MIAMI, Florida – A stalwart of the Concacaf Gold Cup, El Salvador have every reason to believe that the 2021 tournament, which will be their 12th, could be their most successful one yet.
Under the guidance of new Head Coach Hugo Perez, El Salvador charged into the Final Round of Concacaf World Cup Qualifying.
The Cuscatlecos posted a 3W-1D-0L record in the First Round, with 13 goals scored and just one conceded.
El Salvador then followed up that effort with a very strong performance against Saints Kitts and Nevis in the Second Round, downing the Caribbean side 6-0 on aggregate to reach the eight-team Final Round.
FW David Rugamas arrives into the 2021 Gold Cup in scorching form after scoring six goals in the First Round of WCQ, followed by another two goals in the Second Round.
Rugamas and fellow FW Joshua Perez have formed a dynamic duo up top for El Salvador, with Perez contributing a pair of goals in the Second Round of WCQ.
Perez also is already well-acquainted with Concacaf tournament play, having represented El Salvador in the 2020 Concacaf Men’s Olympic Qualifying Championship in which he scored two goals.
The midfield is strong, too, with the likes of Marvin Monterroza, Gerson Mayen and Darwin Ceren, all three players with ample Gold Cup experience.
The same can be said about the defense, with mainstays like Roberto Dominguez and Bryan Tamacas, along with new arrival Eriq Zavaleta, who was part of the Toronto FC side that reached the Final of the 2018 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League.
Without question, it will be a very confident El Salvador side that kicks off the 2021 Gold Cup on July 10 against Curacao, and it could be the start of a very special tournament for a side that is still seeking its first Gold Cup semifinal appearance.
