Why could El Salvador stay out of the 2026 World Cup after the FESFUT scandal?

Years after Guatemala was suspended from all international competition, El Salvador may face the same fate After the trial Referred by the Attorney General of the Central American country to the Football Confederation for money laundering and fraud.

National Sports Institute of El Salvador It intends to elect new members to the Regulatory CommissionHowever, as was the case in Guatemala, INDES is a government body and therefore cannot interfere in football decisions according to FIFA regulations.

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“It is a complicated situation because on the one hand there are the laws of a country and on the other hand there are the laws of football. “The problem is more serious if FIFA leaks that Guatemala could be suspended until the 2022 World Cup in Qatar or until 2026,” Chapin journalist Jose del Valle said at the time.

“Almost two years have already been lost, and if (Guatemala) is kicked out, it will take 20 years for its football to return” Gianni Infantino’s warning to the Guatemalan federation is a similar case facing Salvadoran football due to INDES, which is ruled by the brother of President Nayeb Bugel.

Hugo Perez’s plan fails

If El Salvador does not comply with FIFA’s demands, they could face expulsion from international competitions.This would rule them out of the 2023 Gold Cup and the Beach Soccer World Cup, but the 2026 World Cup is also at stake.

The World Cup qualifiers will begin between 2024 and 2025. It will be played on American territory: the United States, Mexico and Canada in 2026. If the Salvadoran team does not comply with the rules specified by the higher body, it cannot participate in the competition.

El Salvador will also miss out on the CONCACAF leagueTwo clubs will participate this year: CD Águila in the tournament qualifiers and in which Alajuelense from Costa Rica will be measured, and Alianza FC, who came after being crowned in the league.