El Salvador initially competed in Group F during the second round. The Central American side advanced, but only as a runner-up behind Suriname, raising immediate doubts ahead of the final stage.

In the third round, El Salvador landed in Group A alongside Panama, Guatemala, and Suriname. Panama topped the group with 12 points to qualify directly, Suriname advanced to the intercontinental playoffs, and El Salvador finished last behind Guatemala with just three points secured.

Has El Salvador ever played in a World Cup?

Yes, El Salvador has reached the tournament twice, appearing in Mexico 1970 and Spain 1982. In both editions, the nation was eliminated in the group stage, losing all six of its total World Cup matches.

During its debut in 1970, La Selecta shared a group with Belgium, Mexico, and the Soviet Union, losing all three matches without scoring a single goal and receiving nine goals in the entire competition.

In 1982, El Salvador suffered consecutive defeats against Hungary, Belgium, and Argentina. The match against Hungary ended in a devastating 10-1 loss, which remains the largest margin of defeat in World Cup history. Luis Ramirez scored the lone Salvadoran goal in that match, remaining the only player to ever find the back of the net for El Salvador on football’s biggest stage.

With the 2026 dream officially over, the Salvadoran federation faces a long-term rebuild to address the depth issues exposed during this qualification cycle.

Only one nation has ever managed to reach double digits in a single World Cup game. In 1982, Hungary stunned the soccer world by defeating El Salvador 10-1, setting a record that still stands more than 40 years later.

That historic performance not only produced the highest-scoring victory ever seen at a World Cup, but also helped cement a record that has survived generations of soccer stars and dozens of editions of the competition.

Who scored in Hungary’s record-breaking 10-1 victory?

Hungary’s goals in the historic 10-1 win at the 1982 FIFA World Cup were scored by Tibor Nyilasi, Gabor Poloskei, Laszlo Fazekas, Jozsef Toth, Lazar Szentes and Laszlo Kiss. El Salvador’s lone goal came from Luis Ramirez Zapata.

The match took place on June 15, 1982, in Elche, Spain, during the group stage of the World Cup. Hungary raced to a 3-0 lead before halftime and added seven more goals after the break to produce what remains the highest-scoring victory.

The complete list of scorers was:

• Tibor Nyilasi – 4′ and 83′
• Gabor Poloskei – 11′
• Laszlo Fazekas – 23′ and 53′
• Jozsef Toth – 50′
• Laszlo Kiss – 69′, 72′, and 76′
• Lazar Szentes – 70′
• Luis Ramirez Zapata (El Salvador) – 64′

The standout performer was Laszlo Kiss, who came off the bench and scored a hat-trick in just seven minutes. His achievement remains the fastest hat-trick in World Cup history and the only hat-trick ever scored by a substitute.

Remarkably, despite producing the most lopsided scoreline ever seen at a World Cup, Hungary failed to advance beyond the group stage. The Magyars later lost to Argentina and drew with Belgium, finishing third in their group.

Has any team broken Hungary’s World Cup record?

No team has broken Hungary’s World Cup record. The 10-1 victory over El Salvador in 1982 remains the largest win and the only match in which a team has scored 10 goals in a single World Cup game.

The margin of victory in that match was 9 goals. While other teams have matched that margin, none have surpassed it. According to Guinness World Records and FIFA, the biggest winning margin in World Cup history is still 9 goals.

The three matches that share the record for the largest margin of victory are:

What makes the 1982 result unique is that Hungary became the only team ever to reach double digits in goals during a World Cup match. Even dominant modern performances such as Germany‘s 8-0 victory over Saudi Arabia in 2002 or Spain‘s 7-0 win over Costa Rica in 2022 fell short of Hungary’s scoring record.

The match was heavily influenced by physical duels and a disrupted rhythm, especially in midfield, where fouls broke up continuous play. Qatar struggled at times to break through El Salvador’s organized defensive structure, particularly in the final third. El Salvador, meanwhile, grew into the game and managed to push higher up the pitch after the break. However, their attacking moves lacked the final precision needed to convert chances into goals.

In the end, both Qatar and El Salvador settled for a goalless draw, reflecting a balanced contest where defensive discipline stood out over attacking efficiency. The result leaves both teams with key lessons as they continue their preparations for the 2026 World Cup. While Qatar showed more control in possession phases, El Salvador’s resilience ensured they matched their opponents in intensity throughout the match.

El Salvador, a nation that fell short in their bid for World Cup qualification, entered the match focused on a long-term rebuild. Head coach Hernan Dario Gomez is actively evaluating the roster to identify fresh talent for the next cycle.

[Watch Belize U20 vs El Salvador U20 live in the USA on Fubo]

El Salvador U20 and Belize U20 meet in a matchup that highlights some of the brightest young talent in CONCACAF, a tournament known for unveiling the region’s future stars. El Salvador, chasing long-term World Cup aspirations at the senior level.

They opened with an impressive 3-0 win over French Guiana and will look to build on that momentum, while Belize hopes this generation can spark success both in this competition and for the national team’s future, setting up an intriguing clash with plenty at stake.

When will the Belize U20 vs El Salvador U20 match be played?

Belize U20 will play against El Salvador U20 in the Matchday 4 of the 2026 CONCACAF U20 Championship this Sunday, March 1, with kickoff set for 9:00 PM (ET).

Belize U20 vs El Salvador U20: Time by State in the USA

ET: 9:00 PM
CT: 8:00 PM
MT: 7:00 PM
PT: 6:00 PM

How to watch Belize U20 vs El Salvador U20 in the USA

Catch this 2026 CONCACAF U20 Championship clash between Belize U20 and El Salvador U20 live in the United States on Fubo. Other options: Fox Soccer Plus, FOX One.

[Watch El Salvador U20 vs Grenada U20 live in the USA on Fubo]

Momentum will be on display when El Salvador national football team meets Grenada national football team in a clash between two rising sides. Grenada is chasing a second tournament title as its steady progress continues

On the other hand, will be El Salvador, who leans on a new generation of talent in its push back into the World Cup picture. With both teams trending upward and eager to make a statement, this is a matchup you won’t want to miss.

When will the El Salvador U20 vs Grenada U20 match be played?

El Salvador U20 play against Grenada U20 in the Matchday 3 of the 2026 CONCACAF U20 Championship this Friday, February 27, with kickoff set for 9:00 PM (ET).

El Salvador U20 vs Grenada U20: Time by State in the USA

ET: 9:00 PM
CT: 8:00 PM
MT: 7:00 PM
PT: 6:00 PM

How to watch El Salvador U20 vs Grenada U20 in the USA

Catch this 2026 CONCACAF U20 Championship clash between El Salvador U20 and Grenada U20 live in the United States on Fubo. Other options: Fox Sports 2, FOX One.

[Watch El Salvador U20 vs French Guiana U20 live in the USA on Fubo]

CONCACAF’s next marquee youth tournament is set to kick off, bringing together many of the confederation’s top rising talents in what promises to be a must-watch competition for soccer fans across the region.

The spotlight in this matchup falls on El Salvador U20 and French Guiana U20, two programs looking to build on the steady progress shown by their senior national teams in recent years—particularly French Guiana’s. Both are eager to start on the right foot and are going for the win.

When will the El Salvador U20 vs French Guiana U20 match be played?

El Salvador U20 take on French Guiana U20 in the Matchday 1 of the 2026 CONCACAF U20 Championship this Monday, February 23, with kickoff set for 9:00 PM (ET).

El Salvador U20 vs French Guiana U20: Time by State in the USA

ET: 9:00 PM
CT: 8:00 PM
MT: 7:00 PM
PT: 6:00 PM

How to watch El Salvador U20 vs French Guiana U20 in the USA

Catch this 2026 CONCACAF U20 Championship clash between El Salvador U20 and French Guiana U20 live in the United States on Fubo. Other options: Fox Soccer Plus, FOX One.

[Watch Panama vs El Salvador online in the US on Paramount+]

Group A heats up with a pivotal showdown between Suriname—one of the breakout stories of these qualifiers—and a Panama side locked in a tight race for the top two spots, with both entering the day on 9 points.

Panama’s slimmer goal differential adds pressure to chase not just a win but a convincing one, while El Salvador approaches the final stretch of its disappointing campaign hoping to close out this qualifying run on a far more positive note.

When will the Panama vs El Salvador match be played?

Panama play against El Salvador this Tuesday, November 18, for Matchday 6 of the CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers third round. The match is set to kick off at 8:00 PM (ET).

Panama vs El Salvador: Time by State in the USA

ET: 8:00 PM
CT: 7:00 PM
MT: 6:00 PM
PT: 5:00 PM

How to watch Panama vs El Salvador in the USA

The CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers matchup between Panama and El Salvador will be available for viewers in the USA via Paramount+.

[Watch Suriname vs El Salvador online in the US on Fubo]

Suriname stands on the verge of history as it chases a first-ever World Cup berth. The South American squad tops its group with six points—level with Panama but ahead on goal difference—putting qualification firmly within reach.

A win in this decisive matchup would keep their destiny in their own hands, while El Salvador, sitting on just three points, faces elimination with another loss. It’s all or nothing for both sides in this high-stakes double-Matchday clash.

When will the Suriname vs El Salvador match be played?

Suriname clash with El Salvador this Thursday, November 13, for Matchday 5 of the CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers third round. The match is set to kick off at 5:00 PM (ET).

Suriname vs El Salvador: Time by State in the USA

ET: 5:00 PM
CT: 4:00 PM
MT: 3:00 PM
PT: 2:00 PM

How to watch Suriname vs El Salvador in the USA

The CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers matchup between Suriname and El Salvador will be available for viewers in the USA via Fubo. Other options: Paramount+, Universo, Telemundo and CBS Sports Network.

[Watch El Salvador U17 vs Colombia U17 online in the US on Peacock]

Colombia U17 and El Salvador U17 enter a pivotal clash with their tournament hopes on the line after both failed to secure victories in their openers. Colombia battled to a respectable 1-1 draw against powerhouse Germany, a result that kept them in contention but left little margin for error.

El Salvador, on the other hand, fell to North Korea and now faces an uphill battle to stay alive in the competition. With qualification stakes growing heavier, both sides know that anything less than three points could spell early elimination.

When will the El Salvador U17 vs Colombia U17 match be played?

El Salvador U17 play against Colombia U17 on Friday, November 7, for the Matchday 2 of the 2025 U17 World Cup group stage. The clash is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 AM (ET).

El Salvador U17 vs Colombia U17: Time by State in the USA

ET: 7:30 AM
CT: 6:30 AM
MT: 5:30 AM
PT: 4:30 AM

How to watch El Salvador U17 vs Colombia U17 in the USA

Don’t miss this exciting 2025 U17 World Cup match between El Salvador U17 and Colombia U17 in the USA. Watch the match on Peacock. Other options: Amazon Prime Video and Telemundo.

Heading into the match, both teams sat at the bottom of the group standings, trailing Suriname and Panama, who drew earlier in the day to remain joint leaders with six points. That result made the clash between El Salvador and Guatemala even more crucial, as neither team could afford to drop points.

It was Guatemala who made the most of the opportunity. A well-placed strike from Oscar Santis early in the second half proved decisive, handing Luis Fernando Tena’s side a vital three points and reigniting their World Cup qualification hopes.

With this result, Guatemala picked up their first win of the qualifiers and now sit on five points, with two home matches remaining — against Suriname and Panama. El Salvador, meanwhile, drop to last place with three points and will need to win both of their remaining road games to keep their qualification hopes alive.