Summary
Primera División de Nicaragua (NCA1) is the top level of league style football competition in Nicaragua. The 2026-2027 NCA1 season is split into two championships, the Torneo Apertura and the Torneo Clausura. At the end of the 2026-2027 Torneo Clausura, the NCA1 teams listed below qualify for the following non-league play:
- 2027 CNCFCAC Group Stage:
- 2026-2027 Apertura and Clausura champions
- 2026-2027 Best non-champion with the most 2026-2027 NCA1 Aggregate Table points
If the same team wins both the 2026-2027 Torneo Apertura and the Torneo Clausura, then the runner-up with the most 2026-2027 NCA1 Aggregate Table points from both torneos is awarded the 2nd 2027 CNCFCAC champions berth.
Aggregate points are determined by combining results from the 2026-2027 Torneo Apertura and 2026-2027 Torneo Clausura into the 2026-2027 NCA1 Aggregate Table.
Leagues Pyramid - Nicaragua
| Abbrev | League | # of Teams |
|---|---|---|
| NCA1 | Liga Primera | 10 |
| NCA2 | Segunda División de Nicaragua | 20 |
| NCA3 | Tercera División de Nicaragua | - |
| NCA4 | Cuarta División de Nicaragua | - |
Competition Structure
Season | # of Teams | ||
| Apertura - Regular 17 Jul 2026 - 26 Nov 2026 Apertura - Playoffs 29 Nov 2026 - 17 Dec 2026 | Clausura - Regular 17 Jan 2027 - 28 Apr 2027 Clausura - Playoffs 1 May 2027 - 18 May 2027 | 10: NCA1 (8 minimum), NCA2 (2 maximum) | |
Season Format
The 2026-2027 NCA1 season is split into two championships, the Torneo Apertura and the Torneo Clausura. In each torneo, each NCA1 team plays Home-Away matches with the other 9 NCA1 teams for a total of 18 league matches. A playoff is held upon the completion of each torneo to determine the torneo champion. Table ranking ties are broken by (1) goal difference, (2) goals scored, (3) head-to-head points, (4) head-to-head goal difference, (5) head-to-head goals scored, then (6) a draw.
Playoffs
At the end of each torneo, the top 6 eligible NCA1 teams participate in playoffs. In the Quarterfinals, 3rd plays 6th and 4th plays 5th in a "Knockout" matches. The winners advance to a Home-Away highest aggregate goal wins Semifinals against the 1st and 2nd place teams. The Semifinals winners advance to a Home-Away highest aggregate goal wins Final.
Relegation
Immediately following the 2026-2027 Torneo Clausura, the 10th place team in the 2026-2027 NCA1 Aggregate Table is immediately relegated to NCA2, while the 9th place team enters into a Promotion/Relegation playoff with the 2nd place NCA2 team. The playoff winner plays in the 2026-2027 NCA1 and the loser plays in the NCA2.
More Info...
Torneo Apertura
| League | Home | Road | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POS | MP | W - D - L | PTS | CPTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | MP | W - D - L | PTS | GF | GA | GD | |
| 1 | Managua FC | 9 | 7 -2-0 | 23 | - | 27 | 9 | 18 | 5 | 3 -2-0 | 11 | 15 | 6 | 9 | 4 | 4 -0-0 | 12 | 12 | 3 | 9 |
| 2 | Diriangén FC | 9 | 7 -2-0 | 23 | - | 20 | 6 | 14 | 4 | 3 -1-0 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 4 -1-0 | 13 | 12 | 4 | 8 |
| 3 | Real Estelí FC | 9 | 5 -3-1 | 18 | - | 17 | 6 | 11 | 5 | 3 -1-1 | 10 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 2 -2-0 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 6 |
| 4 | UNAN Managua | 9 | 5 -2-2 | 17 | - | 11 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 2 -0-1 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 3 -2-1 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 3 |
| 5 | H&H Export Sébaco FC | 9 | 3 -2-4 | 11 | - | 9 | 17 | -8 | 5 | 0 -2-3 | 2 | 3 | 11 | -8 | 4 | 3 -0-1 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 6 | FC San Marcos | 9 | 3 -1-5 | 10 | - | 8 | 14 | -6 | 4 | 2 -0-2 | 6 | 5 | 6 | -1 | 5 | 1 -1-3 | 4 | 3 | 8 | -5 |
| 7 | Indígenas de Matagalpa FC | 9 | 3 -0-6 | 9 | - | 4 | 16 | -12 | 6 | 2 -0-4 | 6 | 2 | 10 | -8 | 3 | 1 -0-2 | 3 | 2 | 6 | -4 |
| 8 | CD Walter Ferretti | 9 | 2 -1-6 | 7 | - | 12 | 16 | -4 | 4 | 1 -0-3 | 3 | 7 | 8 | -1 | 5 | 1 -1-3 | 4 | 5 | 8 | -3 |
| 9 | FC Rancho Santana | 9 | 1 -2-6 | 5 | - | 7 | 14 | -7 | 4 | 0 -1-3 | 1 | 3 | 7 | -4 | 5 | 1 -1-3 | 4 | 4 | 7 | -3 |
| 10 | ART Municipal Jalapa | 9 | 1 -1-7 | 4 | - | 4 | 14 | -10 | 5 | 1 -1-3 | 4 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 4 | 0 -0-4 | 0 | 2 | 10 | -8 |
Apertura - Semifinals Apertura - Quarterfinals | ||||||||||||||||||||
Results
 | 11 | Real Estelí FC | Estadio Nacional Dennis Martínez |
 | 01 | Diriangén FC | Estadio Carlos Fonseca Amador |
 | 03 | Diriangén FC | Estadio Carlos Fonseca Amador |
 | 23 | Managua FC | Estadio Nacional Dennis Martínez |
| 13 | UNAN Managua | Estadio Carlos Fonseca Amador |
 | 11 | Real Estelí FC | Estadio Nacional Dennis Martínez |
 | 31 | ART Municipal Jalapa | Estadio Carlos Fonseca Amador |
| 10 | UNAN Managua | Estadio Carlos Fonseca Amador |
| 33 | Diriangén FC | Estadio Nacional Dennis Martínez |
| 20 | FC San Marcos | Estadio Independencia (Estelí) |
| 11 | FC Rancho Santana | Estadio Alejandro Ramos |
| 11 | CD Walter Ferretti | Estadio Carlos Fonseca Amador |
| 02 | Managua FC | Estadio Nacional Dennis Martínez |
| 10 | CD Walter Ferretti | Estadio Carlos Fonseca Amador |
| 05 | Real Estelí FC | Estadio Carlos Fonseca Amador |
| 01 | FC Rancho Santana | Estadio Carlos Fonseca Amador |
| 20 | ART Municipal Jalapa | Estadio Cacique Diriangén |
| 01 | UNAN Managua | Estadio Nacional Dennis Martínez |
| 12 | FC San Marcos | Estadio Nacional Dennis Martínez |
| 01 | Indígenas de Matagalpa FC | Estadio Alejandro Ramos |