El Salvador–Honduras football rivalry
# El Salvador–Honduras football rivalry

The El Salvador–Honduras football rivalry is a sports rivalry between the El Salvador and Honduras national football teams. The rivalry between the two nations peaked in 1969 when both teams played each other in the 1970 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, and the matches they played between each other, which ultimately saw El Salvador advance to the 1970 FIFA World Cup, were a contributing factor which led to the outbreak of the Football War in July 1969.

## History

The national teams of El Salvador and Honduras were both established in 1921 and played their first matches in the Independence Centenary Games hosted in Guatemala City, however, El Salvador was defeated 0–7 by Costa Rica and Honduras was defeated 0–9 by Guatemala, and as a result, neither team faced each other during the tournament.

El Salvador and Honduras first played each other on 7 November 1928 in Tegucigalpa, in which Honduras won 1–0. The teams rematched the following day, which ended in a 0–0 draw. El Salvador's first victory came in their next match in San Salvador, where the Salvadorans defeated the Hondurans by a score of 5–0. The 5-score margin of victory remains the largest margin of victory ever between the two teams, and the feat was repeated in 2000 when Honduras defeated El Salvador 5–0 during the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. El Salvador had never beaten Honduras in Honduran soil until 2022, when El Salvador gained their first ever win to Honduras away in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification.

### Football War

The two teams met during the 1970 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, the first time the two teams ever met in a tournament organized by FIFA. The teams played the first match in Tegucigalpa on 8 June 1969, in which Honduras won 1–0, which led to riots instigated by Salvadoran fans. In the second match in San Salvador on 15 June 1969, El Salvador won by a score of 3–0, and before the match, a rag was flown instead of the flag of Honduras. Honduran player Enrique Cardona stated that the Hondurans were "lucky that we lost" because otherwise "we wouldn't be alive today." The loss led to Hondurans attacking Salvadorans and burning down their homes, forcing many Salvadorans to flee back to El Salvador.

As both teams ended on equal points, a third match was played in neutral territory in Mexico City. El Salvador eventually won the match 3–2 after extra time. Before the match and because of the attacks against Salvadorans by Hondurans, the Salvadoran government severed diplomatic relations with Honduras on 26 June 1969, and on 14 July 1969, the Armed Forces of El Salvador invaded Honduras, beginning the Football War. After four days of fighting, the Organization of American States (OAS) negotiated a cease fire, ending the war after around 3,000 people, mostly civilians, had died. El Salvador withdrew its soldiers on 2 August 1969.

El Salvador qualified for the 1970 FIFA World Cup after defeating Haiti, however, the team would lose all three of its matches against Mexico, the Soviet Union, and Belgium in the group stage, failing to score a single goal.

## List of matches

The following is a list of matches played between El Salvador and Honduras since their first meeting in November 1927.

| No. | Date | Location | Competition | Result | Result | Result | Series |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 7 November 1927 | Tegucigalpa | Friendly | Honduras | 1–0 | El Salvador | 0–0–1 |
| 2 | 8 November 1927 | Tegucigalpa | Friendly | Honduras | 0–0 | El Salvador | 0–1–1 |
| 3 | 7 December 1928 | San Salvador | Friendly | El Salvador | 5–0 | Honduras | 1–1–1 |
| 4 | 29 March 1930 | Havana | 1930 Central American and Caribbean Games | El Salvador | 1–4 | Honduras | 1–1–2 |
| 5 | 28 March 1935 | San Salvador | 1935 Central American and Caribbean Games | El Salvador | 3–4 | Honduras | 1–1–3 |
| 6 | 9 March 1946 | San José | 1946 CCCF Championship | Honduras | 1–3 | El Salvador | 2–1–3 |
| 7 | 11 March 1950 | Guatemala City | 1950 Central American and Caribbean Games | El Salvador | 1–2 | Honduras | 2–1–4 |
| 8 | 15 March 1953 | San José | 1953 CCCF Championship | El Salvador | 0–3 | Honduras | 2–1–5 |
| 9 | 17 August 1955 | Tegucigalpa | 1955 CCCF Championship | Honduras | 3–1 | El Salvador | 2–1–6 |
| 10 | 12 March 1961 | San José | 1961 CCCF Championship | El Salvador | 1–0 | Honduras | 3–1–6 |
| 11 | 19 March 1961 | San José | 1961 CCCF Championship | El Salvador | 5–1 | Honduras | 4–1–6 |
| 12 | 27 March 1963 | San Salvador | 1963 CONCACAF Championship | El Salvador | 2–2 | Honduras | 4–2–6 |
| 13 | 5 April 1963 | San Salvador | 1963 CONCACAF Championship | El Salvador | 3–0 | Honduras | 5–2–6 |
| 14 | 14 March 1965 | San Salvador | 1965 CONCACAF Championship qualification | El Salvador | 3–1 | Honduras | 6–2–6 |
| 15 | 21 May 1967 | San Salvador | 1968 CONCACAF Pre-Olympic qualification | El Salvador | 1–0 | Honduras | 7–2–6 |
| 16 | 17 July 1968 | Tegucigalpa | Friendly | Honduras | 0–0 | El Salvador | 7–3–6 |
| 17 | 31 July 1968 | San Salvador | Friendly | El Salvador | 2–1 | Honduras | 8–3–6 |
| 18 | 8 June 1969 | Tegucigalpa | 1970 FIFA World Cup qualification | Honduras | 1–0 | El Salvador | 8–3–7 |
| 19 | 15 June 1969 | San Salvador | 1970 FIFA World Cup qualification | El Salvador | 3–0 | Honduras | 9–3–7 |
| 20 | 27 June 1969 | Mexico City | 1970 FIFA World Cup qualification | El Salvador | 3–2 (a.e.t.) | Honduras | 10–3–7 |
| 21 | 23 November 1980 | San Salvador | 1981 CONCACAF Championship qualification | El Salvador | 2–1 | Honduras | 11–3–7 |
| 22 | 30 November 1980 | Tegucigalpa | 1981 CONCACAF Championship qualification | Honduras | 2–0 | El Salvador | 11–3–8 |
| 23 | 16 November 1981 | Tegucigalpa | 1981 CONCACAF Championship | Honduras | 0–0 | El Salvador | 11–4–8 |
| 24 | 18 April 1982 | San Salvador | Friendly | El Salvador | 3–2 | Honduras | 12–4–8 |
| 25 | 22 April 1982 | San Pedro Sula | Friendly | Honduras | 1–1 | El Salvador | 12–5–8 |
| 26 | 10 March 1985 | San Salvador | 1985 CONCACAF Championship | El Salvador | 1–2 | Honduras | 12–5–9 |
| 27 | 14 March 1985 | Tegucigalpa | 1985 CONCACAF Championship | Honduras | 0–0 | El Salvador | 12–6–9 |
| 28 | 4 January 1986 | Guatemala City | 1986 Central American Games | El Salvador | 0–2 | Honduras | 12–6–10 |
| 29 | 29 April 1987 | Tegucigalpa | Friendly | Honduras | 1–0 | El Salvador | 12–6–11 |
| 30 | 18 March 1988 | Los Angeles | Friendly | El Salvador | 0–0 | Honduras | 12–7–11 |
| 31 | 25 September 1988 | Los Angeles | Friendly | El Salvador | 0–0 | Honduras | 12–8–11 |
| 32 | 2 June 1991 | San José | 1991 UNCAF Nations Cup | El Salvador | 1–2 | Honduras | 12–8–12 |
| 33 | 17 March 1992 | Los Angeles | Friendly | El Salvador | 1–1 | Honduras | 12–9–12 |
| 34 | 12 August 1992 | Los Angeles | Friendly | El Salvador | 0–3 | Honduras | 12–9–13 |
| 35 | 13 September 1992 | San Salvador | Friendly | El Salvador | 3–1 | Honduras | 13–9–13 |
| 36 | 18 September 1992 | San Pedro Sula | Friendly | Honduras | 1–1 | El Salvador | 13–10–13 |
| 37 | 9 March 1993 | Tegucigalpa | 1993 UNCAF Nations Cup | Honduras | 3–0 | El Salvador | 13–10–14 |
| 38 | 25 April 1993 | Tegucigalpa | 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification | Honduras | 3–0 | El Salvador | 13–10–15 |
| 39 | 9 May 1993 | San Salvador | 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification | El Salvador | 2–1 | Honduras | 14–10–15 |
| 40 | 14 August 1996 | San Pedro Sula | Friendly | Honduras | 2–1 | El Salvador | 14–10–16 |
| 41 | 21 August 1996 | San Salvador | Friendly | El Salvador | 1–2 | Honduras | 14–10–17 |
| 42 | 21 October 1996 | Tegucigalpa | Friendly | Honduras | 1–1 | El Salvador | 14–11–17 |
| 43 | 18 April 1997 | Guatemala City | 1997 UNCAF Nations Cup | El Salvador | 0–3 | Honduras | 14–11–18 |
| 44 | 27 April 1997 | Guatemala City | 1997 UNCAF Nations Cup | El Salvador | 0–0 | Honduras | 14–12–18 |
| 45 | 29 January 1998 | San Salvador | Friendly | El Salvador | 1–1 | Honduras | 14–13–18 |
| 46 | 18 November 1998 | Los Angeles | Friendly | El Salvador | 1–2 | Honduras | 14–13–19 |
| 47 | 24 March 1999 | San José | 1999 UNCAF Nations Cup | El Salvador | 1–3 | Honduras | 14–13–20 |
| 48 | 9 February 2000 | San Pedro Sula | Friendly | Honduras | 5–1 | El Salvador | 14–13–21 |
| 49 | 16 July 2000 | San Salvador | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification | El Salvador | 2–5 | Honduras | 14–13–22 |
| 50 | 2 September 2000 | San Pedro Sula | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification | Honduras | 5–0 | El Salvador | 14–13–23 |
| 51 | 27 May 2001 | San Pedro Sula | 2001 UNCAF Nations Cup | Honduras | 1–1 | El Salvador | 14–14–23 |
| 52 | 15 February 2003 | Colón | 2003 UNCAF Nations Cup | El Salvador | 1–0 | Honduras | 15–14–23 |
| 53 | 29 June 2003 | San Pedro Sula | Friendly | Honduras | 1–1 | El Salvador | 15–15–23 |
| 54 | 3 August 2004 | San Salvador | Friendly | El Salvador | 0–4 | Honduras | 15–15–24 |
| 55 | 6 September 2006 | Tegucigalpa | Friendly | Honduras | 2–0 | El Salvador | 15–15–25 |
| 56 | 24 March 2007 | Fort Lauderdale | Friendly | El Salvador | 0–2 | Honduras | 15–15–26 |
| 57 | 27 March 2007 | Cary | Friendly | El Salvador | 0–2 | Honduras | 15–15–27 |
| 58 | 22 August 2007 | San Salvador | Friendly | El Salvador | 2–0 | Honduras | 16–15–27 |
| 59 | 26 January 2009 | Tegucigalpa | 2009 UNCAF Nations Cup | Honduras | 2–0 | El Salvador | 16–15–28 |
| 60 | 1 February 2009 | Tegucigalpa | 2009 UNCAF Nations Cup | Honduras | 1–0 | El Salvador | 16–15–29 |
| 61 | 10 June 2009 | San Pedro Sula | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification | Honduras | 1–0 | El Salvador | 16–15–30 |
| 62 | 14 October 2009 | San Salvador | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification | El Salvador | 0–1 | Honduras | 16–15–31 |
| 63 | 4 September 2010 | Los Angeles | Friendly | El Salvador | 2–2 (3–4 p) | Honduras | 16–16–31 |
| 64 | 21 January 2011 | Panama City | 2011 Copa Centroamericana | El Salvador | 0–2 | Honduras | 16–16–32 |
| 65 | 29 May 2011 | Houston | Friendly | El Salvador | 2–2 | Honduras | 16–17–32 |
| 66 | 2 June 2012 | Washington, D.C. | Friendly | El Salvador | 0–3 | Honduras | 16–17–33 |
| 67 | 18 January 2013 | San José | 2013 Copa Centroamericana | El Salvador | 1–1 | Honduras | 16–18–33 |
| 68 | 12 July 2013 | Miami Gardens | 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup | El Salvador | 0–1 | Honduras | 16–18–34 |
| 69 | 7 September 2014 | Dallas | 2014 Copa Centroamericana | Honduras | 0–1 | El Salvador | 17–18–34 |
| 70 | 31 May 2015 | Washington, D.C. | Friendly | El Salvador | 0–2 | Honduras | 17–18–35 |
| 71 | 25 March 2016 | San Salvador | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification | El Salvador | 2–2 | Honduras | 17–19–35 |
| 72 | 29 March 2016 | San Pedro Sula | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification | Honduras | 2–0 | El Salvador | 17–19–36 |
| 73 | 15 January 2017 | Panama City | 2017 Copa Centroamericana | El Salvador | 1–2 | Honduras | 17–19–37 |
| 74 | 27 May 2017 | Washington, D.C. | Friendly | El Salvador | 2–2 | Honduras | 17–20–37 |
| 75 | 25 June 2019 | Los Angeles | 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup | Honduras | 4–0 | El Salvador | 17–20–38 |
| 76 | 5 September 2021 | San Salvador | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification | El Salvador | 0–0 | Honduras | 17–21–38 |
| 77 | 30 January 2022 | San Pedro Sula | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification | Honduras | 0–2 | El Salvador | 18–21–38 |
| 78 | 22 March 2023 | Los Angeles | Friendly | Honduras | 1–0 | El Salvador | 18–21–39 |

## Head-to-head

* As of 22 March 2023

| Pos. | Team | Pld. | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Honduras | 78 | 39 | 21 | 18 | 123 | 77 | +46 |
| 2 | El Salvador | 78 | 18 | 21 | 39 | 77 | 123 | –46 |

## Statistics

### Overall

| | Matches | Wins | Wins | Wins | Goals | Goals |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Matches | El Salvador | Draws | Honduras | El Salvador | Honduras |
| FIFA World Cup qualification | 13 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 11 | 23 |
| CONCACAF Gold Cup | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| CONCACAF $Championship^a$ | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 8 |
| CCCF Championship | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 8 |
| UNCAF Nations Cup/Copa Centroamericana | 13 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 6 | 21 |
| Central American and Caribbean Games | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 10 |
| Central American Games | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| CONCACAF Pre-Olympic Tournament | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| All competitions | 46 | 13 | 8 | 25 | 44 | 77 |
| Friendly | 32 | 5 | 13 | 12 | 33 | 46 |
| All matches | 78 | 18 | 21 | 39 | 77 | 123 |

    $^a$ – includes qualification from 1965 and 1981

### Individual results at the FIFA World Cup

| El Salvador | FIFA World Cup | Honduras |
| - | - | - |
| 2 (1970, 1982) | Appearances | 3 (1982, 2010, 2014) |
| Group stage (1970, 1982) | Best result | Group stage (1982, 2010, 2014) |
| 0 | Wins | 0 |
| 0 | Draws | 3 |
| 6 | Losses | 6 |
| 1 | Goals for | 3 |
| 22 | Goals against | 14 |
| –21 | Goal differential | –11 |
