El Salvador's national football programme is administered by the Salvadoran Football Association, which also oversees the domestic league system. Football is by far the most popular sport in the country, with roughly half the population identifying as football fans — a passion that has at times spilled far beyond the pitch.
The defining moment in El Salvador's footballing history came during qualifying for the 1970 FIFA World Cup, when a heated series of matches against neighbouring Honduras escalated into a brief armed conflict between the two nations. The episode, known worldwide as the Football War, illustrates just how deeply the sport is woven into the country's national identity.
El Salvador has qualified for the FIFA World Cup on two occasions — 1970 and 1982 — both times exiting in the first round after losing all three group-stage matches. The 1982 campaign in Spain is remembered for a 10–1 defeat to Hungary, a result that set the record for the most goals scored in a single World Cup finals match and equalled the record winning margin. Despite the heavy loss, that tournament represents the highest stage on which El Salvador has competed.
The country's sole international trophy is the 1943 CCCF Championship, a regional title that remains the pinnacle of the national team's competitive achievements. Beyond that, El Salvador competes regularly in the CONCACAF Gold Cup and the CONCACAF Nations League, representing the nation at the confederation level.
Domestically, the top flight is the Primera División de Fútbol de El Salvador. C.D. FAS leads all clubs with 18 league titles, followed by C.D. Águila with 14. At the continental club level, Alianza F.C. won the CONCACAF Champions Cup in 1967 and C.D. Águila followed in 1976.