Honestly, if you've been following Salvadoran football lately, you know it’s been a total rollercoaster. One day we’re celebrating a hard-fought win in the Nations League, and the next, we’re staring at a qualifying table that makes you want to look away. But that’s the life of a La Selecta fan, right? It's never simple.
The current el salvador national football team standings tell two very different stories depending on which tournament you're looking at. If you check the CONCACAF Nations League, things look pretty bright. But the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers? That’s where the real drama is.
The Nations League High: Back Where We Belong
Let’s start with the good news because we definitely need it. In the 2024-25 CONCACAF Nations League, El Salvador absolutely took care of business in League B. They finished at the very top of Group A.
Looking at the final numbers, it was a dominant run. They played six matches and walked away with 15 points. Five wins. Only one loss—a weird 2-1 slip-up against Saint Vincent and the Grenadines back in October 2024. But they bounced back fast. By the time they wrapped up with a 1-0 win over Montserrat in November, the job was done.
They finished two points clear of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. More importantly, that top spot means promotion back to League A. It also booked their ticket to the Gold Cup. For a team that has struggled with consistency, seeing them score 12 goals and only concede 6 over that stretch was a massive relief for the fans in San Salvador and across the US.
The World Cup Reality Check
Now, here is where it gets kind of messy. While the Nations League was a success, the road to the 2026 World Cup—which, let's be real, is the only thing people truly care about—has been a massive uphill battle.
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Right now, in the final round of CONCACAF qualifying, the el salvador national football team standings are looking a bit grim. They are currently sitting at the bottom of Group A. After six matches, they’ve only managed to scrape together 3 points.
It’s been a rough run of results:
- A 4-0 thumping by Suriname in November 2025.
- A 3-0 loss to Panama.
- Back-to-back 1-0 losses to Panama and Guatemala in October.
Basically, the offense has gone cold at the worst possible time. They’ve only scored 2 goals in this final round while letting in 11. When you're up against teams like Panama and a surging Suriname side, you just can't afford that kind of goal drought. Panama is currently leading the group with 12 points, and Suriname is right behind them with 9. El Salvador is effectively fighting for pride and a miracle at this point.
The "Bolillo" Factor: A New Era?
You can't talk about the current standings without mentioning Hernán Darío Gómez. "El Bolillo" took over the reins in February 2025, replacing David Dóniga. The federation brought him in specifically because the guy is a World Cup wizard. He’s taken Colombia, Ecuador, and Panama to the big dance before.
But even a wizard needs a wand that works.
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Gómez inherited a squad in transition. He’s been trying to integrate younger talents like Rafael Tejada and Nathan Ordaz while relying on veterans like Alexander Larín and Darwin Cerén. He also brought back some players who were previously excluded, trying to find that "magic" mix.
The problem? Chemistry takes time, and time is the one thing you don't have in a World Cup cycle. We've seen flashes of his organized, defensive style, but the lack of a clinical finisher has been the Achilles' heel. Brayan Gil has been the main man up front, but he can't do it all alone.
Why the FIFA Ranking Matters (and Why It Doesn't)
As of January 2026, El Salvador is hovering around the 100th spot in the FIFA World Rankings. It’s a bit of a fall from grace if you remember the days when they were comfortably in the top 70.
Rankings are weird. They don't always reflect how a team is playing right now, but they do impact tournament seeding. Falling out of the top 100 would be a huge psychological blow. However, most fans will tell you they’d rather be ranked 150th and winning qualifying matches than 80th and watching the World Cup from the couch.
Looking Ahead: What Needs to Change
If El Salvador wants to climb back up the el salvador national football team standings and actually compete in League A of the Nations League next season, a few things have to happen.
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First, the "home" advantage at the Estadio Cuscatlán needs to mean something again. It used to be a fortress where visiting teams were terrified to play. Lately, it’s felt like anyone can walk in and grab a point or three.
Second, the dual-national recruitment needs to stay aggressive. Players like Nathan Ordaz represent the future. Bringing in talent developed in MLS and European academies is the only way to close the gap with the "big three" in CONCACAF.
Next Steps for Fans and Analysts:
- Watch the March Friendlies: These will be the first chance to see how "Bolillo" adjusts the tactics after the disappointing end to 2025.
- Track the League A Draw: Since El Salvador earned promotion, keep an eye on who they'll face in the next Nations League cycle. It's going to be a much higher level of competition.
- Monitor the Injury List: Key players like Bryan Tamacas need to stay healthy for the defense to have any chance against top-tier strikers.
The road is long, and honestly, it’s going to be bumpy. But La Selecta has a way of surprising people just when everyone is ready to give up on them.
Actionable Insights for Following La Selecta
- Follow FESFUT Official Channels: For the most accurate, up-to-the-minute roster changes and match locations, the Salvadoran Football Federation's social media is actually more reliable than most third-party apps.
- Focus on Goal Differential: In the upcoming League A matches, El Salvador’s survival will likely come down to goal difference. Watch how they manage games when they are down a goal; they can't afford to let matches spiral into 3-0 or 4-0 losses.
- Support Local Development: The long-term health of the standings depends on the domestic league (Primera División). Keep an eye on the top scorers there, as they often become the late-game subs for the national team.
The dream of 2026 might be fading, but the work for the next cycle starts now. It's time to build a foundation that can actually hold up under pressure.