By Pablo Barrera 

The groups for the 2025 edition of the Central American Cup have been announced, and here's the information and analysis of the draw:

Central American Cup Draw:

Group A:

 * Alajuelense (CR)

 * Antigua GFC (GUA)

 * Plaza Amador (PAN)

 * Alianza FC (ES)

 * Managua (NIC)

Group B:

 * Herediano (CR)

 * Municipal (GUA)

 * Real España (HON)

 * Sporting San Miguelito (PAN)

 * Diriangen (NIC)

Group C:

 * Saprissa (CR)

 * Motagua (HON)

 * Cartaginés (CR)

 * CA Independiente (PAN)

 * Verdes FC (BLZ)

Group D:

 * Olimpia (HON)

 * Xelaju MC (GUA)

 * Real Estelí (NIC)

 * CD Águila (ES)

 * CD Hércules (ES)

Xelaju in a Tough Group:

This is how the 2025 Central American Cup draw turned out. Xelajú has been placed in Group D, alongside Olimpia from Honduras, Real Estelí from Nicaragua, Club Deportivo Águila from El Salvador, and Club Deportivo Hércules, also from El Salvador. The "Super Chivo" squad has a group that, while somewhat complicated, isn't as difficult as some other groups that could be called "groups of death."

The team to beat will be Olimpia from Honduras, which is a favorite to qualify in first place. In the previous Central American Cup, Xelajú actually faced Olimpia from Honduras and lost 2-0 on Honduran soil.

However, this Olimpia team, despite being the champion of the last tournament, seems to be a difficult but not impossible opponent to beat. In the last tournament, Antigua GFC eliminated them at home, so they are not completely impregnable.

Still, Olimpia is the favorite to win this group. However, there are other rivals that could make things difficult for Xelajú Mario Camposeco and are also favorites to qualify for the next round.

Without a doubt, the team to beat will be Real Estelí from Nicaragua, which, by the way, already faced the "Super Chivo" team in the first edition of the Central American Cup. In that competition, Xelajú lost to the Nicaraguan "train" by a score of 1-0, at the Independencia stadium in Estelí, Nicaragua.

Back then, Real Estelí was an undervalued, underestimated team, and it was thought that because they came from Nicaragua—a country that didn't have much of a football tradition until recently—they would be an easy opponent. However, it turned out to be quite the opposite.

Real Estelí has made history by reaching two consecutive finals, but they have also made history by losing those two finals to the same opponent, Liga Deportiva Alajuelense.

The challenge and aspiration for the "Northern Train" will be to qualify for the next round again, reach the final, and win it, which is the only thing left for them to prove their great footballing level. The Nicaraguan team is bruised after losing two consecutive finals in their local tournament and failing to win the two Central American Cup finals. Therefore, the feeling of revenge will be palpable and latent in each of this Nicaraguan team's matches.

Undoubtedly, this will be the team to beat if Xelajú has aspirations to qualify for the next round. But they will also have other rivals, such as the Águila team from El Salvador and Club Deportivo Hércules, also from the same country. These rivals can also be complicated, although if Xelajú plans their strategies well, they could overcome them.

In short, Xelajú is not in the group of death, but they will have certain obstacles to overcome to beat the other teams and advance to the next round.

We'll see if the reinforcements Xelajú has acquired in recent weeks, both national and foreign, will be enough to face this tournament and qualify for the next round, which is currently the "Super Chivo" team's aspiration, and then look to transcend in the next round.

Antigua GFC already showed in the last tournament that it is possible to qualify, and if good strategies and good matches are played, you can stand up to the most difficult rivals, such as Olimpia from Honduras and Saprissa from Costa Rica.

The question is, can Xelajú qualify for the next round? The answer might lie in the result against Real Estelí, as that could be the most direct rival to fight for second place. If they manage to overcome them, then they will have a good chance of advancing to the next phase.

Antigua with a Difficult Mission:

Antigua GFC has been placed in a group with several tough opponents, such as Liga Deportiva Alajuelense from Costa Rica, Plaza Amador from Panama, Alianza from El Salvador, and Managua from Nicaragua.

In our opinion, the most difficult opponent in that group is undoubtedly Liga Deportiva Alajuelense, a team that will seek to revalidate its back-to-back championship and will aim to be a protagonist in this tournament to achieve its third consecutive international title in this Central American Cup.

However, the other rivals are also difficult; both Plaza Amador from Panama, Alianza from El Salvador, but especially Managua from Nicaragua, can be complicated. Without a doubt, of all of them, the Nicaraguan team may be the one that presents the greatest challenges and difficulties for the colonial team. Let's remember that in the last Central American Cup, Managua defeated Municipal in Nicaragua, so they are not an easy or accessible opponent. However, we believe that Antigua has a good chance of qualifying for the next round.

Municipal in the Group of Death?

But the "Rojos" of Municipal certainly have a tough road ahead. The municipal team shares a group with Herediano from Costa Rica, the recent champion of the Tica league, as well as Real España from Honduras, Sporting San Miguelito from Panama, and Diriangen from Nicaragua.

In this case, Municipal has three quite difficult opponents and one unknown. Herediano from Costa Rica is always a tough team and the one to beat. Real España from Honduras has always had a great tradition in international tournaments and is always a very complicated opponent.

Diriangen has also been a very strong opponent on their home turf and has made things difficult for several teams in the Central American region. And regarding Sporting San Miguelito from Panama, they are an unknown that will only be resolved once they face each other in the international tournament.

This could be considered the group of death, as with the exception of the Panamanian team, all the other teams are quite balanced, with a slight historical advantage for the Costa Rican team, but that could be balanced out in the matches.

We dare not predict a possible qualification for the scarlet team. However, with their new Nicaraguan coach Mario Acevedo, as well as the additions they have made to date, the red team can certainly put up a fight and could qualify for the next round.

Group of Death A or B?

Without a doubt, Group C, made up of Saprissa from Costa Rica, Motagua from Honduras, Cartaginés from Costa Rica, Club Atlético Independiente or CAI from Panama, and Verdes from Belize, is shaping up to be the group of death of the Central American Cup.

Undoubtedly, the favorite here is Saprissa from Costa Rica. The Costa Rican club has won more than 40 titles, including three Concachampions. They are favorites to qualify in first place in this group. However, they will not have an easy time, as they have other very complicated rivals in their group, such as Motagua from Honduras, who have always put up a fight, not to mention Cartaginés, also from their country, and CAI from Panama, who have always been a difficult opponent.

With the exception of Verdes from Belize, the other rivals could complicate the "Morados'" qualification. But Saprissa from Costa Rica is always a protagonist in this tournament, and they are expected to qualify for the next round.

Who will reach the final?

It's unknown, but if everything follows its course, as it has in previous tournaments, we could expect another final between Real Estelí and Liga Deportiva Alajuelense. Who knows? Anything can happen. Tell us, what do you think of all this? And do you think Xelajú MC will be able to qualify for the next phase? Leave us your impressions and follow us on social media.