Liga Nacional (Honduras)

Liga Nacional (Honduras) (Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional de Honduras) - the top-tier professional club league in Honduras, organized by the national league and the Honduran football federation. Regulations: the season is split into two tournaments, Apertura and Clausura, with 11 clubs, Phase 1 is a double round-robin, three points are awarded for a win, one for a draw and none for a loss, and level teams are ranked by goal difference, then goals scored, then head-to-head criteria including points, goal difference and away goals, followed by fair play and, if required, a draw. The top six advance to Phase 2, forming two three-team groups, the teams finishing 1st and 2nd are seeded and receive an extra point in their group, the groups are played home and away and the group winners reach the Final. The Final is played over two legs, the champion is decided by points across the two matches, then goal difference, and if still tied extra time and penalties are used. Relegation is determined by the cumulative table across the regular phases of Apertura and Clausura, the bottom club goes down to the Liga de Ascenso, with ties resolved via the league’s prescribed survival playoffs. International qualification depends on Honduras’ allocated places in the Concacaf Central American Cup and the league’s selection rules, and strong performance in that competition can qualify clubs for the Concacaf Champions Cup.