El Salvador grabbed a crucial 1-0 win on the road against Guatemala on Thursday, kicking off the final round of Concacaf qualifying for the 2026 World Cup in dramatic fashion.
The victory puts Hernán Darío “Bolillo” Gómez’s squad at the top of Group A with three points. Panama and Suriname follow with one point each, while Guatemala sits at the bottom with none.
Playing at Cementos Progreso Stadium in Guatemala City, the home team created the best scoring chances but couldn’t beat Salvadoran goalkeeper Mario González, who kept his side in the game with several key saves.
The breakthrough came in the 79th minute when Harold Osorio volleyed in the only goal of the match off a corner kick delivered by Nathan Ordaz.
“What I liked most was the result against a very capable opponent. I liked the commitment from the players. In qualifiers, the clean sheet is fundamental. We had one chance and took it, and that gave us three important points,” Gómez said after the match.
Earlier in the day, Panama earned a 0-0 draw in Suriname. Both goalkeepers stood out in a game full of missed opportunities.
“It was a crazy game with chances for both teams. Of course, I wanted three points, but if you can’t win you settle for one. It’s a good result,” Panama coach Thomas Christiansen said. “Football is about goals, and we didn’t score today, but their keeper also made some incredible saves.”
The next round of matches will be played Monday. Panama hosts Guatemala, while El Salvador faces Suriname at home.
The winners of each of the three groups will qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup, joining host nations United States, Mexico, and Canada. The two best second-place teams will advance to a playoff in March 2026, giving Concacaf a chance to send a record eight teams to the tournament.
