El Salvador women's soccer head coach Eric Acuna has threatened harsh consequences on his players for recent poor performances, just a short time ahead of their next matchup against the United States.
His side was beaten twice by Paraguay in a pair of October international friendlies, losing the first match 5-1 and then suffering a 3-2 defeat in the second game.
The second game was especially disappointing for Acuna, as El Salvador went 2-0 up before halftime before ultimately collapsing in spectacular fashion. They coughed up one goal shortly after the second-half restart, before Nicolle Amaya was sent off for a second yellow card, putting El Salvador under pressure the rest of the way. They conceded the equalizer shortly after, before a second El Salvador player was dismissed, and they eventually fell behind in the 80th minute.
It was a worrying lead-up to their next competitive fixtures, a pair of CONCACAF W Championship matches against the USWNT where 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying is on the line.
What did the El Salvador coach say?
Eric Acuna did not hold back when discussing his response to the team's pair of defeats. He came after the team's effort in the first loss to Paraguay on October 9, where they fell by a four-goal margin.
"I just took away all the privileges from the team because, unfortunately, there can't be any free coffees, any of these perks, or anything like that if they haven't earned them. I'm sorry," Acuna told the media.
"They no longer have privileges. They can't leave the training center, they can't leave to have coffee, nothing. We have to focus on the match and clean up our image."
That tactic did not appear to have the desired effect in the end, as they held a two-goal lead at halftime of the second match but ultimately collapsed in defeat, losing 3-2 after a pair of players were sent off.
"We continue to fail. Our goalkeepers keep giving away loose balls, bouncing around; it's complicated, but the truth is they have more experience than us," Acuna said.
"What this basically leaves me with is a list of players that, if I press a button, can they perform?"
"I have nothing on the bench to save the team," he continued, describing how he feels limited in the players he can trust on the pitch. "No matter how much you ask for changes, you cannot compare [Sam] Fisher with Brenda [Ceren], [who] is three times the player than [her teammate] is," he said.
Fisher, the player he used as an example of their failures in that quote, tore her ACL back in August and has only just recently returned to the pitch with the national team.
Players respond to El Salvador coach's criticism
Multiple players have since responded to Acuna's criticism on social media, affirming their commitment to the national team and defending their effort on the pitch.
The strongest statement came from Brenda Ceren, who was one of the players Acuna used as an example of one he could trust. Her words, therefore, carried significant weight as she supported her teammates despite her supposed position of preference with the coach.
"In recent days, various opinions have been circulating about the team. As one of the leaders of this group, I want to make it clear that this team is not made by a single player," she said, while also calling her national team experience "the greatest pride of my sporting life."
El Salvador midfielder Isabella Recinos, who started the 3-2 defeat to Paraguay, also put out a statement defending herself and her teammates against the harsh criticism of the coach.
"Stop blaming the players," she wrote on her Instagram story. "Same results. Same excuses. Same coach. Players give everything on the pitch, then get called out in public when it doesn't work. That's not leadership or accountability. Real leaders protect their squad and take responsibility first."
When is USWNT vs. El Salvador?
The United States women will take on El Salvador in the CONCACAF W Championship quarterfinals, set to play a one-off match on November 27 in Texas with high stakes.
The winner not only reaches the semifinals of the competition, but also earns automatic qualification to the 2026 FIFA Women's World Cup. The tournament doubles as World Cup qualifying for CONCACAF in this current cycle, leaving the four semifinalists to secure the four automatic berths.
There are also two spots in the intercontinental playoffs to be earned, as the four quarterfinal losers will advance to a CONCACAF playoff, with the two winners advancing to the FIFA competition still with a chance to qualify.
