Photo: Port Layola FC
BELIZE CITY, Wed. July 24, 2024
Next week Tuesday, July 30, Premier League of Belize 2023-24 national male football champions, Port Layola FC will take on CD Antigua of Guatemala at the FFB Stadium in the Group Stage of the 2024 Concacaf Central American Cup tournament.
Here are some background notes to the tournament, gleaned from Concacaf.com:
There are 20 clubs from the 7 Central American countries participating in the tournament, with the highest ranked country getting the most clubs, and lowest ranked getting the least, as follows: Costa Rica (CRC) – 4 clubs; Honduras (HON) – 3; Panama (PAN) – 3; Nicaragua (NCA) – 3; Guatemala (GUA) – 3; El Salvador (SLV) – 3; Belize (BLZ) – 1.
In a draw conducted on June 6 in Miami, the 20 participating clubs were separated into 4 groups of 5 clubs each for competition in the Group Stage. Thus, 3 of the groups have more than 1 club from the same country; only Group C has 1 club from each of 5 Central American countries. Belize’s only club in the tournament, Port Layola FC, is in Group C. Below is a list of the clubs in their respective groups.
Group A — CS Herediano (CRC); FC Motagua (HON); Tauro FC (PAN); San Francisco FC (PAN); Cacique Diriangen FC (NCA).
Group B — LD Alajuelense (CRC); Comunicaciones FC (GUA); CD Marathon (HON); Alianza FC (SLV); CD LA Firpo (SLV).
Group C — CD Olimpia (HON); Antigua GFC (GUA); CA Independiente (PAN); CD Aguila (SLV); Port Layola FC (BLZ).
Group D — Deportivo Saprissa (CRC); CSD Municipal (GUA); AD Guanacasteca (CRC); Real Esteli FC (NCA); Managua FC (NCA).
Competition Format:
Group Stage
“In this first round, clubs will play every club in their group once, for a total of four matches per club (two at home and two away) in the five scheduled weeks” from July 30 to August 29.
According to the Concacaf schedule, Port Layola FC games are as follows:
(*Kickoff times listed in ET (local) and home club listed first)
Tuesday, July 30, 2024
18:00 (16:00) Port Layola FC vs Antigua GFC – FFB Stadium, Belmopan, BLZ
Thursday, August 8, 2024
20:00 (18:00) Port Layola FC vs CD Olimpia – FFB Stadium, Belmopan, BLZ
Wednesday, August 14, 2024
18:00 (16:00) CD Aguila vs Port Layola FC – Estadio Las Delicias, Santa Tecla, SLV
Wednesday, August 21, 2024
18:00 (17:00) CA Independiente vs Port Layola FC – Estadio Rommel Fernandez, Panama City, PAN
Knockout Stage
“After the Group Stage, each group’s first and second-place finishers will advance to the Knockout Stage. The Knockout Stage will include home-and-away matches, starting with the Quarterfinals, followed by the Semifinals and Play-In, and the Final, where the new champion of Central America will be crowned.
“The Quarterfinal matchups will be determined based on the Group Stage results and the competition’s standings (the highest-ranked group winner will play the lowest-ranked runner-up). For the Semifinals and Play-In, the matchups will be determined based on the competition’s bracket. The highest-ranked club (based on the competition’s standings) will host the return leg matches for all series.
“At the conclusion of the competition, six clubs, including the four semifinalists and two play-in winners, will qualify for the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup. Furthermore, the champion will receive a bye to the Champions Cup Round of 16.”
Le’s go, Belize – Port Layola FC!!