Browse Honduras Daily Stories

Honduras's National Congress approved decorating three FIFA referees—Said Martínez, Walter López, and Cristian Ramírez—with the Grand Cross with Silver Plaque for officiating at the 2026 World Cup.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 generated an estimated L400 million (roughly $16 million) in economic activity in Honduras through increased consumer spending on tickets, apparel, restaurants, bars, and air travel to match venues.

Honduras's state power company ENEE announced no scheduled outages for July 19, when the 2026 World Cup final between Spain and Argentina will be broadcast, allowing fans to watch uninterrupted at home.

The Honduran national league will restart its 2026–27 opening tournament on July 31, just 12 days after the World Cup final on July 19, with traditional clubs Olimpia, Motagua, Real España, and Marathón competing alongside new team Estrella Roja de Danlí.

Honduras's intellectual-property office has set penalties up to L2.98 million (about $119,000) plus equipment seizure for restaurants, bars, and platforms broadcasting the 2026 World Cup without authorization, with Tigo Sports holding the exclusive pay-TV rights and Televicentro offering free-to-air coverage.

Honduran police dressed as 2026 FIFA World Cup mascots to carry out an undercover operation that resulted in the arrest of a suspected drug trafficker.

Honduras's property-rights authority announced it will fine restaurants, hotels, and other businesses that broadcast 2026 World Cup matches without authorization from licensed rights holders, and warned fans against sharing content on social media or group platforms.

Marathón goalkeeper César Samudio, playing for Panama's national team, is the sole player from Honduras's Liga Nacional at the 2026 World Cup, with Panama set to debut against Ghana on June 17.

Said Martínez will become the first Honduran to referee a World Cup match, taking charge of Qatar vs. Switzerland on June 13, with fellow Hondurans Walter López and Christian Ramírez serving as assistants.

FIFA has selected nine Central American referees—three main officials, five assistants, and a VAR specialist—for the 2026 World Cup, including Hondurans Héctor Said Martínez and Christian Ramírez and Walter López, recognizing the region's arbitration standards.

Honduras remained 66th with 1,380.27 points in FIFA's updated rankings ahead of World Cup 2026, as Argentina regained the top spot and Mexico climbed to 14th after a 5–1 win over Serbia.

Striker Erick Puerto's US visa was denied, ruling him out of Honduras's June 6 friendly against Argentina in College Station, Texas, while fellow call-up Alenis Vargas remains in limbo after his passport was retained pending a visa decision.

The Honduran national team may field a reduced squad for its upcoming friendly against Argentina after immigration issues left several key players unable to travel.

Liverpool forward Keyrol Figueroa trained individually in Miami ahead of Honduras's June friendly against Argentina in Houston, with team officials confirming the separate sessions are part of a fitness plan, not an injury.