Honduras, Nicaragua meet with first place at stake | OneFootball

MIAMI - The Final Round of the Concacaf Qualifiers to the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues with Honduras hosting Nicaragua in Group C on Tuesday at Estadio Nacional José de la Paz Herrera in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

Honduras will eye its first win after earning a point with a goalless draw in Haiti. Goalkeeper Edrick Menjívar delivered seven saves in the clean sheet effort to earn a point away.

Nicaragua will also aim for a first victory in the Final Round after playing out a 1-1 draw against Costa Rica. Byron Bonilla struck from the penalty spot as La Azul y Blanco came from behind to secure the point in their opening encounter.

The match will be the third between the nations in Concacaf World Cup Qualifiers and 23rd overall in their history. Honduras leads with 18 wins to one for Nicaragua, with three matches resulting in draws.

Historical series

Honduras leads the all-time series against Nicaragua with 18 wins, 3 draws, and 1 loss. This will be the 23rd meeting in history.

This will be the first time that Honduras and Nicaragua face each other in the Final Round of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.

They previously met twice in World Cup Qualifying, with Honduras winning both matches during the Korea & Japan 2002 campaign:

On March 4, 2000, Matchday 1 of Group B in the Central American Zone, round 1, at Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula (HON), Honduras won 3-0 with goals from Alex Pineda Chacón, Iván Guerrero, and Milton “Tyson” Núñez.

On April 16, 2000, at Estadio Cacique Diriangén in Diriamba (NCA), Honduras won 1-0 with a goal from Luis “El Bombero” Ramírez.

60 years since Nicaragua's only win over Honduras

Nicaragua’s lone victory over Honduras came 2-0 in the Preliminary Phase of the Concacaf Nations Championship on March 12, 1965, at Estadio Flor Blanca in San Salvador (SLV), with goals from Pedro “Peche” Jirón and Gerardo Barrios.

Top scorers for Honduras vs. Nicaragua in qualifiers:

Alex Pineda Chacón (1), Iván Guerrero (1), Milton “Tyson” Núñez (1), Luis “El Bombero” Ramírez (1).

Historical series: 22 matches

18 wins Honduras, 71 goals

3 draws

1-win Nicaragua, 14 goals