Summary
Primera División de Nicaragua (NCA1) is the top level of league style football competition in Nicaragua. The 2024-2025 NCA1 season is split into two championships, the Torneo Apertura and the Torneo Clausura. At the end of the 2024-2025 Torneo Clausura, the NCA1 teams listed below qualify for the following non-league play:
- 2025 CNCFCAC Group Stage:
- 2024-2025 Apertura and Clausura champions
- 2024-2025 Best non-champion with the most 2024-2025 NCA1 Aggregate Table points
If the same team wins both the 2024-2025 Torneo Apertura and the Torneo Clausura, then the runner-up with the most 2024-2025 NCA1 Aggregate Table points from both torneos is awarded the 2nd 2025 CNCFCAC champions berth.
Aggregate points are determined by combining results from the 2024-2025 Torneo Apertura and 2024-2025 Torneo Clausura into the 2024-2025 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 | - |
| NCA3 | Tercera División de Nicaragua | - |
| NCA4 | Cuarta División de Nicaragua | - |
Competition Structure
Season | # of Teams | ||
| Apertura - Regular 2 Aug 2024 - 26 Nov 2024 Apertura - Playoffs 29 Nov 2024 - 17 Dec 2024 | Clausura - Regular 19 Jan 2025 - 28 Apr 2025 Clausura - Playoffs 1 May 2025 - 18 May 2025 | 10: NCA1 (8 minimum), NCA2 (2 maximum) | |
Season Format
The 2024-2025 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. The Semifinals winners advance to a Home-Away highest aggregate goal wins Final.
Relegation
Immediately following the 2024-2025 Torneo Clausura, the 10th place team in the 2024-2025 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 2024-2025 NCA1 and the loser plays in the NCA2.
More Info...
Clausura - Finals
| Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue | ||||
| Aggregate | Managua FC | 31 | Real Estelí FC |
| 17.05.25 |  | 20 | Real Estelí FC | Estadio Nacional de Fútbol |
| 24.05.25 | | 11 | Managua FC | Estadio Independencia (Estelí) |
Clausura - Semifinals
| Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue | ||||
| Aggregate | H&H Export Sébaco FC | 14 | Real Estelí FC |
| 07.05.25 |  | 13 | Real Estelí FC | Estadio Carlos Fonseca Amador |
| 10.05.25 | | 10 | H&H Export Sébaco FC | Estadio Independencia (Estelí) |
| Aggregate | Diriangén FC | 24 | Managua FC |
| 07.05.25 |  | 11 | Managua FC | Estadio Cacique Diriangén |
| 11.05.25 | | 31 | Diriangén FC | Estadio Nacional de Fútbol |
Clausura - Quarterfinals
| Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue | ||||
 | 23 | H&H Export Sébaco FC | Estadio Nacional de Fútbol |
| 20 | Indígenas de Matagalpa FC | Estadio Cacique Diriangén |
Torneo Clausura
| 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 | Real Estelí FC | 17 | 14 -1-2 | 43 | - | 40 | 16 | 24 | 9 | 7 -1-1 | 22 | 20 | 6 | 14 | 8 | 7 -0-1 | 21 | 20 | 10 | 10 |
| 2 | Managua FC | 17 | 11 -3-3 | 36 | - | 30 | 12 | 18 | 9 | 7 -1-1 | 22 | 16 | 4 | 12 | 8 | 4 -2-2 | 14 | 14 | 8 | 6 |
| 3 | Diriangén FC | 17 | 10 -2-5 | 32 | - | 32 | 21 | 11 | 9 | 6 -0-3 | 18 | 19 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 4 -2-2 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 3 |
| 4 | H&H Export Sébaco FC | 17 | 6 -4-7 | 22 | - | 18 | 22 | -4 | 9 | 4 -3-2 | 15 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 8 | 2 -1-5 | 7 | 8 | 13 | -5 |
| 5 | Indígenas de Matagalpa FC | 17 | 5 -6-6 | 21 | - | 25 | 27 | -2 | 9 | 4 -2-3 | 14 | 20 | 18 | 2 | 8 | 1 -4-3 | 7 | 5 | 9 | -4 |
| 6 | CD Walter Ferretti | 17 | 5 -5-7 | 20 | - | 17 | 16 | 1 | 8 | 4 -2-2 | 14 | 13 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 1 -3-5 | 6 | 4 | 10 | -6 |
| 7 | UNAN Managua | 17 | 5 -5-7 | 20 | - | 19 | 26 | -7 | 8 | 4 -2-2 | 14 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 9 | 1 -3-5 | 6 | 7 | 17 | -10 |
| 8 | ART Municipal Jalapa | 17 | 3 -6-8 | 15 | - | 15 | 25 | -10 | 8 | 2 -4-2 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 9 | 1 -2-6 | 5 | 8 | 20 | -12 |
| 9 | FC Rancho Santana | 17 | 3 -5-9 | 14 | - | 14 | 25 | -11 | 8 | 3 -3-2 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 9 | 0 -2-7 | 2 | 2 | 15 | -13 |
| 10 | CD Ocotal | 17 | 3 -3-11 | 12 | - | 18 | 38 | -20 | 8 | 3 -2-3 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 9 | 0 -1-8 | 1 | 7 | 28 | -21 |
Clausura - Semifinals Clausura - Quarterfinals | ||||||||||||||||||||
Apertura - Finals
| Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue | ||||
| Aggregate | Real Estelí FC | 34 | Diriangén FC |
| 18.12.24 | | 11 | Diriangén FC | Estadio Independencia (Estelí) |
| 21.12.24 | | 32 | Real Estelí FC | Estadio Cacique Diriangén |
Apertura - Semifinals
| Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue | ||||
| Aggregate | Managua FC | 22 | Diriangén FC |
| 07.12.24 | | 11 | Diriangén FC | Estadio Nacional de Fútbol |
| 14.12.24 | | 11 | Managua FC | Estadio Cacique Diriangén | ||
| Diriangén FC advances on PKs (3-1) | ||||||
| Aggregate | CD Walter Ferretti | 25 | Real Estelí FC |
| 08.12.24 | | 14 | Real Estelí FC | Estadio Nacional de Fútbol |
| 14.12.24 | | 11 | CD Walter Ferretti | Estadio Independencia (Estelí) |
Apertura - Quarterfinals
| Date | Home | Status | Road | Venue | ||||
| 10 | H&H Export Sébaco FC | Estadio Nacional de Fútbol |
| 15 | Managua FC | Estadio Carlos Fonseca Amador |
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 | Diriangén FC | 18 | 12 -4-2 | 40 | - | 54 | 15 | 39 | 9 | 8 -0-1 | 24 | 32 | 5 | 27 | 9 | 4 -4-1 | 16 | 22 | 10 | 12 |
| 2 | Real Estelí FC | 18 | 10 -6-2 | 36 | - | 36 | 14 | 22 | 9 | 4 -5-0 | 17 | 20 | 4 | 16 | 9 | 6 -1-2 | 19 | 16 | 10 | 6 |
| 3 | Indígenas de Matagalpa FC | 18 | 8 -7-3 | 31 | - | 30 | 22 | 8 | 9 | 5 -4-0 | 19 | 21 | 9 | 12 | 9 | 3 -3-3 | 12 | 9 | 13 | -4 |
| 4 | CD Walter Ferretti | 18 | 8 -5-5 | 29 | - | 21 | 15 | 6 | 9 | 4 -3-2 | 15 | 13 | 9 | 4 | 9 | 4 -2-3 | 14 | 8 | 6 | 2 |
| 5 | H&H Export Sébaco FC | 18 | 6 -6-6 | 24 | - | 24 | 20 | 4 | 9 | 5 -2-2 | 17 | 16 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 1 -4-4 | 7 | 8 | 13 | -5 |
| 6 | Managua FC | 18 | 7 -3-8 | 24 | - | 28 | 27 | 1 | 9 | 5 -0-4 | 15 | 16 | 12 | 4 | 9 | 2 -3-4 | 9 | 12 | 15 | -3 |
| 7 | ART Municipal Jalapa | 18 | 5 -5-8 | 20 | - | 18 | 29 | -11 | 9 | 4 -3-2 | 15 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 1 -2-6 | 5 | 9 | 24 | -15 |
| 8 | UNAN Managua | 18 | 5 -4-9 | 19 | - | 19 | 34 | -15 | 9 | 4 -3-2 | 15 | 12 | 13 | -1 | 9 | 1 -1-7 | 4 | 7 | 21 | -14 |
| 9 | FC Rancho Santana | 18 | 3 -3-12 | 12 | - | 14 | 40 | -26 | 9 | 2 -2-5 | 8 | 9 | 20 | -11 | 9 | 1 -1-7 | 4 | 5 | 20 | -15 |
| 10 | CD Ocotal | 18 | 3 -3-12 | 12 | - | 15 | 43 | -28 | 9 | 3 -1-5 | 10 | 11 | 16 | -5 | 9 | 0 -2-7 | 2 | 4 | 27 | -23 |
Apertura - Semifinals Apertura - Quarterfinals | ||||||||||||||||||||
Results
 | 12 | Real Estelí FC | Estadio Cacique Diriangén |
| 21 | Managua FC | Estadio Nacional de Fútbol |
 | 30 | Indígenas de Matagalpa FC | Estadio Alejandro Ramos |
 | 11 | H&H Export Sébaco FC | Estadio Nacional de Fútbol |
 | 02 | Diriangén FC | Estadio Roy Fernando Bermúdez |
| 30 | FC Rancho Santana | Estadio Cacique Diriangén |
| 12 | Real Estelí FC | Estadio Nacional de Fútbol |
| 21 | CD Ocotal | Estadio Carlos Fonseca Amador |
| 11 | Indígenas de Matagalpa FC | Estadio Nacional de Fútbol |
| 21 | ART Municipal Jalapa | Estadio Nacional de Fútbol |
| 21 | Diriangén FC | Estadio Independencia (Estelí) |
| 10 | CD Walter Ferretti | Estadio Cacique Diriangén |
| 32 | CD Ocotal | Estadio Independencia (Estelí) |
| 13 | Managua FC | Estadio Nacional de Fútbol |
| 00 | ART Municipal Jalapa | Estadio Carlos Fonseca Amador |
| 11 | CD Walter Ferretti | Campo Fun Limon |
| 40 | CD Ocotal | Estadio Nacional de Fútbol |
| 31 | Managua FC | Estadio Carlos Fonseca Amador |
| 10 | H&H Export Sébaco FC | Estadio Independencia (Estelí) |
| 22 | Diriangén FC | Estadio Alejandro Ramos |