El Salvador national football team
Encyclopedia
El Salvador's national football team (Selección de fútbol de El Salvador in Spanish) represents El Salvador
in international football and is sanctioned by the Federación Salvadoreña de Fútbol
(FESFUT). In 1899, Santa Ana
and San Salvador met for the first hosted football game in El Salvador. El Salvador's national football team's first match was in September 1921, when they were invited to participate in a tournament
to celebrate 100 years of Central American Independence.
El Salvador has made two FIFA World Cup
appearances: first in 1970
and again in 1982
, but have never progressed beyond the first group stage of a finals tournament. They were the 1943 CCCF
champions, and finished in second-place in the 1941
and 1961
championships. They have competed in the CONCACAF regional tournaments thirteen times, finishing as runners-up in 1963
and 1981
. La Selecta also competes in the biennial UNCAF Nations Cup, the Pan American Games
, the Olympics
, and have achieved two gold medals in the Central American and Caribbean Games
.
The Estadio Cuscatlán
, also known as "El Coloso de Montserrat" and "La Catedral del Espectaculo", is the official home stadium of the El Salvador national football team. Since 2008, the national team has had a kit sponsorship contract with England based supplier Mitre
. , Raúl Díaz Arce
is the top-scorer with 39 goals, while Leonel Cárcamo
has the record of being the most capped Salvadoran player with 84 appearances. The El Salvador national football team has presented itself with 41 managers in total, in the national team, and currently the head coach is Rubén Israel
.
on a field called Campo Marte. This was the first time a football game was hosted in El Salvador. That first game took place on July 26, 1899 among players from Santa Ana
and San Salvador
. Both teams had several foreign players from England who are credited with introducing football to El Salvador. The local team won the game 2–0.
Although El Salvador played a few games in the early part of the 20th century, they did not become a fully committed national team until 1921 when players such as José Pablo Huezo, Carlos Escobar Leiva or Santiago Barrachina revolutionized football in the country. In September 1921, El Salvador were invited to Guatemala
to take part in the Independence Centenary Games
, to celebrate 100 years of Central American Independence. The tournament was compromised as only Guatemala
, Honduras
, Costa Rica
, and El Salvador were able to participate. By fact, Guatemalans and Costa Ricans had more experience with football than the Salvadorans and Hondurans. It was a single-elimination tournament
, or round-robin format, with Guatemala playing Honduras and El Salvador playing Costa Rica. El Salvador, which were dressed with white shorts and black shirt, underwent the classic 2–3–5 scheme with Carlos Escobar Leyva; Spanish resident Santiago Barrachina, José Pablo Huezo; Benjamín Sandoval, Emilio Dawson, and Frenchman Emilio Detruit; Víctor Recinos, brothers Guillermo, and José E. Alcaine, Guillermo Sandoval and Enrique Lindo. By the first half Costa Rica had scored 3 goals, and by the final whistle of 80 minutes (40 minutes for each half) won 7–0. Despite the loss, this tournament is seen by many as the starting point of the El Salvador national team.
After the 1921 Guatemala tournament, El Salvador only played three other international friendlies against Costa Rica and Honduras. El Salvador lost the first match 3–0 against Costa Rica, while the second and third ended in a 1–0 loss and 0–0 draw against Honduras. On 7 December 1928, El Salvador recorded its first ever win: a 5–0 victory over Honduras, the team that would later become their traditional rivals. The game was played at Campo Marte San Salvador and was not only El Salvador's first ever recorded win, but also the first time the team had scored in an international match. On the day, Gustavo "Taviche" Marroquin become the first ever Salvadoran player to score five goals in a single game for the El Salvador national football team, a feat later equaled by Miguel Cruz
and Rudis Corrales
.
in Havana, Cuba. El Salvador finished in fourth place at the games. The Federación Salvadoreña de Fútbol
, the official governing football organization in El Salvador, was founded in 1935. By this time, El Salvador were coached by Spaniard Pablo Ferre Elías
. The El Salvador-hosted 1935 Central American and Caribbean Games
took place in the new government funded Estadio Flor Blanca
, at that time the biggest stadium in the country. The Salvadoran squad consisted of Edmundo Majano as goalkeeper; Tobias Rivera and Raul Castro in defense; Américo Gonzalez and Napolean Cañas as midfielders; and Alex Morales, Rogelio Aviles, Fidel Quintanilla, Miguel “Americano” Cruz, and Andres Hernandez as strikers. Previously the national team had worn black and white striped jerseys and this was the first time they turned out in a new blue strip. The team improved their performance over the previous competition to finish in third place as bronze medal winners.
By 1938 the Federación Salvadoreña de Fútbol
had become affiliates of FIFA
. Once again the El Salvador national football team participated in the 1938 Central American and Caribbean Games
in Panama
, which was won by with Costa Rica in second place. El Salvador won two games and lost three out of its the five played. A match for third place between Colombia and El Salvador was scheduled but was cancelled due to bad physical state of the players. El Salvador finished in fourth place by goal difference.
, the continental governing body for football in North America, Central America and the Caribbean, the Central American and Caribbean Championship (CCCF)
took place in Costa Rica. El Salvador took part for the first time alongside teams from Costa Rica, , Panama, and . El Salvador were runners-up, recording two wins, one tie, and one loss.
The 1943 CCCF Championship
took place in San Salvador with the participation of Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. The El Savador team were coached by former national player Américo González. At the end of the tournament, El Salvador and Guatemala ended up with the same number of points and so had to play a tiebreaker. On December 21, Guatemala failed to show up for the match resulting in El Salvador declaring themselves 1943 CCCF Championship winners by goal difference. This was the country's first international title. El Salvador's 10‒1 win over Nicaragua set the team's record for the most goals scored in a single game. It was also the second time a Salvadoran player (Miguel "Americano" Cruz) had scored five goals in a single match. El Salvador participated in the 1946 CCCF Championship, hosted in Costa Rica
, alongside six other participants. The national team finished in second place, winning three matches and losing two. In 1948, the El Salvador national football team participated in its fourth CCCF Championship, the 1948 CCCF Championship in Guatemala
alongside teams from five other countries. For the third time, Costa Rica won the championship with El Salvador finishing in fifth place.
El Salvador were invited by Brazil but turned down an invitation to play in the 1950 FIFA World Cup
, and did not participate in the playoffs for the subsequent World Cups in 1954
, 1958
, 1962
, and 1966
. Reasons for these refusals to participate might have possibly be due to economic issues since in those times they had never played so far from home. At that time it had a good quad with players like goalkeeper Manuel "tamalon" Garay, Rafael "chapuda" Reyes, Conrado Miranda, Miguel "americano" Cruz, Rafael Corado and Mando Rivas, to name a few.
At the group stage of the 1950 Central American and Caribbean Games
in Mexico, El Salvador recorded two wins, one tie, and one loss. They began the final round by beating Curaçao 3–1, but lost their other two matches leaving them in fifth place. In 1953, the El Salvador national football team took part in its fifth CCCF Championship, the 1953 CCCF Championship held in Costa Rica
. together with seven other national teams. Costa Rica became champions for the fourth time, and El Salvador finished in fifth place. El Salvador won their second international title in 1954 under the direction of Carbilio Tomasino, and a team consisting of Yohalmo Aurora, Manuel "tamalones" Garay, Hugo Moreno, Armando Larin, Luis Regalado, Conrado Miranda, Fernando Barrios, Ramon "pezote" Chavez, Jose Hernandez, Mario Montoya, Juan Francisco "cariota" Barraza, Ricardo "chilenito" Valencia, Alfredo "Baiza" Ruano, and Obdulio "calulo" Hernandez. They debuted against in a 2–2 tie, beat 3–1, beat Mexico 3–2 and finally beat Panama 1–0 with a goal by "Cariota" Barraza. The 3–2 victory against Mexico, with two goals from Mario Montoya (16',36') and one from Ricardo Valencia (37'), was the first victory by a Central American team against Mexico.
At the 1955 CCCF Championship in Honduras, El Salvador's sixth, the national team took part along with seven other participants. For the fifth time Costa Rica crowned themselves champions with El Salvador as 4th place.
in Costa Rica, in competition with nine other teams with El Salvador finishing in fourth place. El Salvador hosted the first CONCACAF Championship qualification tournament (a replacement for the CCCF Championship) in 1963. There were nine other participants, with Costa Rica becoming the first CONCACAF champions, and El Salvador finishing as runners-up. Chilean Hernán Carrasco Vivanco
became coach in 1964 and would later revolutionize Salvadoran football. He led the national team for the first time at the 1965 CONCACAF Championship
in Guatemala, where they won 2–1 against Costa Rica and 3–1 against . The team tied 1 game, losing two eventually finishing in fourth place. In 1966 the El Salvador football team took part in the Central American and Caribbean Games for the sixth time in a competition
that took place in Puerto Rico
. The national team participated alongside seven other teams, finishing in fourth place.
The first elimination rounds at the CONCACAF level were in preparation for the 1960 Summer Olympics
in Rome, Italy, whilst similar elimination rounds were held for Central American members prior to the Tokyo 1964 Summer Olympics
. In 1968 El Salvador qualified for the Olympic Games
for the first time. They lost 4–0 to , 3–1 to , and tied 1–1 with . The coach by this time was Rigoberto Guzman
.
Gregorio Bundio and his assistant Jose Santacolomba coached the team in the qualifying stages for the 1970 FIFA World Cup
. This would be the first time that El Salvador would participate in this qualifying tournament. For this World Cup, CONCACAF would be represented by Mexico (host of the World Cup) and another national team. El Salvador won group 3, playing four games, winning three and losing one. Their record was 10 goals for and 5 goals against with 6 points. As a result they qualified for a 3-game playoff against the group 2 winner, Honduras. Immediately following the match an eighteen-year old Salvadoran girl Amelia Bolaños shot herself in the heart, and was subsequently regarded as a martyr in El Salvador, with her funeral being televised and the El Salvador president and national football team walking behind her coffin. The second game, on 15 June 1969 in the Salvadoran capital of San Salvador
, which was won 3–0 by El Salvador, was followed by even greater violence. A play-off match took place in Mexico City
on 26 June 1969. El Salvador won 3–2 after extra time. As a result of existing tensions being exacerbated by the football matches, on 14 July 1969 the two countries began the a 100 hour long war known as the Football War
. As a result of the conflict, El Salvador and Honduras were disqualified from entering the 1969 CONCACAF Championship qualification
.
The final set of qualifying games for the 1970 FIFA World Cup took place against Haiti. The first leg was won by El Salvador in Haiti, 2–1, with goals from Elver Acevedo (43') and Mauricio 'Pipo' Rodriguez (62'). The second lef was lost 3–0. The third game on 8 October 1969 was won by El Salvador with a goal by Juan Ramon "Mon" Martinez (14' a.e.t.). The El Salvador national football team qualified for their first FIFA World Cup, even though it was their first time in the qualifying stages.
, Mexico, on 7 June. The game turned on a controversial moment near the end of the first half with the score at 0–0. Egyptian referee Hussain Kandil awarded a free kick to El Salvador in their own half. However a Mexican player took the free-kick, passing to another Mexican player who scored. The Salvadoran players protested vigorously, to the extent of physically jostling Bermudan linesman Keith Dunstan, but the goal was allowed to stand. El Salvador restarted the game by kicking the ball into the crowd in protest. They eventually lost the game 4–0. The team's third and final game occurred on June 10 with El Salvador losing the game 2–0 to the USSR
in Mexico City, to finish at the bottom of Group A.
"El Pajaro Picon Picon" was a Colombian song written by Eliseo Herrera which was very popular in El Salvador during the qualifying stages of the 1970 World Cup. During a radio show, Mauricio Bohorquez parodied the song, which he named "Arriba con la Seleccion". That parody became so famous that it became the "official anthem" of the El Salvador national football team.
At the 1971 CONCACAF Championship
, which was hosted on Trinidadian
soil, El Salvador advanced from the first round with an aggregate score of 4–2 against . In the second round, El Salvador withdrew from the playoff when they had to play against Honduras with Honduras eventually making the finals. The national team took part in the 1973 CONCACAF Championship qualification
process for the 1974 FIFA World Cup
but they did not advance to the final stage
after they were eliminated by with an aggregate score of 0–2 (0–1, 0–1). The team was managed by Hector D'Angelo. In 1975 El Salvador participated at the Pan American Games
for the first time at the VII (7) Pan American Games
, hosted in Mexico
. The national team participated in a group that included , Nicaragua, and . They debuted with a 4–1 score against Nicaragua on October 14 with 3 goals from "Pajarito" Huezo
and the debut of Francisco "Paco" Jovel. Then they played against Brazil on the 15th—for the first time in history—and lost 0–2. They ended the tournament by playing against Costa Rica, where they tied 0–0, and wherein "Pele" Zapata
missed a penalty. They could not proceed to the next stage, and finished at third place in Group D.
At the 1977 CONCACAF Championship qualification
, La Azul played against four other teams on a home-and-away basis. The group winner (Guatemala) and runner-up (El Salvador) advanced to the Final Round
. In the final round, El Salvador played five games; they won two, drew one, and lost two with 5 points. They finished in thirs place, below Haiti (7 points) and Mexico (10 points). In 1978 the El Salvador football team took part in the Central American and Caribbean Games for the seventh time in the competition
that took place in Colombia
. For the fourth time, Cuba was crowned champions. El Salvador finished in ninth place.
, La Azul and five other teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winner (Honduras) and runner-up (El Salvador) advanced to the final round. On November 19, 1981, in the hexagonal
at Honduras
, El Salvador beat by 1–0 with a penalty kick taken by Norberto Huezo
. tied with , meaning the national team scored more points than Mexico and qualified for the second time for a World Cup
, alongside Honduras. In the hexagonal games, La Selecta won 1–0 over Mexico—with a memorable goal from Ever Hernandez
on November 6—and Haiti. The national team tied 0–0 against Cuba and Honduras and lost to Canada 0–1. The national team was under the direction of Mauricio "Pipo" Rodríguez
.
In 1982 El Salvador took a 20-man squad (two players short of the normal 22, for controversial and economical problems), coached by Mauricio "Pipo" Rodríguez, to Spain. The team's experience was an unhappy one. In their first match on June 15 in Elche, they were defeated 10–1 by Hungary
, a scoreline that stands as a World Cup
record to this day. One comfort was that Luis Baltazar Ramírez Zapata
scored the country's first World Cup goal during the game, albeit at a point when the Salvadorans were already down 5–0.
El Salvador managed to regain some pride in their subsequent games: displaying much-improved levels of organisation and commitment, they lost 1–0 to Belgium on June 19 in Elche and 2–0 to the then-reigning world champions, Argentina
, in Alicante
on June 23.
El Salvador, within many surprises among the Spanish press for the qualification to the 1982 FIFA World Cup, had a terrible experience in personal terms. First of all, El Salvador took 20 players to the World Cup, leaving behind Gilberto Quinteros and Miguel González. According to Luis Guevara Mora
, goalkeeper of the team by that time, the Salvadoran Football Association decided to take a few friends of the association in exchange for such players that had participated in the qualification process. By the way, those friends never took part with the team in the notorious World Cup but did take a trip around Europe. Some fellow players tried to gather in some money to help pay for the flight. El Salvador took 3 days to arrive to Spain and was the last team to do so. Adidas
sent four white and three blue uniforms for each player. But mysteriously only three white and one blue remained. The remaining uniforms were taken away by the association. They decided to play with the white uniform and keep the blue as a keepsake. Someone had stolen the balls that the team would train with. The day prior to the match against Hungary, the Hungarians had the 25 balls the organization had given them and trained with them. El Salvador had never seen Hungary play. The only knowledge that they had about the team was a lone video that they had bought. When Zapata scored against Hungary, some Salvadorans cried out to Zapata not to celebrate the goal effusively because it might make the Hungarians mad. The fourth goal of Hungary was the fault of the deafness of Francisco Jovel
. Jovel had received a heavy blow on the cheek and almost could not hear. So when Guevara Mora cried off to stop a ball, the defender did not hear him. The rejection was defective, Mora had left the goal and the Hungarian player only had to push it inside. After the match against Hungary, the Salvadoran squad had a tense meeting with the coaching staff. The continuing matches against Belgium and Argentina were managed by players Jovel, Huezo and Fagoaga.
Even though they had a bad experience in the World Cup, El Salvador had some relieved moments. Jorge "Magico: Gonzalez was considered by the national and international press as the best player. "Magico" Gonzalez stayed in Spain were he played for Cádiz CF
, Real Valladolid
and Barcelona. Ricardo Guevara Mora, the goalkeeper, was the youngest player to play at the 1982 FIFA World Cup with 20 years of age.
In the 1985 CONCACAF Championship qualification
, El Salvador and 15 other teams were paired up to play knockout matches on a home-and-away basis. With an aggregate score of 8–0 (5–0, 3–0) against , El Salvador passed to the first round of the final tournament
. They were unable to advance to the second round, with 5 points (2 won, 1 tied, 1 lost). In the qualifying stages
they eliminated the 1–0 and 5–0, and in the final round
they placed fifth, with 2 points in 6 games (victories were then counted as two points).
.
In the 1993 UNCAF Nations Cup, La Selecta played three games, drawing in one and losing two. They ended in fourth place and thus did not advance to the 1993 CONCACAF Gold Cup
. They were coached by Jorge Vieira
. Also, in the qualifiers, they eliminated (5–0,5–1), then finished first in a group composed of (0–1 and 4–1), (1–1 and 3–2), and (2–0, 2–1). Already in the final quadrangular
, they debuted by beating 2–1, but lost the next 4 games, losing all classification option. They came in third with 4 points in 6 games (victories were then counted as two points).
In the first round of the 1995 UNCAF Nations Cup, they won their first two games. La Selecta won Belize 3–0 and Costa Rica 2–1. In the semifinals they lost against Guatemala 0–1, so they had to go for the third-place playoff against Costa Rica. In that game they won by a score of 2–1; goals came from Raúl Díaz Arce
(18') and Jorge Rodríguez
(21'). For the first time they advanced to the Gold Cup
.
At the 1996 CONCACAF Gold Cup
, El Salvador defeated Trinidad and Tobago 3–2, with goals from Raúl Díaz Arce
(34', 72' (pen.
) and Ronald Cerritos
(50'). They lost to the United States, and thus could not continue in the competition.
In the first round of the 1997 UNCAF Nations Cup, La Selecta lost to Honduras 3–0 but defeated Costa Rica 2–0. In the final round they lost against Guatemala 0–1, Costa Rica 0–1, and tied Honduras 0–0. They finished in third, with 1 point. They advanced to the 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup
. At the US-hosted 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup
, El Salvador were coached by Kiril Dojcinovski
. In Group A, El Salvador tied with Guatemala 0–0 and lost to Brazil 0–4 and Jamaica 0–2.
After the global stakes in 1970
and 1982
, this was the playoff
which was closest to a return to a World Cup, which created great excitement among the fans in El Salvador. In the final round, the club finished in fifth place, with 10 points in as many games.
In the first round of the 1999 UNCAF Nations Cup, El Salvador tied Guatemala 1–1 and defeated Nicaragua 1–0, with goals from Magdonio Corrales. In the final round they lost to Honduras 1–3, Guatemala 0–1, and Costa Rica 0–4. They finished in fourth place, with 0 points, and did not advance to the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup
. They were coached by Mario Peres Ulibarri
.
after ending up in third place. They were coached by Carlos Recinos
.
Still coached by Recinos, El Salvador lost to Mexico 0–1 in Group A of the 2002 Gold Cup. On January 23, they defeated Guatemala 1–0, with a goal from Santos Cabrera
(58'). For the first time, they advanced to the Quarter-finals of a Gold Cup. On January 27, they lost to eventual champions United States by a score of 0–4.
The 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification process
marked the beginning of the current decline in Salvadoran football, because after being a regular in the CONCACAF final round, the team was eliminated in the second round by Honduras and Jamaica, who later participated in the final round.
In the 2003 UNCAF Nations Cup in Panama, El Salvador managed to get third place, with Juan Ramón Paredes
as head coach. In the tournament El Salvador won against Panama 2–1, lost against Costa Rica 0–1, defeated Nicaragua 3–0, defeated Honduras 1–0, and lost against Guatemala.0–2. They qualified for the 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup
alongside Guatemala and Costa Rica (Honduras went to the playoffs).
El Salvador lost to the United States 0–2 in Group C of the 2003 Gold Cup. On July 16, they won over 1–0 with a goal from defender Marvin Gonzalez (76'). For the second time, they had advanced to the Quarter-finals of a Gold Cup. On July 19, they lost to Costa Rica by 2–5. Three of the seven goals were penalty kicks counted by the referee, Mexican Felipe Ramos
.
In the 2005 UNCAF Nations Cup in Guatemala, El Salvador lost against Panama 0–1 and Costa Rica 1–2. They were not able to qualify for the 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup
. They were coached by Carlos Cavagnaro
.
In the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification process
, they eliminated Bermuda 2–1 and 2–2, but were defeated in the second round by the United States.
In the 2007 UNCAF Nations Cup, hosted on Salvadoran soil, El Salvador won over Belize and Nicaragua by 2–1, and tied with Guatemala with no goals. They advanced to the Semifinals as top of Group 1. At the semifinals, El Salvador lost to the eventual champions, Costa Rica, by two early goals. For the third place playoff, El Salvador lost 0–1 to Guatemala but still qualified to advance to the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup
. The team was coached by Carlos de los Cobos
.
At the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup, Ramon Sanchez (38') and Dennis Alas
(81') scored to give the national team their only victory in the tournament against Trinidad and Tobago. They lost the following two matches against Guatemala 0–1 and United States 0–4.
On June 16, 2007, a match that recognized the biggest defeat of the Salvadoran team was scheduled between El Salvador and Hungary. Many of the same players that had assisted the match between El Salvador and Hungary in the 1982 FIFA World Cup played again at the Estadio Cuscatlán. The stadium that filled 22,000 spectators saw a match tied at 2–2 with goals from Lázár Szentes
and Ferenc Csongrádi
for Hungary and two goals from Luis Ramírez Zapata
for El Salvador. Victory was a foregone conclusion with the recognition of the past, to the best generation of El Salvador.
In the 2009 UNCAF Nations Cup, El Salvador defeated Belize 4–1, tied against Nicaragua 1–1 with an own-goal, and lost to Honduras 0–2. They qualified for the semifinals. At the semifinals, the game was called after 60 minutes of play when El Salvador was reduced to six players. Two El Salvador players, Alexander Escobar
and Eliseo Quintanilla
, were awarded red cards in the first half, and Deris Umanzor, Rodolfo Zelaya
, and goalkeeper Juan José Gómez
were injured and had to leave the game after El Salvador had already exhausted their three substitutions. The game was awarded 3–0 to Costa Rica. In the third place playoff, Honduras earned a win over los Cuscatlecos with an only goal scored by Roger Espinoza
(30').
At the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup
, El Salvador were in Group A, along with Costa Rica, Canada, and Jamaica. They debuted against Costa Rica, with two goals scored by Osael Romero in the 19th and 85th minute. The next two games were defeats by a score of 1–0. The team was still coached by Carlos de los Cobos
.
, the team passed the first round by defeating the weak selection of 12–0 and 4–0 and surprisingly, in the next round, eliminated Panama 0–1 and 3–1. By August 2008 they played the third phase against Costa Rica, and , after which they were in second place. El Salvador and five other teams that reached the fourth round formed one double-round-robin, home-and-away group. The top three teams qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup
. The fourth place team qualified for a home-and-away play-off against the fifth-place team from CONMEBOL. After the qualifying round (final stage) the team was in fifth, with eight points. Rudis Corrales
was top goalscorer of the qualification process with 8 in total.
On 11 May 2010 The FIFA Emergency Committee suspended the Salvadoran Football Association (FESFUT) on account of government interference. This decision by FIFA was based on the fact that the statutes ratified by the FESFUT general assembly in August 2009 had not been formally entered in the country's official register, and that the government had failed to acknowledge the authority of the Normalisation Committee set up to represent FESFUT. Consequently, FIFA considered that it was not possible for FESFUT to organise the elective general assembly in line with the action plan that had been drawn up, and suspended FESFUT. For the suspension to be lifted, Salvadoran authorities needed to recognize the legitimacy of the Normalisation Committee of the Salvadoran Football Association. The suspension was lifted on May 28. By FIFA lifting the suspension, El Salvador was allowed to participate in international tournaments at both club and national levels. El Salvador's under-21 team qualified for the CAC tournament in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. However, CONCACAF made a decision to suspend football at the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games
shortly thereafter. Metapán and FAS participated in the CONCACAF Champions League. The Salvadoran referees selected for the 2010 FIFA World Cup
were able to participate in the World Cup. El Salvador will also be able to participate in the 2012 Summer Olympics
.
At the 2011 Copa Centroamericana, formerly known as the UNCAF Nations Cup, El Salvador achieved fourth place. Los Cuscatlecos defeated Nicaragua 2–0 and Belize 5–2, and lost against Panama 2–0. At the semifinals they lost against Honduras once again by a 2–0 score. In the third place match, they lost to Panama in a penalty shootout by a score of 4–5. The team was coached by José Luis Rugamas
, and qualified for the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup
. Forward Rafael Burgos
received the Golden Boot, with three goals.
Rubén Israel
, who took over El Salvador's coaching administration from José Luis Rugamas in April 2011, introduced a new system and spirit into the team. At the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup
, El Salvador started off holding Mexico to a 0–0 draw through 55 minutes, which included several close calls, but then allowed five goals in the next 35 to lose 5–0. Against Costa Rica, Rodolfo Zelaya
scored a 25 yard free kick opener before the half. It was until the fifth minute of injury time where it allowed an equalizing goal and settled for a 1–1 draw. El Salvador opened the doors to the quarterfinals as second–best third after they defeated Cuba 6–1. The goals were scored by 5 different players, including 2 from Rodolfo Zelaya. The goal difference was instrumental in El Salvador's qualification. A 1–1 draw with Panama and Canada enabled El Salvador to advance to their first quarterfinal berth since 2003
and third overall. At the quarterfinals against Panama, Panamanian goalkeeper Penedo
stopped a penalty at the 23' from Salvadoran striker Rodolfo Zelaya, who also finished converting another penalty kick at 78' with a shot that was embedded in the upper left corner. Panama forced an extra time at 89', when striker Luis Tejada
between several defenders drove a ball that bounced in front of goal and goalkeeper Miguel Montes managed to catch. The play left confused doubts whether the shot from Tejada was with his head or his hand. Eventually, the referee Walter Quesada decided that Montes caught the ball behind the goal line and ruled the goal to a 1–1 tie at the last minute. The coach of El Salvador called the decision an "error of haste" that cost the whole team the pass to semifinals. Also, both teams played the extra time with 10 men after Panamanian striker Blas Perez
and Captain Luis Anaya engaged in a discussion at the end of the second half. The Panamanians converted their 5 shots and Penedo stopped a shot by Salvadoran Dennis Alas to leave a Salvadoran loss of 3–5 after a 1–1 draw during the 90 minutes and 30 in overtime.
For the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification process
, El Salvador were second seed in the playoffs with a first round bye. La Selecta achieved its first victory and beat the by 3–2 but left many doubts in its debut. Despite a scoreless draw at the end of the first half, El Salvador regained its position—that being at home—and won under goals by Rodolfo Zelaya (54', 77') and Christian Bautista (63'). El Salvador won 4–1 to the , a score that could have been bigger but the goalposts and the keeper prevented a higher defeat. El Salvador won their second game and took an important step in the qualifiers with goals from Christian Bautista (50') and defenders Luis Anaya (63', 80') and Xavier García (90+3'). El Salvador visited the Estadio Panamericano, San Cristóbal
in the Dominican Republic and came out with a victory of 2 to 1. Osael Romero scored the opening goal from the penalty spot and Lester Blanco would get the 2 to 1 with a powerful header. Even though, El Salvador received the necessary 3 points, the performance of the team was not as expected. El Salvador won 4-0 in the second playoff against the Cayman Islands in a game that was delayed over an hour and a half due to severe rain. Nevertheless, El Salvador showed a more attractive technique and earned the win. The goals were scored by Víctor Turcios (5'), Steve Purdy (12'), Jaime Alas (44') and Herbert Sosa (pen. 88'). The last being the 1000th goal scored in the history of the El Salvador national football team.
Source:
Sources:
The tournament has been held since 1991 as the UNCAF Nations Cup and serves as a qualifying event for the CONCACAF Gold Cup
. The competition was re-branded as the Copa Centroamericana from the 2011 edition. El Salvador has participated in all of the tournaments and has managed to get up to third place in various occasions.
Source:
Central American and Caribbean Games 1930
- Fourth Place 1935
– Bronze Medal 1938
- Fourth Place 1946
- Did not qualify 1950
- Fourth Place 1954
– Gold Medal 1959
- Did not qualify 1962
- Did not qualify 1966
- Fourth Place 1970
- Did not qualify 1974
- Did not qualify 1978
- Round 1
Source:
4 – 5 (PSO)
|align=center| CAC
|
|-
|February 9, 2011
|Estadio Cuscatlán
|
|align=center| 1 – 0
|align=center|F
| Burgos
|-
|March 24, 2011
|Havana, Cuba
|
|align=center| 1 – 0
|align=center|F
| D. Alas
|-
|March 29, 2011
|Estadio Cuscatlán
|
|align=center| 2 – 3
|align=center|F
| J. Alas
, Blanco
|-
|May 29, 2011
|Houston, United States
|
|align=center| 2 – 2
|align=center|F
| Zelaya
, Corrales
|-
|June 5, 2011
|Arlington, United States
|
|align=center| 0 – 5
|align=center|GC
|
|-
|June 9, 2011
|Charlotte, United States
|
|align=center| 1 – 1
|align=center|GC
| Zelaya
|-
|June 12, 2011
|Chicago, United States
|
|align=center| 6 – 1
|align=center|GC
| Zelaya
, Romero , Blanco , Alvarez
, Quintanilla
|-
|June 19, 2011
|Washington, D.C., United States
|
|align=center| 1 – 1 (a.e.t.)
3 – 5 (PSO)
|align=center|GC
| Zelaya
|-
|August 7, 2011
|Washington, D.C., United States
|
|align=center| 2 – 1
|align=center|F
| Sosa
, E. Sánchez
|-
|September 2, 2011
|Estadio Cuscatlán
|
|align=center| 3 – 2
|align=center|WCQ
| Zelaya
, Bautista
|-
|September 6, 2011
|George Town, Cayman Islands
|
|align=center| 4 – 1
|align=center|WCQ
| Bautista
, Anaya , García
|-
|October 7, 2011
|Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
|
|align=center| 2 – 1
|align=center|WCQ
| Romero , Blanco
|-
|October 11, 2011
|Estadio Cuscatlán
|
|align=center| 4 – 0
|align=center|WCQ
| Turcios
, Purdy
, J. Alas
, Sosa
(1000th goal)
|-
|November 11, 2011
|Paramaribo, Suriname
|
|align=center| 3 – 1
|align=center|WCQ
| Blanco , E. Sánchez
|-
|November 15, 2011
|Estadio Cuscatlán
|
|align=center| 4 – 0
|align=center|WCQ
| Romero , Burgos
|-
|June 8, 2012
|San José, Costa Rica
|
|align=center| –
|align=center|WCQ
|
|-
|June 12, 2012
|Estadio Cuscatlán
|
|align=center| –
|align=center|WCQ
|
|-
|September 7, 2012
|Estadio Cuscatlán
|
|align=center| –
|align=center|WCQ
|
|-
|September 11, 2012
|Providence, Guyana
|
|align=center| –
|align=center|WCQ
|
|-
|October 12, 2012
|Estadio Cuscatlán
|
|align=center| –
|align=center|WCQ
|
|-
|October 16, 2012
|Mexico City, Mexico
|
|align=center| –
|align=center|WCQ
|
|}
Key
Last updated: 15 November 2011
Source: Soccerway
El Salvador and Mitre
announced a new partnership in 2008 that saw them supply the Central America
n national football team with home and away kits, training, and bench wear until August 2010. Mitre, and their Panamanian partner, The Harari Group, designed the kit that El Salvador used. The kit was showcased by the team on February 11, 2009 as they started their FIFA World Cup qualifying
campaign against Trinidad & Tobago in the CONCACAF
(Central-American Football Union) Hexagonal Cup. On October 22, 2010, the FESFUT extended the contract with Mitre by four years. The first home and away kit made by Mitre feature a watermark
of the country's national shield on the center of the shirt and some horizontal stripes along the kit. The current kit featured white remains along the neck, at the bottom of the kit, and over the shoulders. When this kit was introduced in 2009 it also introduced a new logo
that replaced the typical logo of an "E" and an "S" surrounded by a circle.
|-
! colspan="9" style="background:#b0d3fb; text-align:left;"|
|- style="background:#dfedfd;"
|-
! colspan="9" style="background:#b0d3fb; text-align:left;"|
|- style="background:#dfedfd;"
|-
! colspan="9" style="background:#b0d3fb; text-align:left;"|
|- style="background:#dfedfd;"
|-
! colspan="9" style="background:#b0d3fb; text-align:left;"|
|- style="background:#dfedfd;"
|-
! colspan="9" style="background:#b0d3fb; text-align:left;"|
|- style="background:#dfedfd;"
|-
! colspan="9" style="background:#b0d3fb; text-align:left;"|
|- style="background:#dfedfd;"
Note: Players in bold text are still active with El Salvador.
Last updated: 15 November 2011
Source:RSSSF
Note: Players in bold text are still active with El Salvador.
Last updated: 15 November 2011
.
Note: Players in bold text are still active with El Salvador.
Last updated: 15 November 2011
Source:El Balon Cuscatleco
, was presented in a press conference. "First of all thanks to the executive committee for welcoming me in this country and given me such a huge and so pretty responsibility, as is leading a national team", said the Uruguayan coach. The technical director explained that, "we have come here with our coaching staff to honor the work, beyond the mistakes and successes, the healthy intention is to work on Salvadoran football as a whole, working with major selections, but have a chronogram of action for youth teams, who are the future of the country."
, 1954 and 2002
) have been won by Salvadoran born managers. Conrado Miranda
has managed in 4 different occasions and Armando Contreras
in 3. Chilean
Hernán Vivanco
was manager when El Salvador competed at their first World Cup
. Pipo Rodríguez
managed to qualify El Salvador to another World Cup
. Rodiguez participated at the 1970 FIFA World Cup.
Source:
, in 1970, and the first Central American team to qualify twice which they achieved with entry into the 1982 World Cup. They were the first Central American team to ever score a goal in a FIFA World Cup
on June 15, 1982. They were the first Central American country to qualify their football team to the Olympic Games (Mexico 1968
). They were the first Central American team to sign up for a World Cup qualifier (France 1938). They were the first Central American team to be champions of the Central American and Caribbean Games
(Mexico 1954). They were also the first Central American team to organize the Central American and Caribbean Games
(1935) and the first ever CONCACAF Championship (1963). El Salvador were also the first Central American team to beat in Mexico City; by a score of 3-2 at the 1954 Central American and Caribbean Games. Scorers of that game are as follows: Mario Montoya 16' (0-1), Antonio Jasso 27' (1-1), Mario Montoya 36' (1-2), Ricardo Valencia
37' (1-3), Rafael Gutierrez 64' (2-3). The 1st goal in a World Cup qualifier was scored by Joel Estada on 12 December 1968 against . The 50th goal in a World Cup qualifier was scored by Ever Hernández
in a 1–0 victory—on 2 December 1981—against Mexico. The 100th goal in a World Cup qualifier was scored by Jorge "Mágico" González on 2 May 1993 against . The 150th goal in a World Cup qualifier was scored by Víctor Velásquez in a 2–1 victory—on 13 June 2004—against . The 200th goal in a World Cup qualifier was scored by defender Xavier García in a 4–1 victory—on 6 September 2011—against the .
Honours
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
in international football and is sanctioned by the Federación Salvadoreña de Fútbol
Federación Salvadoreña de Fútbol
The Salvadoran Football Association is the official governing football organization in El Salvador and is in charge of the El Salvador national football team. The federation is also in charge of the three tiers of domestic club competition, including the top-flight Primera División de Fútbol...
(FESFUT). In 1899, Santa Ana
Santa Ana, El Salvador
Santa Ana is the second largest city in El Salvador, located 64 kilometers west of San Salvador, the capital city. Santa Ana has approximately 274,830 inhabitants and serves both as the capital of the department of Santa Ana and...
and San Salvador met for the first hosted football game in El Salvador. El Salvador's national football team's first match was in September 1921, when they were invited to participate in a tournament
Independence Centenary Games
The Independence Centenary Games is a football tournament organized to celebrate 100 years of Central American Independence. The tournament was compromised where only Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica and El Salvador were able to participate. It was a single-elimination tournament, or round-robin...
to celebrate 100 years of Central American Independence.
El Salvador has made two FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
appearances: first in 1970
1970 FIFA World Cup
The 1970 FIFA World Cup, the ninth staging of the World Cup, was held in Mexico, from 31 May to 21 June. The 1970 tournament was the first World Cup hosted in North America, and the first held outside South America and Europe. In a match-up of two-time World Cup champions, the final was won by...
and again in 1982
1982 FIFA World Cup
The 1982 FIFA World Cup, the 12th FIFA World Cup, was held in Spain from 13 June to 11 July. The tournament was won by Italy, after defeating West Germany 3–1 in the final.-Host selection:...
, but have never progressed beyond the first group stage of a finals tournament. They were the 1943 CCCF
1943 CCCF Championship
The Confederacion Centroamericana y del Caribe de Futbol was a forerunner to the CONCACAF as the governing body of football in Central America and the nations in the Caribbean until 1963, when it merged with the North American Football Confederation ' to form CONCACAF.The CCCF Championship was a...
champions, and finished in second-place in the 1941
1941 CCCF Championship
The Confederacion Centroamericana y del Caribe de Futbol was a forerunner to the CONCACAF as the governing body of football in Central America and the nations in the Caribbean until 1963, when it merged with the North American Football Confederation ' to form CONCACAF.The CCCF Championship was a...
and 1961
1961 CCCF Championship
The 1961 CCCF Championship was played in March 1961 in San José, Costa Rica. Costa Rica emerged as champion.-Group 1:The 1961 CCCF Championship was played in March 1961 in San José, Costa Rica. Costa Rica emerged as champion.-Group 1:...
championships. They have competed in the CONCACAF regional tournaments thirteen times, finishing as runners-up in 1963
1963 CONCACAF Championship
-Group A:Results-----------------------------------------Group B:Results-------------------------Final round:-------------------------External links:*...
and 1981
1981 CONCACAF Championship
-External links:*...
. La Selecta also competes in the biennial UNCAF Nations Cup, the Pan American Games
Football at the Pan American Games
A men's football tournament is held at every Pan American Games since the first edition of the multi-sports event in 1951, a women's tournament was only added in 1999.- Summaries :...
, the Olympics
Football at the Summer Olympics
Association football, usually known simply as football or soccer, has been included in every Olympiad except 1896 and 1932 as a men's competition sport. Women's football was added to the official programme in 1996.-Early history:...
, and have achieved two gold medals in the Central American and Caribbean Games
Central American and Caribbean Games
The Central American and Caribbean Games are a multi-sport regional championships event, held quadrennial , typically in the middle year between Summer Olympics...
.
The Estadio Cuscatlán
Estadio Cuscatlán
Monumental Estadio Cuscatlán is a football stadium located in San Salvador, El Salvador. It is the largest stadium in Central America with a capacity of 45,000...
, also known as "El Coloso de Montserrat" and "La Catedral del Espectaculo", is the official home stadium of the El Salvador national football team. Since 2008, the national team has had a kit sponsorship contract with England based supplier Mitre
Mitre Sports International
Mitre is a British sportswear and equipment supplier based in England, owned by Pentland Group. Established in England in 1817, Mitre is the world’s oldest manufacturer of footballs.- History :...
. , Raúl Díaz Arce
Raúl Díaz Arce
Raúl Díaz Arce is a retired Salvadoran football player.He is El Salvador's second most prolific goal scorer behind Jorge "Mágico" González, with 39 goals in just 68 appearances.-Early career:...
is the top-scorer with 39 goals, while Leonel Cárcamo
Leonel Cárcamo
Leonel Cárcamo Batres is a retired Salvadoran football player.-Club career:Cárcamo has played all of his professional career at hometown club Luis Ángel Firpo, becoming a club legend in the process. Snapped up by Firpo from lower league outfit Carrera when still in his teens, he won seven league...
has the record of being the most capped Salvadoran player with 84 appearances. The El Salvador national football team has presented itself with 41 managers in total, in the national team, and currently the head coach is Rubén Israel
Rubén Israel
Rubén Israel is a Uruguayan footballer and coach. He currently coaches the El Salvador national football team.-Club Libertad:...
.
Beginnings of the national team
Salvadoran football had its birth in the city of Santa AnaSanta Ana, El Salvador
Santa Ana is the second largest city in El Salvador, located 64 kilometers west of San Salvador, the capital city. Santa Ana has approximately 274,830 inhabitants and serves both as the capital of the department of Santa Ana and...
on a field called Campo Marte. This was the first time a football game was hosted in El Salvador. That first game took place on July 26, 1899 among players from Santa Ana
Santa Ana, El Salvador
Santa Ana is the second largest city in El Salvador, located 64 kilometers west of San Salvador, the capital city. Santa Ana has approximately 274,830 inhabitants and serves both as the capital of the department of Santa Ana and...
and San Salvador
San Salvador
The city of San Salvador the capital and largest city of El Salvador, which has been designated a Gamma World City. Its complete name is La Ciudad de Gran San Salvador...
. Both teams had several foreign players from England who are credited with introducing football to El Salvador. The local team won the game 2–0.
Although El Salvador played a few games in the early part of the 20th century, they did not become a fully committed national team until 1921 when players such as José Pablo Huezo, Carlos Escobar Leiva or Santiago Barrachina revolutionized football in the country. In September 1921, El Salvador were invited to Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
to take part in the Independence Centenary Games
Independence Centenary Games
The Independence Centenary Games is a football tournament organized to celebrate 100 years of Central American Independence. The tournament was compromised where only Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica and El Salvador were able to participate. It was a single-elimination tournament, or round-robin...
, to celebrate 100 years of Central American Independence. The tournament was compromised as only Guatemala
Guatemala national football team
The Guatemala national football team is the association football team representing the country of Guatemala and is controlled by the Federación Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala. Founded in 1919, it affiliated to FIFA in 1946, and it is a member of CONCACAF....
, Honduras
Honduras national football team
The Honduran national football team, nicknamed Los Catrachos, La Bicolor or La H, is the national team of Honduras and is controlled by the Federación Nacional Autónoma de Fútbol de Honduras...
, Costa Rica
Costa Rica national football team
The Costa Rica national football team, nicknamed La Sele, is the national team of Costa Rica and is controlled by the Federación Costarricense de Fútbol. Costa Rica is the third most successful team in CONCACAF after Mexico and the United States...
, and El Salvador were able to participate. By fact, Guatemalans and Costa Ricans had more experience with football than the Salvadorans and Hondurans. It was a single-elimination tournament
Single-elimination tournament
A single-elimination tournament, also called a knockout, cup or sudden death tournament, is a type of elimination tournament where the loser of each match or bracket is immediately eliminated from winning the championship or first prize in the event...
, or round-robin format, with Guatemala playing Honduras and El Salvador playing Costa Rica. El Salvador, which were dressed with white shorts and black shirt, underwent the classic 2–3–5 scheme with Carlos Escobar Leyva; Spanish resident Santiago Barrachina, José Pablo Huezo; Benjamín Sandoval, Emilio Dawson, and Frenchman Emilio Detruit; Víctor Recinos, brothers Guillermo, and José E. Alcaine, Guillermo Sandoval and Enrique Lindo. By the first half Costa Rica had scored 3 goals, and by the final whistle of 80 minutes (40 minutes for each half) won 7–0. Despite the loss, this tournament is seen by many as the starting point of the El Salvador national team.
After the 1921 Guatemala tournament, El Salvador only played three other international friendlies against Costa Rica and Honduras. El Salvador lost the first match 3–0 against Costa Rica, while the second and third ended in a 1–0 loss and 0–0 draw against Honduras. On 7 December 1928, El Salvador recorded its first ever win: a 5–0 victory over Honduras, the team that would later become their traditional rivals. The game was played at Campo Marte San Salvador and was not only El Salvador's first ever recorded win, but also the first time the team had scored in an international match. On the day, Gustavo "Taviche" Marroquin become the first ever Salvadoran player to score five goals in a single game for the El Salvador national football team, a feat later equaled by Miguel Cruz
Miguel Cruz
Miguel Cruz was a Salvadoran footballer.-Club career:Nicknamed el Americano , Cruz played club football in El Salvador, before going to Chile to play professionally alongside compatriot Armando Chacón at Universidad Católica.-International career:Cruz scored 16 goals for the El Salvador national...
and Rudis Corrales
Rudis Corrales
Rudis Alberto Corrales Rivera is a Salvadoran footballer.On December 19, 2010, it was announced that he signed a two year contract with Alianza.-Club career:...
.
1930s
In the early 1930s, El Salvador appointed its first official national coach, American national Mark Scott Thompson, in preparation for the 1930 Central American and Caribbean Games1930 Central American and Caribbean Games
The 2nd Central American and Caribbean Games were held in La Habana in Cuba from March 15 to April 5, 1930. The sports festival featured 606 athletes from nine countries , competing in ten sports. Women participated for the first time in this second edition...
in Havana, Cuba. El Salvador finished in fourth place at the games. The Federación Salvadoreña de Fútbol
Federación Salvadoreña de Fútbol
The Salvadoran Football Association is the official governing football organization in El Salvador and is in charge of the El Salvador national football team. The federation is also in charge of the three tiers of domestic club competition, including the top-flight Primera División de Fútbol...
, the official governing football organization in El Salvador, was founded in 1935. By this time, El Salvador were coached by Spaniard Pablo Ferre Elías
Pablo Ferre Elías
Pablo Ferre Elías is a Spanish football player and manager.He was the second person to coach the El Salavdor national football team in their history, during the 1935 Central American and Caribbean Games....
. The El Salvador-hosted 1935 Central American and Caribbean Games
1935 Central American and Caribbean Games
The 3rd Central American and Caribbean Games were staged in San Salvador in El Salvador. They were held from 16 March to 5 April 1935, and featured 741 athletes from nine nations, competing in fourteen sports . The third edition could not take place in 1934 due to a strong storm suffered the year...
took place in the new government funded Estadio Flor Blanca
Estadio Jorge "Mágico" González
Estadio Jorge "Mágico" González is formerly known as Estadio Nacional "De la Flor Blanca", referring to the name of the suburb where it is located in San Salvador. It is a football stadium in El Salvador. It is named after Jorge Alberto González...
, at that time the biggest stadium in the country. The Salvadoran squad consisted of Edmundo Majano as goalkeeper; Tobias Rivera and Raul Castro in defense; Américo Gonzalez and Napolean Cañas as midfielders; and Alex Morales, Rogelio Aviles, Fidel Quintanilla, Miguel “Americano” Cruz, and Andres Hernandez as strikers. Previously the national team had worn black and white striped jerseys and this was the first time they turned out in a new blue strip. The team improved their performance over the previous competition to finish in third place as bronze medal winners.
By 1938 the Federación Salvadoreña de Fútbol
Federación Salvadoreña de Fútbol
The Salvadoran Football Association is the official governing football organization in El Salvador and is in charge of the El Salvador national football team. The federation is also in charge of the three tiers of domestic club competition, including the top-flight Primera División de Fútbol...
had become affiliates of FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
. Once again the El Salvador national football team participated in the 1938 Central American and Caribbean Games
1938 Central American and Caribbean Games
The 4th Central American and Caribbean Games were held in Panama City, the capital city of Panama. These games were held 3 years after the last games, this was to get the games back to the year they should have been, after a 5 year break on the previous games. The Games were held from 5 February to...
in Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
, which was won by with Costa Rica in second place. El Salvador won two games and lost three out of its the five played. A match for third place between Colombia and El Salvador was scheduled but was cancelled due to bad physical state of the players. El Salvador finished in fourth place by goal difference.
1940s–1950s
On April 26, 1940, the first national football federation was approved, with Dr. Luis Rivas Palacios as president. In 1941, the first international competition in the CONCACAFCONCACAF
The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football is the continental governing body for association football in North America, Central America and the Caribbean...
, the continental governing body for football in North America, Central America and the Caribbean, the Central American and Caribbean Championship (CCCF)
CCCF Championship
The CCCF Championship was a football tournament made just for teams in the area of Central America and the Caribbean between the years of 1941–1961. It was founded in 1938 and the precursor of the CONCACAF, that was formed when CCCF merged with the NAFC in 1961...
took place in Costa Rica. El Salvador took part for the first time alongside teams from Costa Rica, , Panama, and . El Salvador were runners-up, recording two wins, one tie, and one loss.
The 1943 CCCF Championship
1943 CCCF Championship
The Confederacion Centroamericana y del Caribe de Futbol was a forerunner to the CONCACAF as the governing body of football in Central America and the nations in the Caribbean until 1963, when it merged with the North American Football Confederation ' to form CONCACAF.The CCCF Championship was a...
took place in San Salvador with the participation of Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. The El Savador team were coached by former national player Américo González. At the end of the tournament, El Salvador and Guatemala ended up with the same number of points and so had to play a tiebreaker. On December 21, Guatemala failed to show up for the match resulting in El Salvador declaring themselves 1943 CCCF Championship winners by goal difference. This was the country's first international title. El Salvador's 10‒1 win over Nicaragua set the team's record for the most goals scored in a single game. It was also the second time a Salvadoran player (Miguel "Americano" Cruz) had scored five goals in a single match. El Salvador participated in the 1946 CCCF Championship, hosted in Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
, alongside six other participants. The national team finished in second place, winning three matches and losing two. In 1948, the El Salvador national football team participated in its fourth CCCF Championship, the 1948 CCCF Championship in Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
alongside teams from five other countries. For the third time, Costa Rica won the championship with El Salvador finishing in fifth place.
El Salvador were invited by Brazil but turned down an invitation to play in the 1950 FIFA World Cup
1950 FIFA World Cup
The 1950 FIFA World Cup, held in Brazil from 24 June to 16 July, was the fourth FIFA World Cup. It was the first World Cup since 1938, the planned 1942 and 1946 competitions having been canceled owing to World War II...
, and did not participate in the playoffs for the subsequent World Cups in 1954
1954 FIFA World Cup
The 1954 FIFA World Cup, the fifth staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Switzerland from 16 June to 4 July. Switzerland was chosen as hosts in July 1946. The tournament set a number of all-time records for goal-scoring, including the highest average goals scored per game...
, 1958
1958 FIFA World Cup
The 1958 FIFA World Cup, the sixth staging of the World Cup, was hosted by Sweden from 8 June to 29 June. The tournament was won by Brazil, who beat Sweden 5–2 in the final for their first title. To date, this marks the only occasion that a World Cup staged in Europe was not won by a European...
, 1962
1962 FIFA World Cup
The 1962 FIFA World Cup, the seventh staging of the World Cup, was held in Chile from 30 May to 17 June. It was won by Brazil, who retained the championship by beating Czechoslovakia 3–1 in the final...
, and 1966
1966 FIFA World Cup
The 1966 FIFA World Cup, the eighth staging of the World Cup, was held in England from 11 July to 30 July. England beat West Germany 4–2 in the final, winning the World Cup for the first time, so becoming the first host to win the tournament since Italy in 1934.-Host selection:England was chosen as...
. Reasons for these refusals to participate might have possibly be due to economic issues since in those times they had never played so far from home. At that time it had a good quad with players like goalkeeper Manuel "tamalon" Garay, Rafael "chapuda" Reyes, Conrado Miranda, Miguel "americano" Cruz, Rafael Corado and Mando Rivas, to name a few.
At the group stage of the 1950 Central American and Caribbean Games
1950 Central American and Caribbean Games
The 6th Central American and Caribbean Games were held in Guatemala City, Guatemala, from February 28 to March 12, 1950. The games included 1.390 athletes from fourteen nations, competing in nineteen sports.-References:...
in Mexico, El Salvador recorded two wins, one tie, and one loss. They began the final round by beating Curaçao 3–1, but lost their other two matches leaving them in fifth place. In 1953, the El Salvador national football team took part in its fifth CCCF Championship, the 1953 CCCF Championship held in Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
. together with seven other national teams. Costa Rica became champions for the fourth time, and El Salvador finished in fifth place. El Salvador won their second international title in 1954 under the direction of Carbilio Tomasino, and a team consisting of Yohalmo Aurora, Manuel "tamalones" Garay, Hugo Moreno, Armando Larin, Luis Regalado, Conrado Miranda, Fernando Barrios, Ramon "pezote" Chavez, Jose Hernandez, Mario Montoya, Juan Francisco "cariota" Barraza, Ricardo "chilenito" Valencia, Alfredo "Baiza" Ruano, and Obdulio "calulo" Hernandez. They debuted against in a 2–2 tie, beat 3–1, beat Mexico 3–2 and finally beat Panama 1–0 with a goal by "Cariota" Barraza. The 3–2 victory against Mexico, with two goals from Mario Montoya (16',36') and one from Ricardo Valencia (37'), was the first victory by a Central American team against Mexico.
At the 1955 CCCF Championship in Honduras, El Salvador's sixth, the national team took part along with seven other participants. For the fifth time Costa Rica crowned themselves champions with El Salvador as 4th place.
1960s
The El Salvador football team participated in its seventh CCCF Championship, the 1961 CCCF Championship1961 CCCF Championship
The 1961 CCCF Championship was played in March 1961 in San José, Costa Rica. Costa Rica emerged as champion.-Group 1:The 1961 CCCF Championship was played in March 1961 in San José, Costa Rica. Costa Rica emerged as champion.-Group 1:...
in Costa Rica, in competition with nine other teams with El Salvador finishing in fourth place. El Salvador hosted the first CONCACAF Championship qualification tournament (a replacement for the CCCF Championship) in 1963. There were nine other participants, with Costa Rica becoming the first CONCACAF champions, and El Salvador finishing as runners-up. Chilean Hernán Carrasco Vivanco
Hernán Carrasco Vivanco
Hernán Carrasco Vivanco is a former Chilean football manager who created a legacy in El Salvador by winning five primera division titles with Alianza F.C. in 1966,1967,1989 and CONCACAF Champions' Cup in 1967 - Atlético Marte 1969, 1970 and C.D...
became coach in 1964 and would later revolutionize Salvadoran football. He led the national team for the first time at the 1965 CONCACAF Championship
1965 CONCACAF Championship
-Qualifying Tournament:-------------Final tournament:-------------------------------------------------------------See also:...
in Guatemala, where they won 2–1 against Costa Rica and 3–1 against . The team tied 1 game, losing two eventually finishing in fourth place. In 1966 the El Salvador football team took part in the Central American and Caribbean Games for the sixth time in a competition
1966 Central American and Caribbean Games
The 10th Central American and Caribbean Games were held in San Juan, Puerto Rico from July 11 to July 25, 1966. These games were one of the largest ever with a total number of 1.689 athletes from eighteen participating nations.-References:...
that took place in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. The national team participated alongside seven other teams, finishing in fourth place.
The first elimination rounds at the CONCACAF level were in preparation for the 1960 Summer Olympics
Football at the 1960 Summer Olympics
The football tournament at the 1960 Summer Olympics was held from 26 August to 10 September in 1960 throughout Italy.-Venues:-Medalists:-Group A:---------------------Group B:---------------------Group C:--------...
in Rome, Italy, whilst similar elimination rounds were held for Central American members prior to the Tokyo 1964 Summer Olympics
Football at the 1964 Summer Olympics
The football competition at the 1964 Summer Olympics started on October 11 and ended on October 23. Only one event, the men's tournament, was contested...
. In 1968 El Salvador qualified for the Olympic Games
1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
for the first time. They lost 4–0 to , 3–1 to , and tied 1–1 with . The coach by this time was Rigoberto Guzman
Rigoberto Guzmán
Rigoberto "Rigo" Guzmán Calderón is a retired Salvadoran football player and manager.-Club career:...
.
Gregorio Bundio and his assistant Jose Santacolomba coached the team in the qualifying stages for the 1970 FIFA World Cup
1970 FIFA World Cup
The 1970 FIFA World Cup, the ninth staging of the World Cup, was held in Mexico, from 31 May to 21 June. The 1970 tournament was the first World Cup hosted in North America, and the first held outside South America and Europe. In a match-up of two-time World Cup champions, the final was won by...
. This would be the first time that El Salvador would participate in this qualifying tournament. For this World Cup, CONCACAF would be represented by Mexico (host of the World Cup) and another national team. El Salvador won group 3, playing four games, winning three and losing one. Their record was 10 goals for and 5 goals against with 6 points. As a result they qualified for a 3-game playoff against the group 2 winner, Honduras. Immediately following the match an eighteen-year old Salvadoran girl Amelia Bolaños shot herself in the heart, and was subsequently regarded as a martyr in El Salvador, with her funeral being televised and the El Salvador president and national football team walking behind her coffin. The second game, on 15 June 1969 in the Salvadoran capital of San Salvador
San Salvador
The city of San Salvador the capital and largest city of El Salvador, which has been designated a Gamma World City. Its complete name is La Ciudad de Gran San Salvador...
, which was won 3–0 by El Salvador, was followed by even greater violence. A play-off match took place in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
on 26 June 1969. El Salvador won 3–2 after extra time. As a result of existing tensions being exacerbated by the football matches, on 14 July 1969 the two countries began the a 100 hour long war known as the Football War
Football War
The Football War , also known as the Soccer War or 100 hour War, was a four-day war fought by El Salvador and Honduras in 1969. It was caused by political conflicts between Hondurans and Salvadorans, namely issues concerning immigration from El Salvador to Honduras...
. As a result of the conflict, El Salvador and Honduras were disqualified from entering the 1969 CONCACAF Championship qualification
1969 CONCACAF Championship qualification
A total of 12 CONCACAF teams entered the competition. , as the hosts, and , as the defending champions, qualified automatically, leaving 4 spots open for competition...
.
The final set of qualifying games for the 1970 FIFA World Cup took place against Haiti. The first leg was won by El Salvador in Haiti, 2–1, with goals from Elver Acevedo (43') and Mauricio 'Pipo' Rodriguez (62'). The second lef was lost 3–0. The third game on 8 October 1969 was won by El Salvador with a goal by Juan Ramon "Mon" Martinez (14' a.e.t.). The El Salvador national football team qualified for their first FIFA World Cup, even though it was their first time in the qualifying stages.
1970s
In their first ever World Cup Finals appearance, at the 1970 FIFA World Cup, El Salvador lost their first game 3–0 to Belgium in Mexico City on June 3. The second match was played against the host nationMexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
, Mexico, on 7 June. The game turned on a controversial moment near the end of the first half with the score at 0–0. Egyptian referee Hussain Kandil awarded a free kick to El Salvador in their own half. However a Mexican player took the free-kick, passing to another Mexican player who scored. The Salvadoran players protested vigorously, to the extent of physically jostling Bermudan linesman Keith Dunstan, but the goal was allowed to stand. El Salvador restarted the game by kicking the ball into the crowd in protest. They eventually lost the game 4–0. The team's third and final game occurred on June 10 with El Salvador losing the game 2–0 to the USSR
USSR national football team
The Soviet Union National Football Team was the national football team of the Soviet Union. It ceased to exist after the break up of the Union...
in Mexico City, to finish at the bottom of Group A.
"El Pajaro Picon Picon" was a Colombian song written by Eliseo Herrera which was very popular in El Salvador during the qualifying stages of the 1970 World Cup. During a radio show, Mauricio Bohorquez parodied the song, which he named "Arriba con la Seleccion". That parody became so famous that it became the "official anthem" of the El Salvador national football team.
At the 1971 CONCACAF Championship
1971 CONCACAF Championship
-Final tournament:-------------------------------------------------------------Result:-External links:****...
, which was hosted on Trinidadian
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
soil, El Salvador advanced from the first round with an aggregate score of 4–2 against . In the second round, El Salvador withdrew from the playoff when they had to play against Honduras with Honduras eventually making the finals. The national team took part in the 1973 CONCACAF Championship qualification
1973 CONCACAF Championship qualification
The 1973 CONCACAF Championship qualification consisted of a single round of play. The 14 teams were divided into 6 groups of 2 or 3 teams . The teams would play against each other on a home-and-away basis...
process for the 1974 FIFA World Cup
1974 FIFA World Cup
The 1974 FIFA World Cup, the tenth staging of the World Cup, was held in West Germany from 13 June to 7 July. The tournament marked the first time that the current trophy, the FIFA World Cup Trophy, created by the Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga, was awarded...
but they did not advance to the final stage
1973 CONCACAF Championship
The 1973 CONCACAF Championship, the 6th staging of the CONCACAF Championship, was held in Haiti from November 29 to December 18. All matches were played at Stade Sylvio Cator in Port-au-Prince. This is the first edition to double as qualification for the World Cup. Haiti became winners for the...
after they were eliminated by with an aggregate score of 0–2 (0–1, 0–1). The team was managed by Hector D'Angelo. In 1975 El Salvador participated at the Pan American Games
Pan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
for the first time at the VII (7) Pan American Games
Football at the 1975 Pan American Games
The seventh edition of the football tournament at the Pan American Games was held in four cities in Mexico: Mexico City , Guadalajara, Toluca, and Puebla, from October 13 to October 25, 1975. Thirteen teams competed in a round-robin competition, with Argentina defending the title...
, hosted in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. The national team participated in a group that included , Nicaragua, and . They debuted with a 4–1 score against Nicaragua on October 14 with 3 goals from "Pajarito" Huezo
Norberto Huezo
José Norberto Huezo Montoya is a retired football player from El Salvador who represented his country at the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain.-Club career:...
and the debut of Francisco "Paco" Jovel. Then they played against Brazil on the 15th—for the first time in history—and lost 0–2. They ended the tournament by playing against Costa Rica, where they tied 0–0, and wherein "Pele" Zapata
Luis Ramírez Zapata
Luis Baltazar Ramírez Zapata is a retired Salvadoran footballer.-Career:Nicknamed "El Pelé", he spent nearly 20 years playing for Salvadoran club Águila. He started with Águila before leaving to join other clubs and later in his career make a return to the San Miguel based club...
missed a penalty. They could not proceed to the next stage, and finished at third place in Group D.
At the 1977 CONCACAF Championship qualification
1977 CONCACAF Championship qualification
Listed below are the dates and results for the tournament qualification. A total of 17 CONCACAF teams entered the competition. withdrew before the matches were played. The remaining 16 teams were divided into 3 zones, based on geographical considerations, as follows:...
, La Azul played against four other teams on a home-and-away basis. The group winner (Guatemala) and runner-up (El Salvador) advanced to the Final Round
1977 CONCACAF Championship
Mexico qualified for the 1978 FIFA World Cup.-See also:*1978 FIFA World Cup qualification*1978 FIFA World Cup qualification *1978 FIFA World Cup qualification *1978 FIFA World Cup qualification...
. In the final round, El Salvador played five games; they won two, drew one, and lost two with 5 points. They finished in thirs place, below Haiti (7 points) and Mexico (10 points). In 1978 the El Salvador football team took part in the Central American and Caribbean Games for the seventh time in the competition
1978 Central American and Caribbean Games
The 13th Central American and Caribbean Games were held in Medellín, Colombia from July 7 to July 28, 1978 and included 2.605 athletes from eighteen nations.-References:...
that took place in Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
. For the fourth time, Cuba was crowned champions. El Salvador finished in ninth place.
1980s
At the 1981 CONCACAF Championship qualification1981 CONCACAF Championship qualification
A total of 15 CONCACAF teams entered the competition. The 15 teams were divided into 3 zones, based on geographical considerations, as follows:* North American Zone had 3 teams. The teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winner and runner-up would advance to the Final...
, La Azul and five other teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winner (Honduras) and runner-up (El Salvador) advanced to the final round. On November 19, 1981, in the hexagonal
1981 CONCACAF Championship
-External links:*...
at Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
, El Salvador beat by 1–0 with a penalty kick taken by Norberto Huezo
Norberto Huezo
José Norberto Huezo Montoya is a retired football player from El Salvador who represented his country at the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain.-Club career:...
. tied with , meaning the national team scored more points than Mexico and qualified for the second time for a World Cup
1982 FIFA World Cup
The 1982 FIFA World Cup, the 12th FIFA World Cup, was held in Spain from 13 June to 11 July. The tournament was won by Italy, after defeating West Germany 3–1 in the final.-Host selection:...
, alongside Honduras. In the hexagonal games, La Selecta won 1–0 over Mexico—with a memorable goal from Ever Hernandez
Ever Hernández
Ever Francisco Hernández is a retired football player from El Salvador who represented his country at the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain.-Club career:...
on November 6—and Haiti. The national team tied 0–0 against Cuba and Honduras and lost to Canada 0–1. The national team was under the direction of Mauricio "Pipo" Rodríguez
Mauricio Alonso Rodríguez
Mauricio Alonso "Pipo" Rodríguez Lindo is a retired footballer from El Salvador. He represented his country at the Olympic Games in 1968, 1970 FIFA World Cup Mexico and coached them to in the 1982 FIFA World Cup Spain.-Playing years:...
.
In 1982 El Salvador took a 20-man squad (two players short of the normal 22, for controversial and economical problems), coached by Mauricio "Pipo" Rodríguez, to Spain. The team's experience was an unhappy one. In their first match on June 15 in Elche, they were defeated 10–1 by Hungary
Hungary national football team
The Hungary national football team represents Hungary in international football and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation....
, a scoreline that stands as a World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
record to this day. One comfort was that Luis Baltazar Ramírez Zapata
Luis Ramírez Zapata
Luis Baltazar Ramírez Zapata is a retired Salvadoran footballer.-Career:Nicknamed "El Pelé", he spent nearly 20 years playing for Salvadoran club Águila. He started with Águila before leaving to join other clubs and later in his career make a return to the San Miguel based club...
scored the country's first World Cup goal during the game, albeit at a point when the Salvadorans were already down 5–0.
El Salvador managed to regain some pride in their subsequent games: displaying much-improved levels of organisation and commitment, they lost 1–0 to Belgium on June 19 in Elche and 2–0 to the then-reigning world champions, Argentina
Argentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
, in Alicante
Alicante
Alicante or Alacant is a city in Spain, the capital of the province of Alicante and of the comarca of Alacantí, in the south of the Valencian Community. It is also a historic Mediterranean port. The population of the city of Alicante proper was 334,418, estimated , ranking as the second-largest...
on June 23.
El Salvador, within many surprises among the Spanish press for the qualification to the 1982 FIFA World Cup, had a terrible experience in personal terms. First of all, El Salvador took 20 players to the World Cup, leaving behind Gilberto Quinteros and Miguel González. According to Luis Guevara Mora
Luis Guevara Mora
Luis Ricardo Guevara Mora is a Salvadoran former football goalkeeper.Nicknamed el Negro, he became a member of the Salvadoran national team and represented his country at the 1982 FIFA World Cup. Guevara remains one of El Salvador's best goalkeepers...
, goalkeeper of the team by that time, the Salvadoran Football Association decided to take a few friends of the association in exchange for such players that had participated in the qualification process. By the way, those friends never took part with the team in the notorious World Cup but did take a trip around Europe. Some fellow players tried to gather in some money to help pay for the flight. El Salvador took 3 days to arrive to Spain and was the last team to do so. Adidas
Adidas
Adidas AG is a German sports apparel manufacturer and parent company of the Adidas Group, which consists of the Reebok sportswear company, TaylorMade-Adidas golf company , and Rockport...
sent four white and three blue uniforms for each player. But mysteriously only three white and one blue remained. The remaining uniforms were taken away by the association. They decided to play with the white uniform and keep the blue as a keepsake. Someone had stolen the balls that the team would train with. The day prior to the match against Hungary, the Hungarians had the 25 balls the organization had given them and trained with them. El Salvador had never seen Hungary play. The only knowledge that they had about the team was a lone video that they had bought. When Zapata scored against Hungary, some Salvadorans cried out to Zapata not to celebrate the goal effusively because it might make the Hungarians mad. The fourth goal of Hungary was the fault of the deafness of Francisco Jovel
José Francisco Jovel
José Francisco Jovel Cruz is a retired football player from El Salvador who represented his country at the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain.His son Carlos Francisco Jovel Navas currently plays for Luís Ángel Firpo....
. Jovel had received a heavy blow on the cheek and almost could not hear. So when Guevara Mora cried off to stop a ball, the defender did not hear him. The rejection was defective, Mora had left the goal and the Hungarian player only had to push it inside. After the match against Hungary, the Salvadoran squad had a tense meeting with the coaching staff. The continuing matches against Belgium and Argentina were managed by players Jovel, Huezo and Fagoaga.
Even though they had a bad experience in the World Cup, El Salvador had some relieved moments. Jorge "Magico: Gonzalez was considered by the national and international press as the best player. "Magico" Gonzalez stayed in Spain were he played for Cádiz CF
Cádiz CF
Cádiz Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Cádiz, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded in 1910, it currently plays in Segunda División B - Group 4, holding home games at Estadio Ramón de Carranza, with a 22,000-seat capacity.Salvadoran legend Mágico González, who...
, Real Valladolid
Real Valladolid
Real Valladolid Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Valladolid, in the autonomous community of Castile and León, from where the nickname Pucela is derived....
and Barcelona. Ricardo Guevara Mora, the goalkeeper, was the youngest player to play at the 1982 FIFA World Cup with 20 years of age.
In the 1985 CONCACAF Championship qualification
1985 CONCACAF Championship qualification
Qualifying Round:*Guatemala received a bye and advanced to the Championship directly. The remaining 16 teams were paired up to play knockout matches on a home-and-away basis...
, El Salvador and 15 other teams were paired up to play knockout matches on a home-and-away basis. With an aggregate score of 8–0 (5–0, 3–0) against , El Salvador passed to the first round of the final tournament
1985 CONCACAF Championship
-Group 2:Canada advanced to the second round.---------------------Group 3:Costa Rica advanced to the second round.---------------------Final round:Canada qualified for the 1986 FIFA World Cup.--------...
. They were unable to advance to the second round, with 5 points (2 won, 1 tied, 1 lost). In the qualifying stages
1989 CONCACAF Championship qualification
A total of 16 CONCACAF teams entered the competition. However, FIFA rejected the entry of due to debts to FIFA.There would be two rounds of play:*First Round: , , , United States and , the five best ranked teams according to FIFA, received byes and advanced to the Second Round directly. The...
they eliminated the 1–0 and 5–0, and in the final round
1989 CONCACAF Championship
The 1989 CONCACAF Championship was the last edition of the CONCACAF Championship held under the format of serving as qualification to the 1990 FIFA World Cup and having no host nation for the final round....
they placed fifth, with 2 points in 6 games (victories were then counted as two points).
1990s
In the 1991 UNCAF Nations Cup, La Selecta defeated Nicaragua with an aggregate score of 5–2 (3–2, 2–0) at the first round. In the final round, they played three games, drawing in one and losing two. They ended in fourth place and thus did not advance to the 1991 CONCACAF Gold Cup1991 CONCACAF Gold Cup
-Group B:---------------------Bracket:-Semifinals:-----Third place match:-Final:-Top scorers:4 goals Benjamin Galindo3 goals Dale Mitchell Eduardo Bennet Luis Cálix Carlos Hermosillo...
.
In the 1993 UNCAF Nations Cup, La Selecta played three games, drawing in one and losing two. They ended in fourth place and thus did not advance to the 1993 CONCACAF Gold Cup
1993 CONCACAF Gold Cup
-Group B:---------------------Bracket:-Semifinals:-----Third place match:-Final:-Top scorers:11 goals Zaguinho5 goals Luis Miguel Salvador4 goals Eduardo Bennett3 goals Juan Arnoldo Cayasso Octavio Mora...
. They were coached by Jorge Vieira
Jorge Vieira
Jorge Silva Vieira, usually known as Jorge Vieira , is a former Brazilian football player and manager. He was born in Rio de Janeiro.-Career:He won the Campeonato Carioca as América's manager, when he was only 26 years old...
. Also, in the qualifiers, they eliminated (5–0,5–1), then finished first in a group composed of (0–1 and 4–1), (1–1 and 3–2), and (2–0, 2–1). Already in the final quadrangular
1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF)
Listed below are the dates and results for the 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for the North, Central American and Caribbean zone . For an overview of the qualification rounds, see the article 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification....
, they debuted by beating 2–1, but lost the next 4 games, losing all classification option. They came in third with 4 points in 6 games (victories were then counted as two points).
In the first round of the 1995 UNCAF Nations Cup, they won their first two games. La Selecta won Belize 3–0 and Costa Rica 2–1. In the semifinals they lost against Guatemala 0–1, so they had to go for the third-place playoff against Costa Rica. In that game they won by a score of 2–1; goals came from Raúl Díaz Arce
Raúl Díaz Arce
Raúl Díaz Arce is a retired Salvadoran football player.He is El Salvador's second most prolific goal scorer behind Jorge "Mágico" González, with 39 goals in just 68 appearances.-Early career:...
(18') and Jorge Rodríguez
Jorge Humberto Rodríguez
Jorge Humberto Rodríguez Alvárez is a retired Salvadoran footballer.-Club career:Rodríguez has played professionally for Metapán and Club Deportivo FAS of Primera División de Fútbol Profesional in El Salvador, Dallas Burn of Major League Soccer...
(21'). For the first time they advanced to the Gold Cup
CONCACAF Gold Cup
The CONCACAF Gold Cup is the main association football competition of the men's national football teams governed by CONCACAF, determining the regional champion of North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.The Gold Cup is held every two years and when it does not fall the same year as an...
.
At the 1996 CONCACAF Gold Cup
1996 CONCACAF Gold Cup
The 1996 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the third edition of the Gold Cup, the football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean ....
, El Salvador defeated Trinidad and Tobago 3–2, with goals from Raúl Díaz Arce
Raúl Díaz Arce
Raúl Díaz Arce is a retired Salvadoran football player.He is El Salvador's second most prolific goal scorer behind Jorge "Mágico" González, with 39 goals in just 68 appearances.-Early career:...
(34', 72' (pen.
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
) and Ronald Cerritos
Ronald Cerritos
Ronald Osvaldo Cerritos Flores is a former Salvadoran footballer, who played as a striker.Cerritos is the all-time goalscorer of the Major League Soccer team, the San Jose Earthquakes, with 61 goals and also holds the all-time assists with 47.-Club career:Cerritos has spent the bulk of his career...
(50'). They lost to the United States, and thus could not continue in the competition.
In the first round of the 1997 UNCAF Nations Cup, La Selecta lost to Honduras 3–0 but defeated Costa Rica 2–0. In the final round they lost against Guatemala 0–1, Costa Rica 0–1, and tied Honduras 0–0. They finished in third, with 1 point. They advanced to the 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup
1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup
The 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the fourth edition of the Gold Cup, the football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean ....
. At the US-hosted 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup
1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup
The 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the fourth edition of the Gold Cup, the football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean ....
, El Salvador were coached by Kiril Dojcinovski
Kiril Dojcinovski
Kiril "Kiro" Dojčinovski is a former Macedonian footballer.He earned 6 caps for the Yugoslavia national football team and participated in the 1974 FIFA World Cup. During his club career he played for Vardar Skopje, Crvena Zvezda, Troyes and Paris FC...
. In Group A, El Salvador tied with Guatemala 0–0 and lost to Brazil 0–4 and Jamaica 0–2.
After the global stakes in 1970
1970 FIFA World Cup
The 1970 FIFA World Cup, the ninth staging of the World Cup, was held in Mexico, from 31 May to 21 June. The 1970 tournament was the first World Cup hosted in North America, and the first held outside South America and Europe. In a match-up of two-time World Cup champions, the final was won by...
and 1982
1982 FIFA World Cup
The 1982 FIFA World Cup, the 12th FIFA World Cup, was held in Spain from 13 June to 11 July. The tournament was won by Italy, after defeating West Germany 3–1 in the final.-Host selection:...
, this was the playoff
1998 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF)
The 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification, CONCACAF zone ran from March 1996 to November 1997 in order to determine the three CONCACAF representatives at the 1998 FIFA World Cup. For an overview of the qualification rounds, see 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification....
which was closest to a return to a World Cup, which created great excitement among the fans in El Salvador. In the final round, the club finished in fifth place, with 10 points in as many games.
In the first round of the 1999 UNCAF Nations Cup, El Salvador tied Guatemala 1–1 and defeated Nicaragua 1–0, with goals from Magdonio Corrales. In the final round they lost to Honduras 1–3, Guatemala 0–1, and Costa Rica 0–4. They finished in fourth place, with 0 points, and did not advance to the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup
2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup
The 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the fifth edition of the Gold Cup, the football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean . It was held in the United States, in Los Angeles, Miami, and San Diego. The format of the tournament changed from 1998; it was expanded to twelve teams,...
. They were coached by Mario Peres Ulibarri
Marinho Peres
Marinho Peres, real name Mário Peres Ulibarri, was an association footballer. He played centre-back, in particular with Sport Club Internacional and the Brazilian national team...
.
2000s
In the group stage of the Honduras-hosted 2001 UNCAF Nations Cup, El Salvador defeated Nicaragua by 3–0, defeated Panama 2–1, and tied with Honduras 1–1. At the final stage of that tournament, they tied Guatemala 0–0, Panama 1–1, and Costa Rica 1–1. El Salvador advanced to the 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup
The 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the sixth edition of the Gold Cup, the football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean ....
after ending up in third place. They were coached by Carlos Recinos
Carlos Recinos
Carlos Humberto Recinos Ortiz is a former soccer player from El Salvador who represented his country at the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain.-Playing years:...
.
Still coached by Recinos, El Salvador lost to Mexico 0–1 in Group A of the 2002 Gold Cup. On January 23, they defeated Guatemala 1–0, with a goal from Santos Cabrera
Santos Cabrera
Santos Dagoberto Cabrera Luzo is a retired Salvadoran footballer who played mostly for Luis Ángel Firpo, and internationally for the El Salvador national team.-Club career:...
(58'). For the first time, they advanced to the Quarter-finals of a Gold Cup. On January 27, they lost to eventual champions United States by a score of 0–4.
The 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification process
2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF)
The 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification, CONCACAF Zone ran from March 2000 to November 2001 in order to determine the three CONCACAF representatives at the 2002 FIFA World Cup. For an overview of the qualification rounds, see 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification....
marked the beginning of the current decline in Salvadoran football, because after being a regular in the CONCACAF final round, the team was eliminated in the second round by Honduras and Jamaica, who later participated in the final round.
In the 2003 UNCAF Nations Cup in Panama, El Salvador managed to get third place, with Juan Ramón Paredes
Juan Ramon Paredes
Juan Ramón Paredes Zelaya is a former Salvadoran football player and manager. He is currently the manager of Atlético Marte in the Salvadoran Premier Division.-Alianza F.C.:...
as head coach. In the tournament El Salvador won against Panama 2–1, lost against Costa Rica 0–1, defeated Nicaragua 3–0, defeated Honduras 1–0, and lost against Guatemala.0–2. They qualified for the 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup
2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup
The 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the seventh edition of the Gold Cup, the football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean ....
alongside Guatemala and Costa Rica (Honduras went to the playoffs).
El Salvador lost to the United States 0–2 in Group C of the 2003 Gold Cup. On July 16, they won over 1–0 with a goal from defender Marvin Gonzalez (76'). For the second time, they had advanced to the Quarter-finals of a Gold Cup. On July 19, they lost to Costa Rica by 2–5. Three of the seven goals were penalty kicks counted by the referee, Mexican Felipe Ramos
Felipe Ramos
Felipe de Jesús Ramos Rizo is a FIFA football referee from Mexico, who officiated three matches at the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He made his debut as a referee on May 2, 1983....
.
In the 2005 UNCAF Nations Cup in Guatemala, El Salvador lost against Panama 0–1 and Costa Rica 1–2. They were not able to qualify for the 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup
2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup
The 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the seventh edition of the Gold Cup, the football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean ....
. They were coached by Carlos Cavagnaro
Carlos Cavagnaro
Carlos Albert Cavagnaro is an Argentine football manager. He became the youngest football manager in the history of the Argentine Primera when he took charge of Argentinos Juniors in 1969 aged 22....
.
In the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification process
2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF)
Listed below are the dates and results for the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for North, Central America and the Caribbean. A total of 34 teams took part , competing for 3.5 places in the World Cup.The qualification process was divided in three stages...
, they eliminated Bermuda 2–1 and 2–2, but were defeated in the second round by the United States.
In the 2007 UNCAF Nations Cup, hosted on Salvadoran soil, El Salvador won over Belize and Nicaragua by 2–1, and tied with Guatemala with no goals. They advanced to the Semifinals as top of Group 1. At the semifinals, El Salvador lost to the eventual champions, Costa Rica, by two early goals. For the third place playoff, El Salvador lost 0–1 to Guatemala but still qualified to advance to the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup
2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup
The 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the ninth edition of the Gold Cup, the football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean , and was won by the United States over Mexico. It was contested in the United States from June 6 to June 24, 2007.This competition was the third...
. The team was coached by Carlos de los Cobos
Carlos de los Cobos
Carlos de los Cobos Martínez is a Mexican former football player. He last coached the Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer.-Playing career:...
.
At the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup, Ramon Sanchez (38') and Dennis Alas
Dennis Alas
Dennis Jonathan Alas Morales is a Salvadoran association football player, who plays as a midfielder for C.D. Luís Ángel Firpo.He is the older brother of Alianza F.C...
(81') scored to give the national team their only victory in the tournament against Trinidad and Tobago. They lost the following two matches against Guatemala 0–1 and United States 0–4.
On June 16, 2007, a match that recognized the biggest defeat of the Salvadoran team was scheduled between El Salvador and Hungary. Many of the same players that had assisted the match between El Salvador and Hungary in the 1982 FIFA World Cup played again at the Estadio Cuscatlán. The stadium that filled 22,000 spectators saw a match tied at 2–2 with goals from Lázár Szentes
Lázár Szentes
Lázár Szentes is a former Hungarian football player of the 1970s and 1980s. He appeared at the 1982 FIFA World Cup with the Hungarian national team. Between 1982 and 1983 he played 6 games and scored 3 goals for Hungary....
and Ferenc Csongrádi
Ferenc Csongrádi
Ferenc Csongrádi is a Hungarian former footballer who played at both professional and international levels as a midfielder.-Career:Born in Apácatorna, Csongrádi played club football for Videoton....
for Hungary and two goals from Luis Ramírez Zapata
Luis Ramírez Zapata
Luis Baltazar Ramírez Zapata is a retired Salvadoran footballer.-Career:Nicknamed "El Pelé", he spent nearly 20 years playing for Salvadoran club Águila. He started with Águila before leaving to join other clubs and later in his career make a return to the San Miguel based club...
for El Salvador. Victory was a foregone conclusion with the recognition of the past, to the best generation of El Salvador.
In the 2009 UNCAF Nations Cup, El Salvador defeated Belize 4–1, tied against Nicaragua 1–1 with an own-goal, and lost to Honduras 0–2. They qualified for the semifinals. At the semifinals, the game was called after 60 minutes of play when El Salvador was reduced to six players. Two El Salvador players, Alexander Escobar
Alexander Escobar
Alexander Escobar Rosales is a Salvadoran footballer who currently plays for A.D. Isidro Metapán in the Salvadoran Premier League.-Club career:...
and Eliseo Quintanilla
Eliseo Quintanilla
Eliseo Antonio Quintanilla Ortíz is a Salvadoran footballer who currently plays for Guatemalan club Municipal and internationally for the El Salvador national team.-Club career:...
, were awarded red cards in the first half, and Deris Umanzor, Rodolfo Zelaya
Rodolfo Zelaya
Rodolfo Antonio Zelaya García is a Salvadoran footballer who currently plays for Russian club Alania Vladikavkaz, and internationally for the El Salvador national team.-Club career:...
, and goalkeeper Juan José Gómez
Juan Jose Gomez
Juan José Gómez is a Salvadoran footballer who currently plays for Águila in the Salvadoran Premier League.-Club career:...
were injured and had to leave the game after El Salvador had already exhausted their three substitutions. The game was awarded 3–0 to Costa Rica. In the third place playoff, Honduras earned a win over los Cuscatlecos with an only goal scored by Roger Espinoza
Roger Espinoza
Roger Espinoza is a Honduran footballer who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:Espinoza moved from his native Honduras to Denver, Colorado when he was 12 years old...
(30').
At the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup
2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup
The 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the tenth edition of the Gold Cup competition, and the twentieth association football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean . It was contested from 3 July to 26 July 2009 in the United States. This competition was the fourth tournament...
, El Salvador were in Group A, along with Costa Rica, Canada, and Jamaica. They debuted against Costa Rica, with two goals scored by Osael Romero in the 19th and 85th minute. The next two games were defeats by a score of 1–0. The team was still coached by Carlos de los Cobos
Carlos de los Cobos
Carlos de los Cobos Martínez is a Mexican former football player. He last coached the Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer.-Playing career:...
.
2010s
For the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification process2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF)
The CONCACAF qualification stage for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa consisted of 35 national teams competing for the three berths given automatically to CONCACAF by FIFA. The United States, Mexico and Honduras qualified...
, the team passed the first round by defeating the weak selection of 12–0 and 4–0 and surprisingly, in the next round, eliminated Panama 0–1 and 3–1. By August 2008 they played the third phase against Costa Rica, and , after which they were in second place. El Salvador and five other teams that reached the fourth round formed one double-round-robin, home-and-away group. The top three teams qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
. The fourth place team qualified for a home-and-away play-off against the fifth-place team from CONMEBOL. After the qualifying round (final stage) the team was in fifth, with eight points. Rudis Corrales
Rudis Corrales
Rudis Alberto Corrales Rivera is a Salvadoran footballer.On December 19, 2010, it was announced that he signed a two year contract with Alianza.-Club career:...
was top goalscorer of the qualification process with 8 in total.
On 11 May 2010 The FIFA Emergency Committee suspended the Salvadoran Football Association (FESFUT) on account of government interference. This decision by FIFA was based on the fact that the statutes ratified by the FESFUT general assembly in August 2009 had not been formally entered in the country's official register, and that the government had failed to acknowledge the authority of the Normalisation Committee set up to represent FESFUT. Consequently, FIFA considered that it was not possible for FESFUT to organise the elective general assembly in line with the action plan that had been drawn up, and suspended FESFUT. For the suspension to be lifted, Salvadoran authorities needed to recognize the legitimacy of the Normalisation Committee of the Salvadoran Football Association. The suspension was lifted on May 28. By FIFA lifting the suspension, El Salvador was allowed to participate in international tournaments at both club and national levels. El Salvador's under-21 team qualified for the CAC tournament in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. However, CONCACAF made a decision to suspend football at the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games
2010 Central American and Caribbean Games
The 21st Central American and Caribbean Games took place in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, from July 18, 2010 to August 1, 2010.-Bid:...
shortly thereafter. Metapán and FAS participated in the CONCACAF Champions League. The Salvadoran referees selected for the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
were able to participate in the World Cup. El Salvador will also be able to participate in the 2012 Summer Olympics
2012 Summer Olympics
The 2012 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the "London 2012 Olympic Games", are scheduled to take place in London, England, United Kingdom from 27 July to 12 August 2012...
.
At the 2011 Copa Centroamericana, formerly known as the UNCAF Nations Cup, El Salvador achieved fourth place. Los Cuscatlecos defeated Nicaragua 2–0 and Belize 5–2, and lost against Panama 2–0. At the semifinals they lost against Honduras once again by a 2–0 score. In the third place match, they lost to Panama in a penalty shootout by a score of 4–5. The team was coached by José Luis Rugamas
José Luis Rugamas
José Luis Rugamas Portillo is a Salvadoran football manager and former professional player. He is the current interim manager of the El Salvador national team. He represented his country at the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain....
, and qualified for the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup
2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup
The 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the 11th edition of the CONCACAF Gold Cup competition and 21th CONCACAF regional championship overall in CONCACAF's fifty years of existence...
. Forward Rafael Burgos
Rafael Burgos (footballer)
Rafael Burgos is a Salvadoran footballer who currently plays for Alianza in the Salvadoran Premier League.-Club career:...
received the Golden Boot, with three goals.
Rubén Israel
Rubén Israel
Rubén Israel is a Uruguayan footballer and coach. He currently coaches the El Salvador national football team.-Club Libertad:...
, who took over El Salvador's coaching administration from José Luis Rugamas in April 2011, introduced a new system and spirit into the team. At the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup
2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup
The 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the 11th edition of the CONCACAF Gold Cup competition and 21th CONCACAF regional championship overall in CONCACAF's fifty years of existence...
, El Salvador started off holding Mexico to a 0–0 draw through 55 minutes, which included several close calls, but then allowed five goals in the next 35 to lose 5–0. Against Costa Rica, Rodolfo Zelaya
Rodolfo Zelaya
Rodolfo Antonio Zelaya García is a Salvadoran footballer who currently plays for Russian club Alania Vladikavkaz, and internationally for the El Salvador national team.-Club career:...
scored a 25 yard free kick opener before the half. It was until the fifth minute of injury time where it allowed an equalizing goal and settled for a 1–1 draw. El Salvador opened the doors to the quarterfinals as second–best third after they defeated Cuba 6–1. The goals were scored by 5 different players, including 2 from Rodolfo Zelaya. The goal difference was instrumental in El Salvador's qualification. A 1–1 draw with Panama and Canada enabled El Salvador to advance to their first quarterfinal berth since 2003
2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup
The 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the seventh edition of the Gold Cup, the football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean ....
and third overall. At the quarterfinals against Panama, Panamanian goalkeeper Penedo
Jaime Penedo
Jaime Penedo is a Panamanian football goalkeeper who currently plays for Liga Nacional de Guatemala team CSD Municipal-Club career:Back in Panamá, he used to play for Árabe Unido...
stopped a penalty at the 23' from Salvadoran striker Rodolfo Zelaya, who also finished converting another penalty kick at 78' with a shot that was embedded in the upper left corner. Panama forced an extra time at 89', when striker Luis Tejada
Luis Tejada
Luis "Matador" Tejada is a Panamanian professional association football striker. He currently plays for Juan Aurich of the Peruvian Primera División and the Panamanian national team.-Club career:...
between several defenders drove a ball that bounced in front of goal and goalkeeper Miguel Montes managed to catch. The play left confused doubts whether the shot from Tejada was with his head or his hand. Eventually, the referee Walter Quesada decided that Montes caught the ball behind the goal line and ruled the goal to a 1–1 tie at the last minute. The coach of El Salvador called the decision an "error of haste" that cost the whole team the pass to semifinals. Also, both teams played the extra time with 10 men after Panamanian striker Blas Perez
Blas Perez
Blas Antonio Miguel Pérez Ortega is a professional footballer who currently plays for Indios de Ciudad Juárez. He is nicknamed Super Ratón. He is a distant cousin to Portland Timbers midfielder Miguel Guante....
and Captain Luis Anaya engaged in a discussion at the end of the second half. The Panamanians converted their 5 shots and Penedo stopped a shot by Salvadoran Dennis Alas to leave a Salvadoran loss of 3–5 after a 1–1 draw during the 90 minutes and 30 in overtime.
For the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification process
2014 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF)
The CONCACAF qualification for the 2014 FIFA World Cup will see teams competing for places at the finals in Brazil.As in recent tournaments, CONCACAF will have three direct qualifiers for the finals tournament in addition to a further possible place via the inter-confederation play-offs against the...
, El Salvador were second seed in the playoffs with a first round bye. La Selecta achieved its first victory and beat the by 3–2 but left many doubts in its debut. Despite a scoreless draw at the end of the first half, El Salvador regained its position—that being at home—and won under goals by Rodolfo Zelaya (54', 77') and Christian Bautista (63'). El Salvador won 4–1 to the , a score that could have been bigger but the goalposts and the keeper prevented a higher defeat. El Salvador won their second game and took an important step in the qualifiers with goals from Christian Bautista (50') and defenders Luis Anaya (63', 80') and Xavier García (90+3'). El Salvador visited the Estadio Panamericano, San Cristóbal
Estadio Panamericano, San Cristóbal
Estadio Panamericano is a stadium located in San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic. It is currently used mostly for football matches. It is the home stadium of San Cristóbal, a football club which plays in the Dominican Republic First Division. The stadium also hosts some Dominican Republic national...
in the Dominican Republic and came out with a victory of 2 to 1. Osael Romero scored the opening goal from the penalty spot and Lester Blanco would get the 2 to 1 with a powerful header. Even though, El Salvador received the necessary 3 points, the performance of the team was not as expected. El Salvador won 4-0 in the second playoff against the Cayman Islands in a game that was delayed over an hour and a half due to severe rain. Nevertheless, El Salvador showed a more attractive technique and earned the win. The goals were scored by Víctor Turcios (5'), Steve Purdy (12'), Jaime Alas (44') and Herbert Sosa (pen. 88'). The last being the 1000th goal scored in the history of the El Salvador national football team.
FIFA World Cup record
El Salvador have never advanced beyond the first round of the finals competition. El Salvador declined to participate at the 1950 FIFA World Cup.| FIFA World Cup record FIFA World Cup The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body... |
FIFA World Cup Qualification record | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | |||||||||||||
 19301930 FIFA World Cup The 1930 FIFA World Cup was the inaugural FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in Uruguay from 13 July to 30 July 1930... |
Did not enter | — | |— | |— | |— | |— | |— | |||||||
 19341934 FIFA World Cup The 1934 FIFA World Cup was the second FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in Italy from 27 May to 10 June 1934.... |
— | |— | |— | |— | |— | |— | ||||||||
 Early Modern France 19381938 FIFA World Cup The 1938 FIFA World Cup was the third staging of the World Cup, and was held in France from 4 June to 19 June. Italy retained the championship, beating Hungary 4–2 in the final.-Host selection:... |
— | |— | |— | |— | |— | |— | ||||||||
 19501950 FIFA World Cup The 1950 FIFA World Cup, held in Brazil from 24 June to 16 July, was the fourth FIFA World Cup. It was the first World Cup since 1938, the planned 1942 and 1946 competitions having been canceled owing to World War II... |
Withdrew | — | |— | |— | |— | |— | |— | |||||||
 19541954 FIFA World Cup The 1954 FIFA World Cup, the fifth staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Switzerland from 16 June to 4 July. Switzerland was chosen as hosts in July 1946. The tournament set a number of all-time records for goal-scoring, including the highest average goals scored per game... |
Did not enter | — | |— | |— | |— | |— | |— | |||||||
 19581958 FIFA World Cup The 1958 FIFA World Cup, the sixth staging of the World Cup, was hosted by Sweden from 8 June to 29 June. The tournament was won by Brazil, who beat Sweden 5–2 in the final for their first title. To date, this marks the only occasion that a World Cup staged in Europe was not won by a European... |
— | |— | |— | |— | |— | |— | ||||||||
 19621962 FIFA World Cup The 1962 FIFA World Cup, the seventh staging of the World Cup, was held in Chile from 30 May to 17 June. It was won by Brazil, who retained the championship by beating Czechoslovakia 3–1 in the final... |
— | |— | |— | |— | |— | |— | ||||||||
 19661966 FIFA World Cup The 1966 FIFA World Cup, the eighth staging of the World Cup, was held in England from 11 July to 30 July. England beat West Germany 4–2 in the final, winning the World Cup for the first time, so becoming the first host to win the tournament since Italy in 1934.-Host selection:England was chosen as... |
— | |— | |— | |— | |— | |— | ||||||||
 Mexico 19701970 FIFA World Cup The 1970 FIFA World Cup, the ninth staging of the World Cup, was held in Mexico, from 31 May to 21 June. The 1970 tournament was the first World Cup hosted in North America, and the first held outside South America and Europe. In a match-up of two-time World Cup champions, the final was won by... |
Round 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 19 | 12 | |
 19741974 FIFA World Cup The 1974 FIFA World Cup, the tenth staging of the World Cup, was held in West Germany from 13 June to 7 July. The tournament marked the first time that the current trophy, the FIFA World Cup Trophy, created by the Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga, was awarded... |
Did not qualify | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | |||||||
 19781978 FIFA World Cup The 1978 FIFA World Cup, the 11th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Argentina between 1 June and 25 June. The 1978 World Cup was won by Argentina who beat the Netherlands 3–1 after extra time in the final. This win was the first World Cup title for Argentina, who became the fifth... |
11 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 18 | 16 | ||||||||
 Spain 19821982 FIFA World Cup The 1982 FIFA World Cup, the 12th FIFA World Cup, was held in Spain from 13 June to 11 July. The tournament was won by Italy, after defeating West Germany 3–1 in the final.-Host selection:... |
Round 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 13 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 14 | 6 | |
| Mexico 1986 1986 FIFA World Cup The 1986 FIFA World Cup, the 13th FIFA World Cup, was held in Mexico from 31 May to 29 June. The tournament was the second to feature a 24-team format. Colombia had been originally chosen to host the competition by FIFA but, largely due to economic reasons, was not able to do so and officially... |
Did not qualify | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 2 | |||||||
 19901990 FIFA World Cup The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated... |
8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 8 | ||||||||
 19941994 FIFA World Cup The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988... |
14 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 28 | 11 | ||||||||
| 1998 1998 FIFA World Cup The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final... |
16 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 23 | 22 | ||||||||
 20022002 FIFA World Cup The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0... |
10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 23 | 15 | ||||||||
| 2006 2006 FIFA World Cup The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six... |
8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 14 | ||||||||
 20102010 FIFA World Cup The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010... |
20 | 8 | 3 | 9 | 39 | 21 | ||||||||
| Total | 2/19 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 22 | 118 | 54 | 22 | 42 | 193 | 129 | |
Source:
CONCACAF Championships record
In 1963 El Salvador participated in the first CONCACAF Championship which included all countries of the region, North America, Central America and the Caribbean. During 1963 to 1971 only 5 championships were played. El Salvador achieving only a runner-up in 1963. From 1973 to 1989 no championship was played. The CONCACAF proclaimed champion of the region for the country that achieved the first place in qualifying to the FIFA World Cup. In 1990, CONCACAF again created a tournament as its showpiece event to crown the regional champion of the CONCACAF. The event was named the CONCACAF Gold Cup, with the USA hosting the first competition in 1991. In the 2002, 2003, and 2011 events El Salvador reached the Quarter-finals.| Year | Round | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 El Salvador 19631963 CONCACAF Championship -Group A:Results-----------------------------------------Group B:Results-------------------------Final round:-------------------------External links:*... |
Runner-Up | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 17 | 7 |
 Guatemala 19651965 CONCACAF Championship -Qualifying Tournament:-------------Final tournament:-------------------------------------------------------------See also:... |
Fourth Place | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 9 |
 Honduras 19671967 CONCACAF Championship -Final tournament:-------------------------------------------------------------See also:... |
Did not enter | ||||||
 Costa Rica 19691969 CONCACAF Championship -Awards:-Scorers:3 Goals Víctor Ruiz César Melgar Marcio Fión2 goals Cascante Roy Sáenz J. Grant Regales Loefstok Martljin Adelbert Toppenberg Ulrich Haynes... |
|||||||
 Trinidad and Tobago 19711971 CONCACAF Championship -Final tournament:-------------------------------------------------------------Result:-External links:****... |
Withdrew | ||||||
 Haiti 19731973 CONCACAF Championship The 1973 CONCACAF Championship, the 6th staging of the CONCACAF Championship, was held in Haiti from November 29 to December 18. All matches were played at Stade Sylvio Cator in Port-au-Prince. This is the first edition to double as qualification for the World Cup. Haiti became winners for the... |
Did not qualify | ||||||
| Mexico 1977 1977 CONCACAF Championship Mexico qualified for the 1978 FIFA World Cup.-See also:*1978 FIFA World Cup qualification*1978 FIFA World Cup qualification *1978 FIFA World Cup qualification *1978 FIFA World Cup qualification... |
Third Place | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 9 |
| Honduras 1981 1981 CONCACAF Championship -External links:*... |
Runner-Up | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 1985 1985 CONCACAF Championship -Group 2:Canada advanced to the second round.---------------------Group 3:Costa Rica advanced to the second round.---------------------Final round:Canada qualified for the 1986 FIFA World Cup.--------... |
Fourth Place | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 2 |
| 1989 1989 CONCACAF Championship The 1989 CONCACAF Championship was the last edition of the CONCACAF Championship held under the format of serving as qualification to the 1990 FIFA World Cup and having no host nation for the final round.... |
Fifth Place | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 8 |
| United States 1991 1991 CONCACAF Gold Cup -Group B:---------------------Bracket:-Semifinals:-----Third place match:-Final:-Top scorers:4 goals Benjamin Galindo3 goals Dale Mitchell Eduardo Bennet Luis Cálix Carlos Hermosillo... |
Did not qualify | ||||||
| United States Mexico 1993 1993 CONCACAF Gold Cup -Group B:---------------------Bracket:-Semifinals:-----Third place match:-Final:-Top scorers:11 goals Zaguinho5 goals Luis Miguel Salvador4 goals Eduardo Bennett3 goals Juan Arnoldo Cayasso Octavio Mora... |
|||||||
| United States 1996 1996 CONCACAF Gold Cup The 1996 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the third edition of the Gold Cup, the football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean .... |
Round 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| United States 1998 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup The 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the fourth edition of the Gold Cup, the football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean .... |
Round 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| United States 2000 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup The 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the fifth edition of the Gold Cup, the football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean . It was held in the United States, in Los Angeles, Miami, and San Diego. The format of the tournament changed from 1998; it was expanded to twelve teams,... |
Did not qualify | ||||||
| United States 2002 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup The 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the sixth edition of the Gold Cup, the football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean .... |
Quarter-finals | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| United States Mexico 2003 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup The 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the seventh edition of the Gold Cup, the football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean .... |
Quarter-finals | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 3 |
| United States 2005 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup The 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the eighth edition of the Gold Cup, the football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean . It was contested in the United States in July 2005. The United States emerged victorious in the final against an upstart Panama team led by tournament... |
Did not qualify | ||||||
| United States 2007 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup The 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the ninth edition of the Gold Cup, the football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean , and was won by the United States over Mexico. It was contested in the United States from June 6 to June 24, 2007.This competition was the third... |
Round 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| United States 2009 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup The 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the tenth edition of the Gold Cup competition, and the twentieth association football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean . It was contested from 3 July to 26 July 2009 in the United States. This competition was the fourth tournament... |
Round 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| United States 2011 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup The 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the 11th edition of the CONCACAF Gold Cup competition and 21th CONCACAF regional championship overall in CONCACAF's fifty years of existence... |
Quarter-finals | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Total | 13/21 | 53 | 17 | 12 | 24 | 66 | 71 |
-
- Denotes draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicksPenalty shootout (football)A penalty shoot-out, referred to as kicks from the penalty mark in the Laws of the Game, is the FIFA official term for a method used in association football to decide which team progresses to the next stage of a tournament following a tied game...
.- Red border color indicates tournament was held on home soil.
- Denotes draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks
Sources:
Other tournament records
UNCAF Nations CupThe tournament has been held since 1991 as the UNCAF Nations Cup and serves as a qualifying event for the CONCACAF Gold Cup
CONCACAF Gold Cup
The CONCACAF Gold Cup is the main association football competition of the men's national football teams governed by CONCACAF, determining the regional champion of North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.The Gold Cup is held every two years and when it does not fall the same year as an...
. The competition was re-branded as the Copa Centroamericana from the 2011 edition. El Salvador has participated in all of the tournaments and has managed to get up to third place in various occasions.
| Year | Round | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Costa Rica 1991 |
Fourth Place | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 9 |
| Honduras 1993 UNCAF Nations Cup 1993 The 1993 UNCAF Nations Cup was the second edition of the UNCAF Nations Cup , the soccer championship of Unión Centroamericana de Fútbol .-First round:---------Squads:... |
Fourth Place | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| El Salvador 1995 UNCAF Nations Cup 1995 -Preliminary round:---------Squads:-Group A:played in San Salvador-Preliminary round:---------Squads:-Group A:played in San Salvador-Preliminary round:---------Squads:-Group A:played in San Salvador... |
Third Place | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Guatemala 1997 |
Third Place | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Costa Rica 1999 UNCAF Nations Cup 1999 The 1999 UNCAF Nations Cup was a UNCAF Nations Cup held in San Jose, Costa Rica in March 1999. The host team won the tournament's final group. Costa Rica then qualified automatically, alongside second-placed Guatemala and third-placed Honduras for the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup.-Squads:-Group A:The... |
Fourth Place | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 9 |
| Honduras 2001 |
Third Place | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 4 |
 Panama 2003 |
Third Place | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Guatemala 2005 UNCAF Nations Cup 2005 -Semi-Finals:-3rd/4th Place Play-Off:-Final:-Top scorers:Six goals Wilmer VelásquezFive goals Milton NúñezFour goals Juan Carlos PlataThree goals Edwin Villatoro Whayne WilsonTwo goals Roy Myrie Hernán Sandoval-External links:*... |
Group Stage | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| El Salvador 2007 UNCAF Nations Cup 2007 -Scorers:4 goals Wilmer Velasquez3 goals Eliseo Quintanilla Emilio Palacios Saul Martinez Rolando Fonseca2 goals Deon Mccauley Samuel Wilson1 goal Leonardo González Harold Wallace Kurt Bernard Juan Alberto Diaz Claudio Albizuris Gustavo Cabrera Milton Bustas Emil Martinez Carlos Will Mejia Alberto... |
Fourth Place | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Honduras 2009 UNCAF Nations Cup 2009 The UNCAF Nations Cup 2009 was the tenth edition of the UNCAF Nations Cup, the biennial football tournament for the CONCACAF-affiliated national teams of Central America. The first five places qualified for the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup... |
Fourth Place | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Panama 2011 |
Fourth Place | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Total | 11/11 | 48 | 16 | 11 | 21 | 47 | 61 |
-
- Denotes draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicksPenalty shootout (football)A penalty shoot-out, referred to as kicks from the penalty mark in the Laws of the Game, is the FIFA official term for a method used in association football to decide which team progresses to the next stage of a tournament following a tied game...
.- Red border color indicates tournament was held on home soil.
- Denotes draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks
Source:
Central American and Caribbean Games 1930
1930 Central American and Caribbean Games
The 2nd Central American and Caribbean Games were held in La Habana in Cuba from March 15 to April 5, 1930. The sports festival featured 606 athletes from nine countries , competing in ten sports. Women participated for the first time in this second edition...
- Fourth Place 1935
1935 Central American and Caribbean Games
The 3rd Central American and Caribbean Games were staged in San Salvador in El Salvador. They were held from 16 March to 5 April 1935, and featured 741 athletes from nine nations, competing in fourteen sports . The third edition could not take place in 1934 due to a strong storm suffered the year...
– Bronze Medal 1938
1938 Central American and Caribbean Games
The 4th Central American and Caribbean Games were held in Panama City, the capital city of Panama. These games were held 3 years after the last games, this was to get the games back to the year they should have been, after a 5 year break on the previous games. The Games were held from 5 February to...
- Fourth Place 1946
1946 Central American and Caribbean Games
The 5th Central American and Caribbean Games were held in Barranquilla, Colombia, from 5 March to 25 March 1946. These games featured 1.540 athletes from thirteen nations, competing in seventeen sports.-Medal table:-References:...
- Did not qualify 1950
1950 Central American and Caribbean Games
The 6th Central American and Caribbean Games were held in Guatemala City, Guatemala, from February 28 to March 12, 1950. The games included 1.390 athletes from fourteen nations, competing in nineteen sports.-References:...
- Fourth Place 1954
1954 Central American and Caribbean Games
The 7th Central American and Caribbean Games were held in Mexico City, the capital city of Mexico. The games were held from the 5 March to the 20 March 1954, and included 1.356 athletes from twelve countries.-References:...
– Gold Medal 1959
1959 Central American and Caribbean Games
The 8th Central American and Caribbean Games were held in Caracas, Venezuela, and it was the first time this nation had held the Games. The Games were held from 6 January to 15 January 1959 and included 1.150 athletes from seventeen nations, competing in twelve sports.-References:...
- Did not qualify 1962
1962 Central American and Caribbean Games
The 9th Central American and Caribbean Games were held in Kingston, the capital city of Jamaica from August 15 to August 28, 1962. This games included 1,559 athletes from fifteen nations.-References:...
- Did not qualify 1966
1966 Central American and Caribbean Games
The 10th Central American and Caribbean Games were held in San Juan, Puerto Rico from July 11 to July 25, 1966. These games were one of the largest ever with a total number of 1.689 athletes from eighteen participating nations.-References:...
- Fourth Place 1970
1970 Central American and Caribbean Games
The 11th Central American and Caribbean Games were held in Panama City, the capital of Panama from February 28 to March 13, 1970. These games featured 21 participating nations and a total number of 2,095 athletes.-References:...
- Did not qualify 1974
1974 Central American and Caribbean Games
The 12th Central American and Caribbean Games were held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic from February 27 to March 13, 1974 and included 1,928 athletes from 23 nations competing in 18 sports.-References:...
- Did not qualify 1978
1978 Central American and Caribbean Games
The 13th Central American and Caribbean Games were held in Medellín, Colombia from July 7 to July 28, 1978 and included 2.605 athletes from eighteen nations.-References:...
- Round 1
- 19821982 Central American and Caribbean GamesThe 14th Central American and Caribbean Games were held in La Habana, Cuba from August 7 to August 18, 1982, and included 2.420 athletes from nineteen nations competing in 25 different sports.-Medal table:-References:...
- 19931993 Central American and Caribbean GamesThe 17th Central American and Caribbean Games were held in Ponce, a city in southern Puerto Rico. The Games were held from November 19 to November 30, 1993 and included 3,570 athletes from 32 nations.-Organization and Planning:...
- Did not qualify 19981998 Central American and Caribbean GamesThe 18th Central American and Caribbean Games were held in Maracaibo, Venezuela from August 8 to August 22, 1998 and included 31 nations and a total of 5,200 competitors.-Medals:-References:...
- Fifth Place 2002Football at the 2002 Central American and Caribbean GamesThe football competition at the 2002 Central American and Caribbean Games started on November 24, although qualification took place beforehand.-Medal winners: Gold Medal – Silver Medal – Bronze Medal – -Group A:...
– Gold Medal 20062006 Central American and Caribbean GamesThe 20th edition of the Central American and Caribbean Games was held in the city of Cartagena, Colombia. The tournament began on July 15 and ended on July 30.-Host City:*Main**Cartagena de Indias*Other host cities...
- Quarterfinals
Source:
4 – 5 (PSO)
|align=center| CAC
|
|-
|February 9, 2011
|Estadio Cuscatlán
|
|align=center| 1 – 0
|align=center|F
Exhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
| Burgos
Rafael Burgos (footballer)
Rafael Burgos is a Salvadoran footballer who currently plays for Alianza in the Salvadoran Premier League.-Club career:...
|-
|March 24, 2011
|Havana, Cuba
Estadio Pedro Marrero
Estadio Pedro Marrero, the home of CF Ciudad de La Habana, is a multi-purpose stadium in Havana, Cuba. It is now used primarily for football matches. The stadium holds 28,000 and was built in 1929. Originally named Gran Stadium Cervecería Tropical , it hosted the 1937 Bacardi Bowl and many Cuban...
|
|align=center| 1 – 0
|align=center|F
| D. Alas
Dennis Alas
Dennis Jonathan Alas Morales is a Salvadoran association football player, who plays as a midfielder for C.D. Luís Ángel Firpo.He is the older brother of Alianza F.C...
|-
|March 29, 2011
|Estadio Cuscatlán
|
|align=center| 2 – 3
|align=center|F
| J. Alas
Jaime Alas
Jaime Enrique Alas Morales is a Salvadoran footballer who currently plays for Luis Ángel Firpo.He is the older twin brother of former Alianza's player Juan Carlos Alas and younger brother of El Salvador national team member Dennis Alas.-Club career:Alas' professional career began in July 2006, at...
, Blanco
Mark Lester Blanco
Mark Léster Blanco Pineda is a Salvadoran footballer who currently plays for Isidro Metapán in the Salvadoran Premier League.-Club career:...
|-
|May 29, 2011
|Houston, United States
Robertson Stadium
John O'Quinn Field at Corbin J. Robertson Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Houston, located on the campus of the University of Houston. It is the home of the Houston Cougars football and women's soccer teams...
|
|align=center| 2 – 2
|align=center|F
| Zelaya
Rodolfo Zelaya
Rodolfo Antonio Zelaya García is a Salvadoran footballer who currently plays for Russian club Alania Vladikavkaz, and internationally for the El Salvador national team.-Club career:...
, Corrales
Rudis Corrales
Rudis Alberto Corrales Rivera is a Salvadoran footballer.On December 19, 2010, it was announced that he signed a two year contract with Alianza.-Club career:...
|-
|June 5, 2011
|Arlington, United States
|
|align=center| 0 – 5
|align=center|GC
2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup
The 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the 11th edition of the CONCACAF Gold Cup competition and 21th CONCACAF regional championship overall in CONCACAF's fifty years of existence...
|
|-
|June 9, 2011
|Charlotte, United States
Bank of America Stadium
Bank of America Stadium is a 73,778-seat football stadium located on of land in uptown Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. It is the home facility of the Carolina Panthers NFL franchise. It also hosts the annual Belk Bowl which features teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Big East...
|
|align=center| 1 – 1
|align=center|GC
2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup
The 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the 11th edition of the CONCACAF Gold Cup competition and 21th CONCACAF regional championship overall in CONCACAF's fifty years of existence...
| Zelaya
Rodolfo Zelaya
Rodolfo Antonio Zelaya García is a Salvadoran footballer who currently plays for Russian club Alania Vladikavkaz, and internationally for the El Salvador national team.-Club career:...
|-
|June 12, 2011
|Chicago, United States
Soldier Field
Soldier Field is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois, United States, in the Near South Side. It is home to the NFL's Chicago Bears...
|
|align=center| 6 – 1
|align=center|GC
2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup
The 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the 11th edition of the CONCACAF Gold Cup competition and 21th CONCACAF regional championship overall in CONCACAF's fifty years of existence...
| Zelaya
Rodolfo Zelaya
Rodolfo Antonio Zelaya García is a Salvadoran footballer who currently plays for Russian club Alania Vladikavkaz, and internationally for the El Salvador national team.-Club career:...
, Romero , Blanco , Alvarez
Arturo Alvarez
Arturo Alvarez is a left-footed, American-born Salvadoran footballer who currently plays for Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer, and for the El Salvador national team.-Professional:...
, Quintanilla
Eliseo Quintanilla
Eliseo Antonio Quintanilla Ortíz is a Salvadoran footballer who currently plays for Guatemalan club Municipal and internationally for the El Salvador national team.-Club career:...
|-
|June 19, 2011
|Washington, D.C., United States
Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in Washington, D.C., United States, and the current home of MLS's D.C. United....
|
|align=center| 1 – 1 (a.e.t.)
3 – 5 (PSO)
|align=center|GC
2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup
The 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the 11th edition of the CONCACAF Gold Cup competition and 21th CONCACAF regional championship overall in CONCACAF's fifty years of existence...
| Zelaya
Rodolfo Zelaya
Rodolfo Antonio Zelaya García is a Salvadoran footballer who currently plays for Russian club Alania Vladikavkaz, and internationally for the El Salvador national team.-Club career:...
|-
|August 7, 2011
|Washington, D.C., United States
Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in Washington, D.C., United States, and the current home of MLS's D.C. United....
|
|align=center| 2 – 1
|align=center|F
| Sosa
Herbert Sosa
Herbert Arnoldo Sosa Burgos is a Salvadoran footballer. He currently plays for Alianza F.C..Sosa's professional career began in July 2007, when he signed a contract with C.D. Chalatenango...
, E. Sánchez
Edwin Sánchez
Edwin Sánchez is a Salvadoran footballer who currently plays for Isidro Metapán in the Primera División of El Salvador, and for the El Salvador national team.-El Salvador:...
|-
|September 2, 2011
|Estadio Cuscatlán
|
|align=center| 3 – 2
|align=center|WCQ
2014 FIFA World Cup qualification – CONCACAF Second Round
This page provides the summaries of the CONCACAF Second Round matches for 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification.-Format:The second round saw the teams ranked 7–25 joined by the 5 winners from the first round...
| Zelaya
Rodolfo Zelaya
Rodolfo Antonio Zelaya García is a Salvadoran footballer who currently plays for Russian club Alania Vladikavkaz, and internationally for the El Salvador national team.-Club career:...
, Bautista
Christian Javier Bautista
Christian Javier Bautista is a Salvadoran footballer who currently plays for Isidro Metapán in the Salvadoran Premier League.-Club career:...
|-
|September 6, 2011
|George Town, Cayman Islands
|
|align=center| 4 – 1
|align=center|WCQ
2014 FIFA World Cup qualification – CONCACAF Second Round
This page provides the summaries of the CONCACAF Second Round matches for 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification.-Format:The second round saw the teams ranked 7–25 joined by the 5 winners from the first round...
| Bautista
Christian Javier Bautista
Christian Javier Bautista is a Salvadoran footballer who currently plays for Isidro Metapán in the Salvadoran Premier League.-Club career:...
, Anaya , García
|-
|October 7, 2011
|Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez
Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez is a multi-purpose stadium in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, built in 1974 for the XII Central American & Caribbean Games.It is used mostly for football and track and field and as a music venue....
|
|align=center| 2 – 1
|align=center|WCQ
2014 FIFA World Cup qualification – CONCACAF Second Round
This page provides the summaries of the CONCACAF Second Round matches for 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification.-Format:The second round saw the teams ranked 7–25 joined by the 5 winners from the first round...
| Romero , Blanco
|-
|October 11, 2011
|Estadio Cuscatlán
|
|align=center| 4 – 0
|align=center|WCQ
2014 FIFA World Cup qualification – CONCACAF Second Round
This page provides the summaries of the CONCACAF Second Round matches for 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification.-Format:The second round saw the teams ranked 7–25 joined by the 5 winners from the first round...
| Turcios
Victor Turcios
Víctor Samuel Turcios is a Salvadoran footballer who currently plays for C.D. Luís Ángel Firpo. He was born in Zacatillo, a small island which is part of La Union.-External links:* -References:...
, Purdy
Steve Purdy
Steve Purdy is an American-born Salvadoran footballer currently playing for Portland Timbers in Major League Soccer.-College:...
, J. Alas
Jaime Alas
Jaime Enrique Alas Morales is a Salvadoran footballer who currently plays for Luis Ángel Firpo.He is the older twin brother of former Alianza's player Juan Carlos Alas and younger brother of El Salvador national team member Dennis Alas.-Club career:Alas' professional career began in July 2006, at...
, Sosa
Herbert Sosa
Herbert Arnoldo Sosa Burgos is a Salvadoran footballer. He currently plays for Alianza F.C..Sosa's professional career began in July 2007, when he signed a contract with C.D. Chalatenango...
(1000th goal)
|-
|November 11, 2011
|Paramaribo, Suriname
André Kamperveen Stadion
Andre Kamperveen Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Paramaribo, Suriname. It is currently used mostly for football matches. The stadium holds 6,000....
|
|align=center| 3 – 1
|align=center|WCQ
2014 FIFA World Cup qualification – CONCACAF Second Round
This page provides the summaries of the CONCACAF Second Round matches for 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification.-Format:The second round saw the teams ranked 7–25 joined by the 5 winners from the first round...
| Blanco , E. Sánchez
Edwin Sánchez
Edwin Sánchez is a Salvadoran footballer who currently plays for Isidro Metapán in the Primera División of El Salvador, and for the El Salvador national team.-El Salvador:...
|-
|November 15, 2011
|Estadio Cuscatlán
|
|align=center| 4 – 0
|align=center|WCQ
2014 FIFA World Cup qualification – CONCACAF Second Round
This page provides the summaries of the CONCACAF Second Round matches for 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification.-Format:The second round saw the teams ranked 7–25 joined by the 5 winners from the first round...
| Romero , Burgos
Rafael Burgos (footballer)
Rafael Burgos is a Salvadoran footballer who currently plays for Alianza in the Salvadoran Premier League.-Club career:...
|-
|June 8, 2012
|San José, Costa Rica
|
|align=center| –
|align=center|WCQ
2014 FIFA World Cup qualification – CONCACAF Third Round
This page provides the summaries of the CONCACAF Third Round matches for 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification.-Format:The third round will see the teams ranked 1–6 joined by the 6 group winners from the second round...
|
|-
|June 12, 2012
|Estadio Cuscatlán
|
|align=center| –
|align=center|WCQ
2014 FIFA World Cup qualification – CONCACAF Third Round
This page provides the summaries of the CONCACAF Third Round matches for 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification.-Format:The third round will see the teams ranked 1–6 joined by the 6 group winners from the second round...
|
|-
|September 7, 2012
|Estadio Cuscatlán
|
|align=center| –
|align=center|WCQ
2014 FIFA World Cup qualification – CONCACAF Third Round
This page provides the summaries of the CONCACAF Third Round matches for 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification.-Format:The third round will see the teams ranked 1–6 joined by the 6 group winners from the second round...
|
|-
|September 11, 2012
|Providence, Guyana
Providence Stadium
The Providence Stadium is a sports stadium in Guyana, replacing Bourda as the national stadium. The stadium was built specifically to host Super Eight matches in the 2007 Cricket World Cup, held in March and April 2007...
|
|align=center| –
|align=center|WCQ
2014 FIFA World Cup qualification – CONCACAF Third Round
This page provides the summaries of the CONCACAF Third Round matches for 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification.-Format:The third round will see the teams ranked 1–6 joined by the 6 group winners from the second round...
|
|-
|October 12, 2012
|Estadio Cuscatlán
|
|align=center| –
|align=center|WCQ
2014 FIFA World Cup qualification – CONCACAF Third Round
This page provides the summaries of the CONCACAF Third Round matches for 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification.-Format:The third round will see the teams ranked 1–6 joined by the 6 group winners from the second round...
|
|-
|October 16, 2012
|Mexico City, Mexico
Estadio Azteca
Estadio Azteca is a stadium in Santa Ursula, Mexico City, Mexico. It is the official home stadium of the Mexico national football team and the Mexican team Club América.The stadium was the venue for football soccer in the 1968 Summer Olympics....
|
|align=center| –
|align=center|WCQ
2014 FIFA World Cup qualification – CONCACAF Third Round
This page provides the summaries of the CONCACAF Third Round matches for 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification.-Format:The third round will see the teams ranked 1–6 joined by the 6 group winners from the second round...
|
|}
Key
- F = FriendlyExhibition gameAn exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
- WCQ = World Cup Qualifiers2014 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF)The CONCACAF qualification for the 2014 FIFA World Cup will see teams competing for places at the finals in Brazil.As in recent tournaments, CONCACAF will have three direct qualifiers for the finals tournament in addition to a further possible place via the inter-confederation play-offs against the...
- CAC = 2011 Copa CentroAmericana
- GC = 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup2011 CONCACAF Gold CupThe 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the 11th edition of the CONCACAF Gold Cup competition and 21th CONCACAF regional championship overall in CONCACAF's fifty years of existence...
- PSO = Penalty shootout
- a.e.t. = After extra time
- El Salvador's scores listed first.
Last updated: 15 November 2011
Source: Soccerway
Kit
El Salvador's traditional first kit colour is blue with white trim, their second kit being white with blue trim. The current home and away kit features the traditional colours with the exception of bold curved trims that run from the center of the neck and open to the sides, forming two panels on the chest that contain the Mitre logo and emblem of the Salvadoran Football Federation. At the center of the kit the Salvadoran national emblem, once again, is shown. The right sleeve shows the national flag.El Salvador and Mitre
Mitre Sports International
Mitre is a British sportswear and equipment supplier based in England, owned by Pentland Group. Established in England in 1817, Mitre is the world’s oldest manufacturer of footballs.- History :...
announced a new partnership in 2008 that saw them supply the Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
n national football team with home and away kits, training, and bench wear until August 2010. Mitre, and their Panamanian partner, The Harari Group, designed the kit that El Salvador used. The kit was showcased by the team on February 11, 2009 as they started their FIFA World Cup qualifying
2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF)
The CONCACAF qualification stage for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa consisted of 35 national teams competing for the three berths given automatically to CONCACAF by FIFA. The United States, Mexico and Honduras qualified...
campaign against Trinidad & Tobago in the CONCACAF
CONCACAF
The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football is the continental governing body for association football in North America, Central America and the Caribbean...
(Central-American Football Union) Hexagonal Cup. On October 22, 2010, the FESFUT extended the contract with Mitre by four years. The first home and away kit made by Mitre feature a watermark
Watermark
A watermark is a recognizable image or pattern in paper that appears as various shades of lightness/darkness when viewed by transmitted light , caused by thickness or density variations in the paper...
of the country's national shield on the center of the shirt and some horizontal stripes along the kit. The current kit featured white remains along the neck, at the bottom of the kit, and over the shoulders. When this kit was introduced in 2009 it also introduced a new logo
Logo
A logo is a graphic mark or emblem commonly used by commercial enterprises, organizations and even individuals to aid and promote instant public recognition...
that replaced the typical logo of an "E" and an "S" surrounded by a circle.
Current squad
The following 22-man squad was called-up for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against on 11 and 15 November 2011. Caps and goals . Clubs are up to date.|-
! colspan="9" style="background:#b0d3fb; text-align:left;"|
|- style="background:#dfedfd;"
|-
! colspan="9" style="background:#b0d3fb; text-align:left;"|
|- style="background:#dfedfd;"
|-
! colspan="9" style="background:#b0d3fb; text-align:left;"|
|- style="background:#dfedfd;"
Recent call-ups
The following players have been called up to the El Salvador squad in the past 12 months.|-
! colspan="9" style="background:#b0d3fb; text-align:left;"|
|- style="background:#dfedfd;"
|-
! colspan="9" style="background:#b0d3fb; text-align:left;"|
|- style="background:#dfedfd;"
|-
! colspan="9" style="background:#b0d3fb; text-align:left;"|
|- style="background:#dfedfd;"
Top ten goal scorers
| # | Name | Career | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raúl Díaz Arce Raúl Díaz Arce Raúl Díaz Arce is a retired Salvadoran football player.He is El Salvador's second most prolific goal scorer behind Jorge "Mágico" González, with 39 goals in just 68 appearances.-Early career:... |
1987–2003 | 39 |
| 2 | José María Rivas José María Rivas José María Rivas Martínez is a former soccer player from El Salvador who represented his country at the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain.-Playing career:... |
1979–1989 | 22 |
| 3 | Jorge "Mágico" González Mágico González Jorge Alberto González Barillas , popularly known as El mágico , is a retired Salvadoran footballer.... |
1976–1998 | 21 |
| 4 | Luis Ramírez Zapata Luis Ramírez Zapata Luis Baltazar Ramírez Zapata is a retired Salvadoran footballer.-Career:Nicknamed "El Pelé", he spent nearly 20 years playing for Salvadoran club Águila. He started with Águila before leaving to join other clubs and later in his career make a return to the San Miguel based club... |
1971–1989 | 17 |
| Rudis Corrales Rudis Corrales Rudis Alberto Corrales Rivera is a Salvadoran footballer.On December 19, 2010, it was announced that he signed a two year contract with Alianza.-Club career:... |
1999– | 17 | |
| 6 | Miguel Cruz Miguel Cruz Miguel Cruz was a Salvadoran footballer.-Club career:Nicknamed el Americano , Cruz played club football in El Salvador, before going to Chile to play professionally alongside compatriot Armando Chacón at Universidad Católica.-International career:Cruz scored 16 goals for the El Salvador national... |
1935–1943 | 16 |
| Norberto Huezo Norberto Huezo José Norberto Huezo Montoya is a retired football player from El Salvador who represented his country at the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain.-Club career:... |
1973–1987 | 16 | |
| 8 | Eliseo Quintanilla Eliseo Quintanilla Eliseo Antonio Quintanilla Ortíz is a Salvadoran footballer who currently plays for Guatemalan club Municipal and internationally for the El Salvador national team.-Club career:... |
2000– | 15 |
| 9 | Rodolfo Zelaya Rodolfo Zelaya Rodolfo Antonio Zelaya García is a Salvadoran footballer who currently plays for Russian club Alania Vladikavkaz, and internationally for the El Salvador national team.-Club career:... |
2008– | 13 |
| Osael Romero | 2007– | 13 |
Note: Players in bold text are still active with El Salvador.
Last updated: 15 November 2011
Source:RSSSF
Top ten appearances
| # | Name | Career | Appearances |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leonel Cárcamo Leonel Cárcamo Leonel Cárcamo Batres is a retired Salvadoran football player.-Club career:Cárcamo has played all of his professional career at hometown club Luis Ángel Firpo, becoming a club legend in the process. Snapped up by Firpo from lower league outfit Carrera when still in his teens, he won seven league... |
1988–2000 | 84 |
| 2 | Marvin González | 2002– | 83 |
| 3 | Rudis Corrales Rudis Corrales Rudis Alberto Corrales Rivera is a Salvadoran footballer.On December 19, 2010, it was announced that he signed a two year contract with Alianza.-Club career:... |
1999– | 77 |
| 4 | Guillermo Rivera Guillermo Rivera José Guillermo Rivera Escobar is a retired Salvadoran football player.He is currently the maanger of C.D. Marte Soyapango.-External links:... |
1988–2002 | 74 |
| 5 | Alfredo Pacheco | 2002– | 73 |
| 6 | Ramón Sánchez | 2001– | 69 |
| Dennis Alas Dennis Alas Dennis Jonathan Alas Morales is a Salvadoran association football player, who plays as a midfielder for C.D. Luís Ángel Firpo.He is the older brother of Alianza F.C... |
2001– | 69 | |
| 8 | Raúl Díaz Arce Raúl Díaz Arce Raúl Díaz Arce is a retired Salvadoran football player.He is El Salvador's second most prolific goal scorer behind Jorge "Mágico" González, with 39 goals in just 68 appearances.-Early career:... |
1987–2003 | 68 |
| Mauricio Cienfuegos Mauricio Cienfuegos Mauricio Cienfuegos is a retired Salvadoran soccer player.-Club career:Cienfuegos began his professional career in 1985 with Racing Junior... |
1987–2003 | 68 | |
| 10 | Ronald Cerritos Ronald Cerritos Ronald Osvaldo Cerritos Flores is a former Salvadoran footballer, who played as a striker.Cerritos is the all-time goalscorer of the Major League Soccer team, the San Jose Earthquakes, with 61 goals and also holds the all-time assists with 47.-Club career:Cerritos has spent the bulk of his career... |
1995–2008 | 66 |
Note: Players in bold text are still active with El Salvador.
Last updated: 15 November 2011
Number 10
The most distinguishable attacking midfielders that wear the number 10 as their squad numberSquad number (association football)
As in other team sports, squad numbers are used in association football to identify and distinguish players on the field. Numbers were originally used to also indicate position, with starting players being assigned numbers 1-11, but most competitions and leagues now use squad numbers.-First use of...
.
| # | Name | Career | Appearances | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gustavo Marroquín | 1927–1930 | ? | 12 |
| 2 | José Luis Aceituno | 1943 | 3 | 4 |
| 3 | Luis Regalado | 1943–1955 | 25 | 0 |
| 4 | Cesar Reynosa | 1959–1965 | 14 | 1 |
| 5 | Salvador Flamenco | 1968–1971 | 26 | 0 |
| 6 | Victor Manuel Valencia | 1968–1977 | 27 | 5 |
| 7 | Norberto Huezo Norberto Huezo José Norberto Huezo Montoya is a retired football player from El Salvador who represented his country at the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain.-Club career:... |
1974–1987 | 60 | 16 |
| 8 | Raul Diaz Arce Raúl Díaz Arce Raúl Díaz Arce is a retired Salvadoran football player.He is El Salvador's second most prolific goal scorer behind Jorge "Mágico" González, with 39 goals in just 68 appearances.-Early career:... |
1987–2006 | 68 | 8 |
| 9 | Eliseo Quintanilla Eliseo Quintanilla Eliseo Antonio Quintanilla Ortíz is a Salvadoran footballer who currently plays for Guatemalan club Municipal and internationally for the El Salvador national team.-Club career:... |
2006– | 58 | 15 |
Note: Players in bold text are still active with El Salvador.
Last updated: 15 November 2011
Source:El Balon Cuscatleco
Current coaching staff
On 6 April 2011 the head coach, Rubén IsraelRubén Israel
Rubén Israel is a Uruguayan footballer and coach. He currently coaches the El Salvador national football team.-Club Libertad:...
, was presented in a press conference. "First of all thanks to the executive committee for welcoming me in this country and given me such a huge and so pretty responsibility, as is leading a national team", said the Uruguayan coach. The technical director explained that, "we have come here with our coaching staff to honor the work, beyond the mistakes and successes, the healthy intention is to work on Salvadoran football as a whole, working with major selections, but have a chronogram of action for youth teams, who are the future of the country."
Coaches
Since the creation of the national team in 1921, several coaches have been in charge of managing El Salvador. From 1930 to 1935, Mark Scott Thompson was appointed as El Salvador's first ever manager. , the El Salvador national football team has presented itself with 41 managers in the selection. It is reported that all 3 titles (19431943 CCCF Championship
The Confederacion Centroamericana y del Caribe de Futbol was a forerunner to the CONCACAF as the governing body of football in Central America and the nations in the Caribbean until 1963, when it merged with the North American Football Confederation ' to form CONCACAF.The CCCF Championship was a...
, 1954 and 2002
Football at the 2002 Central American and Caribbean Games
The football competition at the 2002 Central American and Caribbean Games started on November 24, although qualification took place beforehand.-Medal winners: Gold Medal – Silver Medal – Bronze Medal – -Group A:...
) have been won by Salvadoran born managers. Conrado Miranda
Conrado Miranda
José Conrado Miranda Sasso . is a Salvadoran football player and former coach who created a legacy in El Salvador....
has managed in 4 different occasions and Armando Contreras
Armando Contreras Palma
Armando Contreras Palma is a Salvadoran football manager.who created a legacy in El Salvador by winning three primera division titles with Atlético Marte....
in 3. Chilean
Chilean people
Chilean people, or simply Chileans, are the native citizens and long-term immigrants of Chile. Chileans are mainly of Spanish and Amerindian descent, with small but significant traces of 19th and 20th century European immigrant origin...
Hernán Vivanco
Hernán Carrasco Vivanco
Hernán Carrasco Vivanco is a former Chilean football manager who created a legacy in El Salvador by winning five primera division titles with Alianza F.C. in 1966,1967,1989 and CONCACAF Champions' Cup in 1967 - Atlético Marte 1969, 1970 and C.D...
was manager when El Salvador competed at their first World Cup
1970 FIFA World Cup
The 1970 FIFA World Cup, the ninth staging of the World Cup, was held in Mexico, from 31 May to 21 June. The 1970 tournament was the first World Cup hosted in North America, and the first held outside South America and Europe. In a match-up of two-time World Cup champions, the final was won by...
. Pipo Rodríguez
Mauricio Alonso Rodríguez
Mauricio Alonso "Pipo" Rodríguez Lindo is a retired footballer from El Salvador. He represented his country at the Olympic Games in 1968, 1970 FIFA World Cup Mexico and coached them to in the 1982 FIFA World Cup Spain.-Playing years:...
managed to qualify El Salvador to another World Cup
1982 FIFA World Cup
The 1982 FIFA World Cup, the 12th FIFA World Cup, was held in Spain from 13 June to 11 July. The tournament was won by Italy, after defeating West Germany 3–1 in the final.-Host selection:...
. Rodiguez participated at the 1970 FIFA World Cup.
Source:
Records and honours
El Salvador were the first Central American team to qualify for a FIFA World CupFIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
, in 1970, and the first Central American team to qualify twice which they achieved with entry into the 1982 World Cup. They were the first Central American team to ever score a goal in a FIFA World Cup
1982 FIFA World Cup
The 1982 FIFA World Cup, the 12th FIFA World Cup, was held in Spain from 13 June to 11 July. The tournament was won by Italy, after defeating West Germany 3–1 in the final.-Host selection:...
on June 15, 1982. They were the first Central American country to qualify their football team to the Olympic Games (Mexico 1968
Football at the 1968 Summer Olympics
Final results for the football competition at the 1968 Summer Olympics.-Medalists:-Group A:-------------------------Group B:-------------------------Group C:Ghana replaced Morocco, who refused to play Israel.----...
). They were the first Central American team to sign up for a World Cup qualifier (France 1938). They were the first Central American team to be champions of the Central American and Caribbean Games
Football at the Central American and Caribbean Games
A men's football tournament is held at every Central American and Caribbean Games since the first edition of the games in 1930. The following is a summary of the football championships at the Central American and Caribbean Games.-Summaries:...
(Mexico 1954). They were also the first Central American team to organize the Central American and Caribbean Games
Football at the Central American and Caribbean Games
A men's football tournament is held at every Central American and Caribbean Games since the first edition of the games in 1930. The following is a summary of the football championships at the Central American and Caribbean Games.-Summaries:...
(1935) and the first ever CONCACAF Championship (1963). El Salvador were also the first Central American team to beat in Mexico City; by a score of 3-2 at the 1954 Central American and Caribbean Games. Scorers of that game are as follows: Mario Montoya 16' (0-1), Antonio Jasso 27' (1-1), Mario Montoya 36' (1-2), Ricardo Valencia
Ricardo Valencia
Ricardo Ovidio "chilenito" Valencia was a Salvadoran footballer who played most of his career in C.D. FAS.-Club career:...
37' (1-3), Rafael Gutierrez 64' (2-3). The 1st goal in a World Cup qualifier was scored by Joel Estada on 12 December 1968 against . The 50th goal in a World Cup qualifier was scored by Ever Hernández
Ever Hernández
Ever Francisco Hernández is a retired football player from El Salvador who represented his country at the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain.-Club career:...
in a 1–0 victory—on 2 December 1981—against Mexico. The 100th goal in a World Cup qualifier was scored by Jorge "Mágico" González on 2 May 1993 against . The 150th goal in a World Cup qualifier was scored by Víctor Velásquez in a 2–1 victory—on 13 June 2004—against . The 200th goal in a World Cup qualifier was scored by defender Xavier García in a 4–1 victory—on 6 September 2011—against the .
Honours
- CONCACAF Championship / CONCACAF Gold CupCONCACAF Gold CupThe CONCACAF Gold Cup is the main association football competition of the men's national football teams governed by CONCACAF, determining the regional champion of North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.The Gold Cup is held every two years and when it does not fall the same year as an...
- Runner-up (2): 19631963 CONCACAF Championship-Group A:Results-----------------------------------------Group B:Results-------------------------Final round:-------------------------External links:*...
, 19811981 CONCACAF Championship-External links:*... - Third place (1): 19771977 CONCACAF ChampionshipMexico qualified for the 1978 FIFA World Cup.-See also:*1978 FIFA World Cup qualification*1978 FIFA World Cup qualification *1978 FIFA World Cup qualification *1978 FIFA World Cup qualification...
- Runner-up (2): 1963
- UNCAF Nations CupUNCAF Nations CupThe Copa Centroamericana is a biennial association football tournament, held for the CONCACAF national teams of Central America: Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. The tournament has been held since 1991 as the UNCAF Nations Cup and doubles as a...
- Third place (4): 1995UNCAF Nations CupThe Copa Centroamericana is a biennial association football tournament, held for the CONCACAF national teams of Central America: Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. The tournament has been held since 1991 as the UNCAF Nations Cup and doubles as a...
, 1997, 2001, 2003
- Third place (4): 1995
- Central American and Caribbean GamesCentral American and Caribbean GamesThe Central American and Caribbean Games are a multi-sport regional championships event, held quadrennial , typically in the middle year between Summer Olympics...
- Gold Medal (2): 19541954 Central American and Caribbean GamesThe 7th Central American and Caribbean Games were held in Mexico City, the capital city of Mexico. The games were held from the 5 March to the 20 March 1954, and included 1.356 athletes from twelve countries.-References:...
, 2002Football at the 2002 Central American and Caribbean GamesThe football competition at the 2002 Central American and Caribbean Games started on November 24, although qualification took place beforehand.-Medal winners: Gold Medal – Silver Medal – Bronze Medal – -Group A:... - Third place (1): 19351935 Central American and Caribbean GamesThe 3rd Central American and Caribbean Games were staged in San Salvador in El Salvador. They were held from 16 March to 5 April 1935, and featured 741 athletes from nine nations, competing in fourteen sports . The third edition could not take place in 1934 due to a strong storm suffered the year...
- Gold Medal (2): 1954
- CCCF ChampionshipCCCF ChampionshipThe CCCF Championship was a football tournament made just for teams in the area of Central America and the Caribbean between the years of 1941–1961. It was founded in 1938 and the precursor of the CONCACAF, that was formed when CCCF merged with the NAFC in 1961...
- Winner (1): 19431943 CCCF ChampionshipThe Confederacion Centroamericana y del Caribe de Futbol was a forerunner to the CONCACAF as the governing body of football in Central America and the nations in the Caribbean until 1963, when it merged with the North American Football Confederation ' to form CONCACAF.The CCCF Championship was a...
- Runner-up (2): 19411941 CCCF ChampionshipThe Confederacion Centroamericana y del Caribe de Futbol was a forerunner to the CONCACAF as the governing body of football in Central America and the nations in the Caribbean until 1963, when it merged with the North American Football Confederation ' to form CONCACAF.The CCCF Championship was a...
, 19611961 CCCF ChampionshipThe 1961 CCCF Championship was played in March 1961 in San José, Costa Rica. Costa Rica emerged as champion.-Group 1:The 1961 CCCF Championship was played in March 1961 in San José, Costa Rica. Costa Rica emerged as champion.-Group 1:...
- Winner (1): 1943
See also
- List of football clubs in El Salvador
- Primera División de Fútbol ProfesionalPrimera División de Fútbol ProfesionalThe Primera División of the ' , more commonly known as La Liga Mayor or La Primera, is the top professional football league in El Salvador. It was established in 1969 and as of 2011 has 10 clubs...
- El Salvador national football team all-time recordEl Salvador national football team all-time recordThe list shown below shows the El Salvador national football team all-time international record against opposing nations. The stats are composed of FIFA World Cup and qualifiers, UNCAF Nations Cup, CONCACAF Gold Cup, and Summer Olympics matches, as well as numerous international friendly...
External links
- Federación Salvadoreña de Fútbol Official Site
- El Salvador national football team (Non-Official Site)
- El Salvador – Details of World Cup Qualifiers
- 1921 to 2008 El Salvador match results by Barrie Courtney at RSSSFRec.Sport.Soccer Statistics FoundationThe Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation is an international amateur organization dedicated to collecting statistics about association football...