# El Salvador national under-20 football team

The El Salvador Under 20s football team, is commonly known as La Azulita. La Azulita is controlled by Federación Salvadoreña de Fútbol(FESFUT) and represents El Salvador in all international Under 20 competitions.
Their first U-20 World Cup was at the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup, where they saw their first victory at a major FIFA tournament (outside of beach soccer) to Australia by 2–1, scored respectively by Diego Coca and José Peña.

## CONCACAF Championship
### 2024 CONCACAF Championship

On April 11, 2024, CONCACAF had their official draw. El Salvador was placed in Group B alongside, Honduras, Dominican Republic, and Canada. All games will be played in Estadio Sergio León Chávez in Irapuato, Mexico starting July 20, 2024.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Honduras | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 5 | +6 | 7 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | Canada | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 7 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 3 | El Salvador | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | −3 | 3 | |
| 4 | Dominican Republic | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 7 | −5 | 0 | |
El Salvador's U-20 national team participated in the 2024 Concacaf U-20 Championship, held in Irapuato, Mexico. They were drawn into Group B alongside Honduras, Canada, and the Dominican Republic. The team began their campaign with a 1-0 victory over the Dominican Republic, with Christopher Argueta scoring the lone goal in the 62nd minute. Goalkeeper Daniel Franco played a crucial role, making several important saves including a penalty stop.
However, El Salvador's fortunes turned in their subsequent matches. They suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat against Honduras, despite initially taking the lead through Nelson Díaz. In their final group match, they lost 2-1 to Canada in a closely contested game. Francis Castillo scored El Salvador's goal, but a late bicycle kick by Bunbury secured Canada's win. El Salvador thought they had equalized in the final moments through Walter Menjívar, but the goal was disallowed after a VAR review. With one win and two losses, El Salvador finished third in Group B with three points and a goal difference, which was insufficient to advance to the knockout stages as one of the best third-placed teams.

### 2024 Qualifiers

La Azulita qualified for the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship which is slated for the Summer of 2024. El Salvador U20 started the CONCACAF Qualifying on Friday, February 23, 2024, till Saturday, March 2, 2024, at ABFA Technical Center in Antigua and Barbuda. The Azulita finished first with 10 points. Suriname came in second with 9, Antigua and Barbuda with 6, Guyana with 4 and Turks and Caicos 0.
El Salvador belongs to Group B. Group B consist of the following Nations:
* Turks and Caicos Islands
* Guyana
* Suriname
* Antigua and Barbuda
After round-robin play between February 23 and March 2, 2024, the first-place team from each group will advance to the 2024 CONCACAF Men's U-20 Championship, joining the six pre-seeded top-ranked nations. Which include in order, United States, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic.

### UNCAF 2024

La Azulita, along with seven other selections, gathered in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, to participate in an international competition through the tournament UNCAF FIFA FORWARD. La Azulita was grouped in Group A with Honduras, Panamá, and Nicaragua.

### 2024 current squad

On February 19, 2024, the Head Coach Juan Cortes named the following players to the CONCACAF Under-20 Qualifiers. The Qualifiers run from February 23, 2024, to March 2, 2024, in Antigua and Barbuda.
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
| 1 | 1GK | Daniel Franco | | 0 | 0 | Alianza F.C. |
| | 1GK | Cristian Portillo | | 0 | 0 | C.D. Águila |
| 21 | 1GK | Hamilton Lemus | (2006-11-16) November 16, 2006 (age 18) | 0 | 0 | C.D. ATL. COMALAPA |
| 6 | 2DF | Nestor Samoza | (2006-01-31) January 31, 2006 (age 19) | 0 | 0 | 11 DEPORTIVO F.C. |
| 2 | 2DF | William Molina | | 0 | 0 | C.S.D. ATL. BALBOA |
| | 2DF | Bryan Amaya | | 0 | 0 | C.D. Cacahuatique |
| 11 | 2DF | Víctor Mejía | | 0 | 0 | C.D. Once Lobos |
| 4 | 2DF | Darwin López | (2006-06-03) June 3, 2006 (age 18) | 0 | 0 | LA. SURF SOCCER CLUB |
| 20 | 2DF | Daniel España | | 0 | 0 | AD Unión Adarve |
| 3 | 2DF | Kiano Falcao | (2006-04-11) April 11, 2006 (age 18) | 4 | 2 | FC Cincinnati |
| 12 | 3MF | Inner Guevara | | 0 | 0 | Alianza F.C. |
| 15 | 3MF | David Funes | | 0 | 0 | C.D. FAS |
| 14 | 3MF | Christopher Ortiz | | 0 | 0 | C.D. FAS |
| | 3MF | Christopher Guardado | (2005-10-30) October 30, 2005 (age 19) | 0 | 0 | A.D. Isidro Metapán |
| 8 | 3MF | Walter Menjívar | (2006-01-06) January 6, 2006 (age 19) | 0 | 0 | C.D. ATL. COMALAPA |
| 7 | 3MF | Nelson Díaz | (2006-04-07) April 7, 2006 (age 18) | 0 | 0 | A.D. BRASILIA SUCHITOTO |
| 19 | 3MF | Melvin Urbina | | 0 | 0 | C.D. INCA |
| 9 | 4FW | Wilber Díaz | (2007-05-16) May 16, 2007 (age 17) | 0 | 0 | Santa Tecla F.C. |
| 16 | 4FW | Anderson Ochoa | | 0 | 0 | C.D. Cruzeiro |
| 10 | 4FW | Steven Guerra | (2007-03-12) March 12, 2007 (age 17) | 0 | 0 | C.D. Dragón |
| 13 | 4FW | Cristopher Argueta | (2007-01-14) January 14, 2007 (age 18) | 4 | 2 | D.C. United |

## History of La Azulita
### FIFA U-20 World Cup record

| Year | Round | GP | W | D* | L | GS | GA |
| 1977 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 1979 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 1981 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 1983 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 1985 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 1987 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 1989 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 1991 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 1993 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 1995 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 1997 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 1999 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2001 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2003 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2005 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2007 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2009 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2011 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2013 | Group stage | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 7 |
| 2015 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2017 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2019 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2021 | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled | Cancelled |
| 2023 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2025 | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined |
| Total | 1/24 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 7 |

## Previous fixtures and results

| Date: | Location: | Opponent: | Score* | Competition: | El Salvador scorers: |
| February 19 | San Salvador, El Salvador | Luis Angel Firpo | 2–3 | F | José Villavicencio 9' Bryan Pérez 21' |
| March 12, 2014 | Santa Ana, El Salvador | FAS | 1–2 | F | Amilcar Gonzalez 70' |
| November 2, 2018 | IMG Soccer Complex Field #2, Florida, United States | Curaçao | 2–1 | CC | Gerson Sánchez 59' Christian Rosales 88' |
| November 4, 2018 | IMG Soccer Stadium, Florida, United States | Cayman Islands | 3−1 | CC | Jose Portillo 39' Jorge Cruz 41' Fernando Clavel 51' |
| November 6, 2018 | IMG Soccer Stadium, Florida, United States | Guatemala | 2−1 | CC | Siliazar Henríquez 32' 58' |
| November 10, 2018 | IMG Soccer Stadium, Florida, United States | Guyana | TBD –TBD | CC | TBD 83' |
Key
* F = Friendly
* UF = Unofficial Friendly
* U-20 CCQ = 2017 CONCACAF U-20 Championship qualifying
* U-20 CC = U-20 Championship
* U-20 WC = U-20 World Cup
* GS = Group stage
* QF = Quarter-finals
* SF = Semi-finals
* Fi = Final
* PSO = Penalty shootout
* a.e.t. = After extra time
* El Salvador's scores listed first

## Formers players
### 2022 squad

* The following players were called up for the 2022 CONCACAF U-20 Championship.
* Match dates: June 18 – July 3, 2022
* Caps and goals correct as of: June 19, 2022
* Names in italics denote players who have been capped for the senior team.
| Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
| 1GK | Damián Alguera | (2004-02-11) February 11, 2004 (age 21) | 4 | 0 | Philadelphia Union |
| 1GK | Sergio Sibrián | (2004-07-08) July 8, 2004 (age 20) | 0 | 0 | Alianza |
| 2DF | Alejandro Cano | (2004-05-21) May 21, 2004 (age 20) | 6 | 0 | San Jose Earthquakes |
| 2DF | Mauricio Cerritos | (2003-10-17) October 17, 2003 (age 21) | 0 | 0 | Atlético Marte |
| 2DF | René Dueñas | (2004-05-02) May 2, 2004 (age 20) | 0 | 0 | FAS |
| 2DF | Cesar Orellana | | 0 | 0 | Unknown |
| 2DF | Walter Pineda | (2003-05-04) May 4, 2003 (age 21) | 0 | 0 | Águila |
| 2DF | Alexander Romero | (2004-09-24) September 24, 2004 (age 20) | 4 | 0 | Los Angeles FC |
| 2DF | Alejandro Serrano | (2003-12-04) December 4, 2003 (age 21) | 0 | 0 | Santa Tecla |
| 3MF | Robinson Aguirre | (2004-11-23) November 23, 2004 (age 20) | 7 | 0 | Colorado Rapids |
| 3MF | Hamilton Benítez | (2003-08-28) August 28, 2003 (age 21) | 0 | 0 | Alianza |
| 3MF | Danny Ríos | (2003-03-29) March 29, 2003 (age 21) | 0 | 0 | Houston Dynamo |
| 3MF | Jeremy Garay | (2003-04-01) April 1, 2003 (age 21) | 5 | 1 | D.C. United |
| 3MF | Mayer Gil | (2003-09-07) September 7, 2003 (age 21) | 0 | 0 | Alianza Petrolera |
| 3MF | Harold Osorio | (2003-08-20) August 20, 2003 (age 21) | 0 | 0 | Chicago Fire FC |
| 4FW | Ronald Arévalo | (2003-05-18) May 18, 2003 (age 21) | 0 | 0 | OTP |
| 4FW | Isaac Esquivel | (2003-12-30) December 30, 2003 (age 21) | 0 | 0 | Marte Soyapango |
| 4FW | Javier Mariona | (2004-10-17) October 17, 2004 (age 20) | 2 | 2 | Oakland Roots SC |
| 4FW | Alexander Umaña | (2003-10-12) October 12, 2003 (age 21) | 5 | 3 | Sporting Kansas City |

### 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup squad

Head coach: Mauricio Alfaro
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Club |
| 1 | 1GK | Rolando Morales | (1994-03-01)March 1, 1994 (aged 19) | Turín-FESA |
| 2 | 2DF | Oliver Ayala | (1994-01-04)January 4, 1994 (aged 19) | León |
| 3 | 3MF | Tomás Granitto | (1993-06-12)June 12, 1993 (aged 20) | Florida Gulf Coast University |
| 4 | 2DF | Giovanni Zavaleta | (1994-09-27)September 27, 1994 (aged 18) | Turín-FESA |
| 5 | 3MF | Romilio Hernández | (1995-06-06)June 6, 1995 (aged 18) | Baltimore Bays |
| 6 | 2DF | Marvin Baumgartner | (1993-01-13)January 13, 1993 (aged 20) | Zürich |
| 7 | 3MF | Jairo Henríquez | (1993-08-31)August 31, 1993 (aged 19) | Turín-FESA |
| 8 | 3MF | José Villavicencio | (1995-01-24)January 24, 1995 (aged 18) | Turín-FESA |
| 9 | 4FW | José Peña | (1994-12-10)December 10, 1994 (aged 18) | Turín-FESA |
| 10 | 3MF | Diego Coca | (1994-08-26)August 26, 1994 (aged 18) | Turín-FESA |
| 11 | 4FW | Maikon Orellana | (1993-11-12)November 12, 1993 (aged 19) | Brøndby |
| 12 | 2DF | Kevin Barahona | (1994-10-01)October 1, 1994 (aged 18) | Turín-FESA |
| 13 | 2DF | Miguel Lemus | (1993-10-26)October 26, 1993 (aged 19) | Turín-FESA |
| 14 | 3MF | Óscar Rodríguez | (1995-04-16)April 16, 1995 (aged 18) | Atlético San José |
| 15 | 3MF | René Gómez | (1993-01-08)January 8, 1993 (aged 20) | Turín-FESA |
| 16 | 3MF | Benjamín Díaz | (1993-05-08)May 8, 1993 (aged 20) | University of the District of Columbia |
| 17 | 2DF | Kevin Ayala | (1994-07-15)July 15, 1994 (aged 18) | Turín-FESA |
| 18 | 1GK | Adolfo Menéndez, Jr. | (1993-07-03)July 3, 1993 (aged 19) | FAS |
| 19 | 3MF | Bernardo Majano | (1995-12-09)December 9, 1995 (aged 17) | D.C. United |
| 20 | 4FW | Roberto González | (1993-03-25)March 25, 1993 (aged 20) | Santa Tecla |
| 21 | 1GK | Carlos Cañas | (1994-09-09)September 9, 1994 (aged 18) | Longwood University |

## Personnel
### Current staff

As of January 2024
| Head coach | Juan Cortez |
| Assistant coach | Francisco Hernández |
| Assistant coach | Ernesto de la Ocomo |
| Goalkeeper Coach | Misael Alfaro |
| Physical Trainer | Emerson Leal |
| Medical Trainer | |
| Kinesiologist | |
| Equipment Manager | Abraham Beltrán |

## Manager history

* Conrado Miranda (1964, 1979)
* Raul Magana (1985,1994)
* Carlos Recinos (2000–2001)
* Ricardo Herrera (2002–2003)
* Cesar Acevedo (2004–2005)
* José Luis Rugamas (2006–2007)
* Norberto Huezo (2008–2009)
* Mauricio Alfaro (2009–2015)
* Eduardo Lara (2016–2017)
* Alexsander Rodriguez (2017–2018)
* Ernesto Gochez (2018–2020)
* Gerson Perez (2021–2022)
* Manuel Torres Núñez (2023)
* Juan Cortez (2024)
* TBD (2024-Present)

## Honours

* CONCACAF U-20 Championship
** Winners (1): 1964
** Third place (2): 1984, 2013