The atmosphere in the Estadio Cuscatlan is going to be electric when El Salvador hosts rival Mexico in a World Cup qualifier the locals desperately want to win to keep their World Cup dreams alive.
Mexico, which sits atop the regional qualifying standings, is familiar with the kind of hostile atmosphere that awaits them. El Tri will get El Salvador's best shot, and the home team will fight and contest every ball — but its best defenders are missing out on the match, and that could ultimately make all the difference against the talented Mexicans.
These two teams met in the CONCACAF Gold Cup, and El Salvador gave Mexico a good game. Although it's a battle of No. 9 in the world against No. 65, matches are always more evenly matched than they would seem on paper.
Sporting News will follow the match live and provide score updates, commentary and highlights as they happen:
El Salvador vs. Mexico score
| 1H | 2H | Final | |
| El Salvador | — | — | — |
| Mexico | — | — | — |
Goals: None
El Salvador vs. Mexico live updates, highlights from World Cup qualifier
Standings and results: Updated World Cup qualifying table
(All times Eastern)
7.57 p.m.: Safe to say the Mexican fans will be outnumbered tonight:
Fearless! 💪🏼🇲🇽💚 pic.twitter.com/y5zyjssQ8N
— Mexican National Team (@miseleccionmxEN) October 13, 2021
El Salvador vs. Mexico: Lineups
El Salvador has several important players missing this match, complicating things significantly. Center back Roberto Dominguez is suspended for yellow card accumulation, and the Cuscatlecos were already without starting-caliber central defenders Eriq Zavaleta (concussion) and Ronald Gomez Rodriguez, who’s recovering from a fibula fracture. The fill-in options are inexperienced.
As if that weren’t enough of a wrench in the team’s plans, it will also be without two starting midfielders: Narciso Orellana will sit out after his red card against Costa Rica, and midfielder Jairo Henriquez will be unavailable after pulling his right hamstring in the same game.
El Salvador projected lineup (4-4-2, left to right): 1-Mario Antonio Gonzalez-GK — 13-Alexander Larin, 16-Eduardo Vigil, 2-Lizandro Claros, 21-Bryan Tamacas — 19-Denis Pineda, 4-Isaac Portillo, 7-Darwin Ceren, 15-Alex Roldan — 12-Marvin Monterrosa, 11-Joaquin Rivas
El Salvador projected subs: 18-Yonatan Guardado-GK, 22-Kevin Carabantes-GK, 23-Herberth Marcelo Diaz, 5-Christian Martinez, 14-Pablo Punyed, 10-Amando Moreno, 8-Joshua Perez, 9-Walmer Martinez, 20-Enrico Hernandez
Mexico’s Tata Martino confirmed the team will be missing starting defenders Cesar Montes (yellow card accumulation) and Jorge Sanchez (muscle injury), and both have already returned to their club teams. Center forward Henry Martin is back from injury and should be available off the bench.
After the two forced changes — Nestor Araujo likely slotting in for Montes at center back, and Julio Cesar Dominguez expected to start at right back, given Chaka Rodriguez went the full 90 in the last game — the expectation is that Martino will opt to give his base starters, including the attacking trident of Corona-Jimenez-Lozano, another run out to start the game.
Mexico projected starting lineup (4-3-3, left to right): 13-Guillermo ‘Memo’ Ochoa-GK — 23-Jesus Gallardo, 15-Hector Moreno, 2-Nestor Araujo, 19-Julio Cesar Dominguez — 6-Sebastian Cordova, 4-Edson Alvarez, 8-Carlos ‘Charly’ Rodriguez — 17-Jesus ‘Tecatito’ Corona, 9-Raul Jimenez, 22-Hirving ‘Chucky’ Lozano
Mexico projected subs: 12-Jonathan Orozco-GK, 1-Alfredo Talavera-GK, 5-Osvaldo Rodriguez, 21-Luis ‘Chaka’ Rodriguez, 18-Andres Guardado, 7-Luis Romo, 16-Hector Herrera, 20-Alexis Vega, 14-Uriel Antuna, 10-Orbelin Pineda, 11-Rogelio Funes Mori, Henry Martin
How to watch El Salvador vs. Mexico
- Date: Wednesday, Oct. 13
- Time: 10 p.m. ET
- TV Channels: CBS Sports Network (CBSSN)
- Spanish-language TV: Telemundo, Universo
- Streaming: fuboTV, Paramount+
The El Salvador vs. Mexico match will be available in English and Spanish in the USA. CBS Sports Network (English) and Telemundo and Universo (Spanish) will carry the TV broadcasts. All three networks are streamed on fuboTV, which is available for a free seven-day trial to new subscribers.
Paramount+ subscribers will also get access to the match stream in English.
El Salvador vs. Mexico: Betting odds & prediction
Odds courtesy of DraftKings
Pick: Mexico -1.25 Asian Handicap (+100)
El Salvador’s home-field advantage should help keep the game close to start, but Mexico simply has too much quality and El Salvador is error-prone and missing key players in defense. With another trio of top attackers ready to come off the bench to keep up the pressure, Mexico should have the wherewithal to put together a multi-goal win.
The -1.25 Asian Handicap offers a bit of insurance, should Mexico only manage a one-goal win. Since the -1.25 bet is split evenly over -1 and -1.5 spreads, half the bet would be refunded in that case.
Prediction: El Salvador 0, Mexico 2
- Moneyline: El Salvador +700 / Draw +340 / Mexico -270
- Spread: El Salvador +1.5 (-165) / Mexico -1.5 (+120)
- O/U 2.5 total goals: Over +115 / Under -150
- Both Teams To Score: Yes +165 / No -225