[2] The Apertura tournament is the first half of the 2016–17 season which was played from 29 July to 18 December 2016.
Social Sol made its official debut in Liga Nacional on 29 July when they lost 3–2 to Club Deportivo Olimpia at Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino.
Real Sociedad's Marvin Solano became the first manager to get sacked after only four weeks the season started.
[21] The first match of the tournament was played on 7 January at Estadio Francisco Morazán between Real C.D.
draw 1–1 at Estadio Carlos Calderón, a venue used in Liga Nacional for the first time.
On 22 April, Social Sol's player Francisco Reyes became the first ever goalkeeper to score two goals in a league match after converting two penalty kicks in the 2–1 victory over C.D.
In such game, 4 people were kill due to suffocation after a human stampede tried to push their way in to access the stadium which was already overcrowded.
Relegation is determined by the aggregated table of both Apertura and Clausura tournaments.