Goal Programme - Federacion Salvadorena de Futbol - 2001

The people of El Salvador are passionate about football. El Salvador have qualified only twice for the FIFA World Cup? final competition - in 1970 and 1982, but since then their football activities have been severely hampered by the civil war which raged until the early 1990s. Thanks to an enterprising and innovative national association and financial help from FIFA, El Salvador can now look forward to a promising future. The nation's greatest exploit to date was its U-23 team's victory against Mexico in the final of the Central American and Caribbean Games Football Tournament. Jorge «Magico» Gonzalez and Mauricio Cienfuegos are the football fans' idols. Gonzalez played for several top Spanish clubs after the 1982 FIFA World Cup?. Cienfuegos is currently playing for Los Angeles Galaxy. He is planning to work in the youth sector in his home country once his playing career is over.

The Goal Bureau approved the construction of a multi-purpose complex in San Salvador in October 2001. In November 2002, FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter laid the foundation stone for the building. The President of El Salvador, Francisco Flores, and the association's President, Humberto Torres, were also present. Because of the breakdown in the national health system as a result of the war, association President Torres planned to incorporate a medical centre for the general public in the sports complex. One executive member of The Canadian Soccer Association assured them of support on hearing of the El Salvador association President's plans through the Guatemala development office. This is yet another example of the positive influence of FIFA's development aid for humanitarian purposes.