El Salvador at the World Cup
El Salvador have appeared in the finals of the FIFA World Cup on two occasions in 1970 and 1982. They have not won a game at the tournament, in fact El Salvador is the only team to appear in more than one tournament with every single game being a loss.
Trivia
- El Salvador and Honduras broke into a war because of a clash in the 1970 qualifying competition. In between the three qualifying matches between El Salvador and arch-rival neighbors Honduras in 1969, there were riots and killings among the fans. A war finally broke out between the two countries in July 1969. Thousands of people were killed or injured. Historians have called this 'The War of Soccer'.
- In Mexico's 4-0 win over El Salvador on 7 June 1970, one of the goals should have been disallowed, as an El Salvador's free kick was taken by a Mexican player. Shortly before halftime, a free kick was awarded to El Salvador near the touchline. Instead, a Mexican player took it, and passed the ball to his teammate Valdivia. To everyone's surprise, the Egyptian referee Hussain Kandil waved 'play on', Valdivia booted the ball into the net, and the goal was allowed. When their appeals were denied by the referee, the El Salvador players restarted the game by kicking the ball into the crowd!
- El Salvador are part of a record - the biggest loss - when Hungary beat them 10-1 in 1982.
Related Pages
- List of all countries who have participated in the World Cup
- FIFA World Cup Home
- About sport in El Salvador
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