The 2017 Copa Centroamericana () was the 14th and last edition of the Copa Centroamericana, the biennial international men's football championship of the Central American region organized by the Central American Football Union (UNCAF). The tournament was hosted in Panama between 13–22 January 2017.
The top four teams qualified for the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup, while the fifth-placed team advanced to a play-off against the fifth-placed team from the 2017 Caribbean Cup for the final Gold Cup berth.
The tournament was played in round-robin format as a result of Guatemala not being able to participate due to FIFA's suspension of the National Football Federation of Guatemala.
Entrants Six of the seven UNCAF members were eligible to participate in the tournament. Team UNCAF Nations Cup / Copa Centroamericana appearances Previous best performance FIFA ranking at start of event 11th 4th place (2013) 163 14th Champions (1991, 1997, 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2013, 2014) 17 14th 3rd place (1995, 1997, 2001, 2003, 2013) 138 14th Champions (1993, 1995, 2011) 75 14th 5th place (2009) 111 (Hosts) 13th Champions (2009) 58
On 28 October 2016, FIFA suspended the National Football Federation of Guatemala for political interference by the Government of Guatemala. Until the suspension is lifted, Guatemalan teams are not permitted to participate in international competitions. CONCACAF had set the deadline of 9 December 2016 for the suspension to be lifted, otherwise by rule, Guatemala would be disqualified from the 2017 Copa Centroamericana, and any revision to the tournament format would be discussed once the deadline had passed. The suspension was not lifted before the deadline, so Guatemala could not participate in the competition.
Venue All matches were played at Estadio Rommel Fernández in Panama City. Panama CityEstadio Rommel FernándezCapacity: 32,000
Original draw The original format of the competition was to be a group stage (one group of four teams and one group of three teams) followed by a knockout stage (fifth-placed match, semi-finals, third-placed match and final). The draw for the competition with the original format took place on 25 October 2016, 18:00 UTC−5, at the Hotel Sortis in Panama City, Panama.
PotTeamHosts Title holders Pot 1 Pot 2
The original draw results were:
Group A
Group B
A change in format was announced on 10 December 2016 following FIFA's decision not to lift the suspension of the National Football Federation of Guatemala.
Squads
Each team squad had to have a minimum of 18 players and a maximum of 23 players, two of whom must be goalkeepers.
Standings
Matches All times are EST (UTC−5).
Matchday 1
Matchday 2
Matchday 3
Matchday 4
Matchday 5
Goalscorers 3 goals Eddie Hernández
2 goals
José Guillermo Ortiz Erick Andino Rubilio Castillo Bryan García
1 goal
Deon McCaulay Elroy Smith Francisco Calvo Johan Venegas Juan Barahona Irvin Herrera Gerson Mayén Henry Romero Rodolfo Zelaya Juan Barrera Daniel Cadena Abdiel Arroyo Armando Cooper Roderick Miller Josiel Núñez
Own goals
Henry Figueroa (playing against Nicaragua)
Awards The following awards were given at the conclusion of the tournament: Golden Ball: Jorge Claros Golden Boot: Eddie Hernández (3 goals) Golden Glove: José Calderón Young player award: Roberto Domínguez Fair play award: Jhonny Acosta Best XI: Goalkeeper: José Calderón Left Defender: Alexander Larín Central Defender: Harold Cummings Central Defender: Francisco Calvo Right Defender: Jairo Puerto Left Midfielder: Óscar Cerén Central Midfielder: Darwin Cerén Central Midfielder: Jorge Claros Central Midfielder: Armando Cooper Left Midfielder: Erick Andino Forward: Eddie Hernández
Qualified teams for 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup The following five teams qualified for the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
TeamQualified on Previous Gold Cup qualifications (1991, 1993, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015) (1993, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015) (1996, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015) (1991, 1993, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015) (won play-off over Haiti) (2009)
References
External links Central American Cup, CONCACAF.com Copa Centroamericana, UNCAFut.com