[7] On 1 February 2009 Panama won the tournament, the first UNCAF Nations Cup win in the country's history.

All seven UNCAF members participated in the tournament: The group stage draw took place on December 9, 2008 in Guatemala City.

[1] The reigning champions, Costa Rica, and the hosts, Honduras, were automatically drawn as top seed in their respective groups.

[7] Costa Rica was paired with Panama and Guatemala, the first two runners-up from the 2007 UNCAF Nations Cup.

The winner of the fifth place match qualified for the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup as the fifth and final entrant from Central America.