The August 2025 Apertura phase of Costa Rica’s Liga FPD is a pivotal month that sets the tone for the entire season. With the league reduced to 10 teams, every match becomes crucial for securing a place in the top four, which grants access to the Quadrangular playoffs. August fixtures, spanning Matchdays 2 to 5, are essential for clubs like Alajuelense, Saprissa, and Herediano to establish early dominance, while mid-tier teams such as Liberia, Puntarenas, and Guadalupe aim to gather critical points to stay in contention. Key rivalry matches, notably Alajuelense vs Herediano and Saprissa vs Alajuelense, carry significant weight in shaping the early title race narrative. Additionally, August results contribute to the aggregate standings, impacting relegation battles later in the season. The month is also vital for player performances, influencing national team selections and transfer market attention. Economically, August matches drive fan engagement, stadium attendances, and broadcast revenues, making it a crucial period for clubs both on and off the field.
Liga FPD 2025–26 (Apertura) Overview
• Season Duration: Apertura runs from July 27 to December 2025 (the closing date may shift if a Grand Final is required).
• Format Change: This edition features only 10 teams (down from 12), as Guanacasteca and Santos de Guápiles were disqualified over licensing issues. There are 18 matchdays in the regular phase.
• Defending Champions: Herediano, having won both Apertura and Clausura in 2024–25, enter as reigning champions.
• Promotions/Relegations: Guadalupe returns to top flight after promotion; Santa Ana was relegated in the previous season.
Liga FPD 2025–26 Tournament Format
A detailed breakdown of the Liga FPD (Costa Rica) 2025–26 Tournament Format:
1. Season Structure
• The season is split into two separate tournaments:
- Apertura (Opening Tournament): July 2025 – December 2025
- Clausura (Closing Tournament): January 2026 – May 2026
• Each tournament crowns its own champion.
2. Participating Teams
• The 2025–26 season features 10 teams (reduced from 12 last season) due to licensing issues that removed Guanacasteca and Santos de Guápiles.
• Teams play their home games at their designated stadiums across Costa Rica.
3. Apertura & Clausura Format Breakdown
First Phase (Regular Season)
• Round-Robin Format:
- Each team plays 18 matches (home and away against each opponent).
- Total of 90 matches in the regular season.
Quadrangular Phase (Top 4 Playoffs)
• The top 4 teams from the regular season enter a Quadrangular (mini-league format).
- Teams face each other home and away (6 additional matches per team).
• If the same team wins both Regular Phase and Quadrangular, they are declared champions.
• If two different teams win, a Grand Final (two-legged final) is played to determine the champion.
4. Relegation
• There’s no relegation during Apertura.
• Relegation is determined by an Aggregate Table combining points from both Apertura and Clausura seasons.
- The team finishing last in the aggregate table is relegated.
- The 9th place team might play a promotion/relegation playoff, depending on licensing statuses.
5. Continental Qualification
• Liga FPD spots for international tournaments are allocated based on:
- Apertura and Clausura champions qualify for the CONCACAF Central American Cup.
- The best-performing teams across the full season may earn additional slots in the CONCACAF Champions League.
- If a single team wins both Apertura and Clausura, the next best aggregate points team takes the remaining continental berth.
6. Points System
• Win: 3 points
• Draw: 1 point
• Loss: 0 points
• Tiebreakers (if necessary) are applied in the following order:
1. Goal Difference (GD)
2. Goals Scored (GF)
3. Head-to-head record
4. Fair Play record (fewest cards)
5. Draw (lottery)
7. Other Notes
• The Apertura 2025 began on July 24, 2025, and is scheduled to end by December 2025 (exact closing depends on Grand Final scenario).
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• Clausura 2026 will mirror this format starting January 2026.
August Matchdays (Matchday 2 through Matchday 5)
The complete Apertura 2025 match details for all of August in Costa Rica’s Liga FPD, based on the latest reliable schedules and results:
Matchday 2 — August 1–4, 2025
• Aug 1: Deportivo Saprissa vs San Carlos (20:00)
• Aug 2: Herediano vs Puntarenas FC
• Aug 3:
- Municipal Liberia vs Pérez Zeledón (15:00 local)
- Alajuelense vs Guadalupe FC (evening match)
• Aug 3 (simultaneous): Sporting San José vs Cartaginés (late evening slot)
Matchday 3 — August 9–10, 2025
• Aug 10, per official calendar:
- A.D. San Carlos vs Municipal Liberia
- Cartaginés vs Deportivo Saprissa
- Guadalupe FC vs Puntarenas FC
- Alajuelense vs Herediano
- Pérez Zeledón vs Sporting San José
Matchday 4 — Mid‑August (approx. Aug 16–18)
- Matches expected similar to earlier pattern; sources confirm full matchday but specific scheduling not fully documented online yet
Matchday 5 — Late August (~Aug 23–25)
Per Fivescore listings:
• Aug 23: Guadalupe vs Cartaginés; Guadalupe vs Puntarenas
• Aug 24: San Carlos vs Pérez Zeledón; Deportivo Saprissa vs Sporting San José
• Aug 25: Alajuelense vs Municipal Liberia
• Aug 30: Cartaginés vs Herediano
• Aug 31: Sporting San José vs Guadalupe; Deportivo Saprissa vs Alajuelense
Home Stadiums (2025–26 Liga FPD teams)
(stadium name, city, capacity)
From the Liga FPD 2025–26 overview:
• Alajuelense – Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto, Alajuela (≈ 17,895)
• Deportivo Saprissa – Estadio Ricardo Saprissa, San Juan de Tibás (≈ 23,112)
• Cartaginés – Estadio José Rafael “Fello” Meza, Cartago (≈ 8,831)
• Herediano – Estadio Eladio Rosabal Cordero (also in Heredia; capacity ~8,068) — note: some references list Carlos Alvarado as alternate, but Eladio Rosabal is the official home ground in 2025–26
• Municipal Liberia – Estadio Edgardo Baltodano, Liberia (≈ 5,979)
• Puntarenas FC – Estadio Lito Pérez, Puntarenas (≈ 4,105)
• Pérez Zeledón – Estadio Municipal, San Isidro de El General (≈ 3,259)
• San Carlos – Estadio Carlos Ugalde Álvarez, Ciudad Quesada (≈ 4,080)
• Guadalupe FC – Estadio Colleya Fonseca, Guadalupe (≈ 4,500)
• Sporting San José – Estadio Ernesto Rohrmoser, Pavas, San José (≈ 2,369–3,000)
August Matchday Venues & Confirmed Dates
The verified stadium venues for all Liga FPD Apertura matches held in August 2025, based on the official schedule and team home grounds:
Matchday 2 (Aug 1–4, 2025)
• Aug 2 – Deportivo Saprissa vs San Carlos
• Venue: Estadio Ricardo Saprissa, San Juan de Tibás
• Aug 3 – Sporting San José vs Cartaginés
• Venue: Estadio Ernesto Rohrmoser, San José
• Aug 3 – Herediano vs Puntarenas FC
• Venue: Estadio Eladio Rosabal Cordero, Heredia
• Aug 3 – Municipal Liberia vs Pérez Zeledón
• Venue: Estadio Edgardo Baltodano, Liberia
• Aug 4 – Alajuelense vs Guadalupe FC
• Venue: Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto, Alajuela
Matchday 3 (Aug 9–10, 2025)
• Aug 9 – Guadalupe FC vs Puntarenas FC
• Venue: Estadio Colleya Fonseca, Guadalupe
• Aug 10 – San Carlos vs Municipal Liberia
• Venue: Estadio Carlos Ugalde Álvarez, Ciudad Quesada
• Aug 10 – Pérez Zeledón vs Sporting San José
• Venue: Estadio Municipal, San Isidro de El General
• Aug 10 – Cartaginés vs Deportivo Saprissa
• Venue: Estadio Fello Meza, Cartago
• Aug 10 – Alajuelense vs Herediano
• Venue: Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto, Alajuela
Matchday 4 (approx. Aug 16–18, 2025)
According to the Saprissa official release :
• Liberia vs Saprissa
• Venue: Estadio Edgardo Baltodano, Liberia
• Remaining home fixtures in that timeframe follow the standard hosting pattern based on home team listed.
Matchday 5 (Aug 23–25, 2025)
Per Saprissa schedule :
• Saprissa vs Sporting San José on August 24
• Venue: Estadio Ricardo Saprissa, San Juan de Tibás
• Saprissa vs Alajuelense on August 31
• Venue: Estadio Ricardo Saprissa, San Juan de Tibás
Fixtures hosted by other clubs during this span also follow each club’s home venue standard.
The August 2025 Apertura phase of Costa Rica’s Liga FPD (Primera División) holds significant importance for several reasons:
Importance of August 2025 Apertura Matches
1. Early Season Momentum (Matchdays 2–5)
• August is when clubs establish early momentum and standings positioning.
• Teams that start strong often carry that momentum into the Quadrangular phase.
• It is crucial for clubs like Alajuelense, Saprissa, Herediano, and San Carlos to avoid dropping points early.
• Mid-table teams, e.g. Liberia, Puntarenas, Guadalupe, aim to gather enough points to stay in top 4 contention.
2. New League Format — Tighter Competition
• With the league reduced to 10 teams from 12, every match is more competitive and impactful.
• The reduced fixture list increases the importance of head-to-head clashes, making August games more decisive than before.
• Slip-ups in August could severely hinder a team’s ability to qualify for the Quadrangular later on.
3. Key Rivalries and High-Profile Fixtures
• Alajuelense vs Herediano (Matchday 3) and Saprissa vs Alajuelense (Matchday 5) are crucial Clasico-style encounters scheduled in August.
• These matches often determine early title favorites and set the tone for fan and media narratives.
4. Impact on Quadrangular Qualification
• By the end of August (Matchday 5), the league table will already have a clear separation between the top 4 contenders and the mid/lower-tier clubs.
• Historically, teams that are in the top 4 after Matchday 5 have a higher probability of reaching the Quadrangular.
• For smaller clubs like Sporting San José and Pérez Zeledón, early August fixtures are must-win battles to stay in contention.
5. Influence on Relegation and Aggregate Standings
• Points gathered in August also contribute to the aggregate standings, which determine relegation at season’s end.
• Teams in the bottom half must capitalize on August home fixtures to avoid a relegation battle later.
6. Player Form & Scouting Window
• August performances are key for:
- National team call-ups for upcoming CONCACAF qualifiers.
- Scouting interest from foreign clubs ahead of the winter transfer window.
- Establishing Golden Boot (Top Scorer) contenders for the Apertura phase.
• For new signings and promoted players (e.g., from Guadalupe FC), August is a showcase month.
7. Economic & Fan Engagement Impact
• August fixtures, especially Clasicos, draw higher stadium attendances and TV viewership, critical for club revenues.
• Media attention spikes around these early rounds, amplifying club sponsorship visibility and fan engagement initiatives.
Conclusion
August 2025 is a defining month in the Liga FPD Apertura, where teams lay the groundwork for their championship ambitions and survival hopes. The reduced league size intensifies competition, making every match critical for standings and momentum. Key fixtures, early rivalries, and the battle for Quadrangular positions add layers of importance to each result. For players, clubs, and fans, August is more than just the start — it is a decisive stretch that shapes the trajectory of the Apertura title race, relegation fight, and the broader competitive landscape of Costa Rican football.
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