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Why did El Salvador and Honduras start a football war in 1969?

author:Hamburg Kevin

Recently, the fiery Qatar World Cup allowed fans around the world to gather together to share this top football feast, and netizens jokingly called this football feast "Ragnarok".

However, under the factor of passion and happiness, winning or losing football can also lead to riots and even outbreaks of war in extreme cases. In 1969, a football war broke out between the Central American countries of Honduras and El Salvador. It is reported that the two sides of this "football war" fought for 5 days, with a total of about 60,000 troops and about 3,000 casualties. The two countries also dispatched air forces and fought a World War II-level air battle. The reason why the two countries fought so badly was only because of a goal.

Why did El Salvador and Honduras start a football war in 1969?

Map of El Salvador and Honduras

At that time, the State of El Salvador, with a territory of about 20,700 square kilometers, was located in the north of Central America and bordered Honduras to the north, making it the smallest and most densely populated coastal country in Central America. Honduras, on the other hand, covers an area of 110,000 square kilometers, and although there is a lot of land, it is not cultivated in a large area, and it is relatively barren. Both countries also suffered from Spanish colonial rule for a long time. Although the two countries have established diplomatic relations, they have been at odds for a long time. At that time, many Salvadoran workers and farmers chose to go to Honduras to farm and do business.

Work hard with hardworking hands. The lives of Salvador's workers and peasants improved, and some even led a prosperous life. At first, the Honduran government saw it in its eyes and was anxious in its heart, you people in Saskatchewan are "on fire", and we are not yet "on fire". So the Honduran government decided to take measures.

By 1969, Honduras was engaged in a major agrarian reform movement, deciding to distribute land to Honduran peasants and confiscating the fertile land of Salvadoran peasants who had survived for generations. There is no land to plant, and if you stay, only you will look at me, and I will look at you. This triggered a wave of Salvadoran farmers returning home, and the Salvadoran government also intervened with Honduras, but Honduras ignored it. Relations between the two countries broke down.

In the 1970 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in Mexico, Honduras and El Salvador were drawn in the same group for the final place to qualify. According to the format at the time, it took two wins in three rounds to qualify.

Why did El Salvador and Honduras start a football war in 1969?

El Salvador team photo

After the start of the qualifiers, the two sides fought fiercely:

First round: Honduras 1-0 Salvador

Second round: Honduras 0 - 3 El Salvador

Third round: Honduras 2 - 3 El Salvador

Statistically, Honduras won one game at home, El Salvador pulled one back in the second round, and narrowly won 3-2 in the third round of extra time. Honduras was not happy, and widespread beatings, deportation of Salvadoran immigrants and looting of property ensued. On June 27, 1969, the two countries announced the severance of diplomatic relations. Loss of the game, a series of violent incidents. In this case, war is on the verge of breaking out.

On July 14, 1969, El Salvadoran commander Hernández ordered an attack on Honduras.

Why did El Salvador and Honduras start a football war in 1969?

Salvadoran soldiers

On the same day, the Salvadoran Air Force bombed the Tonkonting airport in Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras. The Honduran Air Force also responded by bombing the airfield in Irobango on 15 July. On July 16 and 17, air battles broke out again between the two air forces, the main fighters of Honduras were relatively advanced, the Saskatchewan army suffered a crushing defeat, and the combat effectiveness of the air force was greatly reduced. At the same time, El Salvador sent more than 12,000 ground troops to invade Honduras and occupy several border towns and along the Pan-American Highway. However, limited by supply problems and stubborn resistance from the Honduran army and civilians, the Salvadoran army was forced to stop its advance soon after the invasion. The war between the two sides is in a state of stalemate.

Why did El Salvador and Honduras start a football war in 1969?

Air Force fighters

On July 18, 1969, under pressure from the United States and the Organization of American States, the two sides finally signed a ceasefire agreement. To this day, El Salvador and Honduras are still economically backward, El Salvador is beautiful, but gangsters are rampant, and tourism is "stifled" by poor security. Honduras was also one of the poorest countries in Latin America. Both countries have agriculture as their main industry and have a weak industrial base.

Today, the smoke of war has long since faded, and the long river of history flows slowly. In the end, who is the winner?

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