May 21 – Central America’s professional football leagues convened in Managua this week for the second official meeting of the region’s domestic competitions, as part of a growing effort to drive collaboration, development, and long-term commercial growth.
Held under the auspices of the World Leagues Association and hosted by Nicaragua’s Liga Primera, the summit brought together top executives from six national leagues – Costa Rica’s UNAFUT, El Salvador’s Primera División, Honduras’ Liga Nacional, Panama’s Liga Panameña, Belize’s Premier League, and the host Liga Primera Nicaragua – along with invited representatives from LigaPro Ecuador and Major League Suriname.
The meeting focused on strengthening the operational and commercial foundations of domestic football across Central America. In advance, the World Leagues Association conducted a regional survey to identify shared challenges and areas of opportunity, creating a framework for more targeted and collaborative development.
Key themes included professionalisation, youth and sporting development, and refereeing standards. FIFA representatives were also in attendance to lead sessions on officiating and new technological tools being piloted globally.
While individual league contexts differ, many face similar constraints: limited commercial revenues, inconsistent governance structures, and an urgent need to modernise infrastructure and matchday operations. To address these, the leagues agreed to establish working groups focused on actionable priorities — a step that could eventually lead to greater standardisation and integration across Central American competitions.
The summit reflects the growing recognition that regional cooperation is essential if Central American football is to compete commercially.
The next meeting is scheduled for 2026 and will be hosted in Honduras by Liga Nacional, continuing the momentum for regional reform.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1747863333labto1747863333ofdlr1747863333owedi1747863333sni@g1747863333niwe.1747863333yrrah1747863333