| "> | | | | the mid-1980s. The Latin American republic maintains |
| A Notable Example | | | | close diplomatic and economic ties with Europe and |
| During El Salvador's civil war, between 1977 and 1989, | | | | Washington. San Salvador -home to 70 percent of the |
| the national team qualified for the 1982 FIFA World | | | | population-is the capital city. SS -host city of the |
| Cup in Spain. It was one of the greatest sporting | | | | Central American and Caribbean Games in 2002 - is |
| moments in Latin America history, considering that at | | | | one of the most modern cities in Central America. |
| the time of war ES had one of the worst Olympic | | | | Other major cities are Soyapango, Santa Ana, and |
| systems in the Western Hemisphere. Few stadiums | | | | San Miguel. |
| existed and much of the nation's infrastructure had | | | | A Football-Loving Nation |
| been devastated. Meanwhile, many foreign squads | | | | During the Civil War, over 75,000 Salvadorans were |
| were forced to cancel their meetings in ES because | | | | killed, including children, and at least 1 million had left the |
| of the violence. In spite of this, the Central American | | | | country. Several refugees had fled to neighboring |
| republic persisted and continued to train for the FIFA | | | | nations and the United States. In that time, a host of |
| World Cup. By November 1981, its men's soccer team | | | | towns, roads, railways, and homes had been |
| beat the United Mexican States 1-0, and won the right | | | | destroyed. Besides all that, El Salvador's economy |
| to compete in the World Cup in 1982. | | | | suffered inflation and was heavily dependent on |
| Country Profile: El Salvador | | | | American aid. Meanwhile, the health system was one |
| The Republic of El Salvador is located in Central | | | | of the worst in the Western Hemisphere. For these |
| America and is surrounded by Honduras, Guatemala | | | | reasons, it became one of Latin American's poorest |
| and the Pacific ocean. It is covered by volcanoes, | | | | republics in the 1980s and early 1990s, together with |
| mountains and valleys. There are over 300 rivers and | | | | Haiti, Bolivia, Guyana and Honduras. |
| streams. The total area of the nation is 8,100 square | | | | Although the nation boasted one of the best soccer |
| miles, while it has a population of about 5, 740,000. On | | | | teams in Latin America. By October 1968, against all |
| the other side, it has one of the most ethnically | | | | odds, the Salvadoran team won the right to compete |
| homogeneous populations in the Americas. | | | | in the XIX Summer Olympic Games in the United |
| Economically, it is primarily an agricultural nation. Coffee | | | | Mexican States, alongside teams like Hungary, France |
| is the chief cash crop. Like other Latin American | | | | and Brazil. Two years later, the men's football team |
| republics, football is the national sport in El Salvador. | | | | made international headlines when they qualified for the |
| ES was home to some notable personalities in the | | | | IX FIFA World Cup in Mexico City, together with 15 |
| latter half of the 20th century: Arnulfo Romero | | | | foreign teams. Because of this, ES was the first |
| Galdamez (an activist for democracy and human | | | | Central American nation to qualify for the FIFA World |
| rights), José Arturo Castellanos (a campaigner | | | | Cup. |
| for the rights of Jews), and Napoleon Duarte (ex Head | | | | At the 1977 CONCACAF Tournament in the United |
| of State). | | | | Mexican States, the Salvadoran squad finished third, |
| This Spanish-speaking nation gained its independence | | | | after Mexico (winner) and Haiti.During that event, it |
| in 1821. During Cold War, ES had one of the world's | | | | defeated Canada (2-0) and Suriname (3-2). |
| most lethal wars. Politically, ES is a democracy since | | | | |