lopez May, 2025 th (2025 Clausura)
UNAN Managua Luis Vega Resigned due to health reason June, 2025 Oscar Blanco July, 2025
Rancho Santana Cristian Taberna End of interimship July, 2024 Alexis Sanchez July, 2024 th (2025 Clausura)

During the Apertura season

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Replaced by Date of appointment Position in table
ART Jalapa Jairo Basabe Resigned August, 2025 Danny Rosales (Interim) August, 2025 th (2024 Apertura)
Rancho Santana Alexis Sanchez Sacked August 2025 Flavio da Silva August 2025 9th (2025 Apertura)
ART Jalapa Danny Rosales Interimship ended September 2025 Luis Javier Londoño September 2025 9th (2025 Apertura)
Rancho Santana Flavio da Silva Mutual Consent September 2025 Mauricio Cruz September 2025 9th (2025 Apertura)
Real Madriz Jorge Luis Vanegas Sacked September 2025 Glen Blanco September 2025 th (2025 Apertura)
Matagalpa FC Hector Medina Mutual Consent October 2025 Roberto Chanampe October 2025 th (2025 Apertura)

Between the Apertura and Clausura season

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Replaced by Date of appointment Position in table
Real Estelí Ramón Otoniel Olivas Mutual Consent December, 2025 Diego Vásquez [2] December, 2025 th (2025 Apertura)
Diriangén FC José Giacone Contract Finished December, 2025 Alexander Vargas [3] December, 2025 th (2025 Apertura)

During the Clausura season

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Replaced by Date of appointment Position in table
Real Madriz Glen Blanco Sacked February, 2026 Carlos Matamoros February, 2026 10th (2026 Clausura)
Rancho Santana Mauricio Cruz Sacked March 5, 2026 Kenneth Barrantes [4] March 6, 2026 8th (2026 Clausura)

Apertura 2025

Standings

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Diriangén 18 10 6 2 48 15 +33 36 Advance to Playoffs semi-finals
2 Managua 18 11 3 4 32 13 +19 36
3 Real Estelí 18 9 6 3 26 14 +12 33 Advance to Playoffs quarter-finals
4 Club Sébaco 18 9 3 6 30 29 +1 30
5 Matagalpa 18 8 4 6 29 26 +3 28
6 Walter Ferretti 18 7 5 6 31 26 +5 26
7 Municipal Jalapa 18 7 3 8 33 33 0 24
8 Rancho Santana 18 5 2 11 17 47 −30 17
9 UNAN Managua 18 3 3 12 20 41 −21 12
10 Real Madriz 18 3 1 14 16 38 −22 10
Source: [5]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) head-to-head points; 5) head-to-head goal difference; 6) head-to-head goals scored; 7) draw.

Playoffs

Bracket

Quarterfinals

Real Esteli2-1Deportivo Walter Ferretti
Josué Mitchell 30'
Ronaldo Espinoza 97'		 Henry Niño 115'
Estadio Independencia, Esteli

Real Esteli progressed.

Club Sébaco2-0Matagalpa
William Palacios 47' 60' Nil
Estadio

Sebaco progressed.

Semi-finals

Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Diriangen 6-0 Club Sébaco 1-0 5-0
Managua 5-2 Real Esteli 4-1 1-1
First leg
Club Sébaco0-1Diriangen
Nil Junior Arteaga 93'
Estadio Nacional, Managua
Referee: Ricardo Mendoza
Real Esteli0-2Managua
Nil Carlos Hernandez 80'
Mauro Verón 98'
Stadio Independencia
Referee: Félix Mojica
Second leg
Diriangen5-0Club Sébaco
Junio Arteaga 39' 55' 62'
Germán Aguirre 50'
Luis Coronel 77'		 Nil
Referee: Roger Meléndez

Diriangen won on 6-0 aggregate.

Managua0-2Real Esteli
Nil Byron Bonilla 17'
Bancy Hernandez 43'
Estadio Nacional
Referee: Nitzar Sandoval

2-2 aggregate. Managua won 5-4 on penalties.

Final

First leg
Managua0-0Diriangen
Nil Nil
Estadio Nacional de Fútbol de Nicaragua
Referee: Ricardo Mendoza
Second leg
Diriangen1-0Managua
Germán Aguirre 35' [6] Nil
Referee: Roger Meléndez

Diriangen won 1-0 on aggregate.

 Apertura 2025 champions 
 
34th title

Clausura 2026

List of foreign players

This is a list of foreign players in the 2025–26 season. The following players:

  1. Have played at least one game for the respective club.
  2. Have not been capped for the Nicaragua national football team on any level, independently from the birthplace

A new rule was introduced this season, that clubs can have four foreign players per club and can only add a new player if there is an injury or a player/s is released, and it is before the closing of the season transfer window.

(player released during the Apertura season) (player released between the Apertura and Clausura seasons) (player released during the Clausura season)

References

  1. ^ "Salvadoreno Juan Sanchez Y Ocotal Decienden en Nicaragua" [Salvadorian Juan Sanchez and Octoal descended in Nicaragua]. Elsalvador.com (in Spanish). 1 May 2025. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  2. ^ "Real Madriz regresa a Liga Primera" [Real Madriz returns back to Liga Primera]. nicasports.com (in Spanish). 20 May 2025. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
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