# El Salvador Faces Coaching Turmoil Before USWNT Quarterfinal
El Salvador’s women’s national team is preparing to face the United States women’s national team (USWNT) in the Concacaf W Championship quarterfinals amid controversy surrounding head coach Eric Acuna.
The dispute followed two friendly losses to Paraguay in October. Acuna publicly criticized players after the defeats and said he had removed team privileges, including time away from the training center. The episode has raised questions about team morale and leadership just weeks before a major tournament.
## What Happened in El Salvador’s Games Against Paraguay?
El Salvador lost both October friendlies, opening the series with a 5-1 defeat before falling 3-2 in the second match.
In the second game, Brenda Ceren and Danya Gutierrez scored to give La Selecta a two-goal first-half lead. Paraguay pulled one back after halftime, and El Salvador’s task became more difficult when Nicolle Amaya was sent off after receiving a second yellow card.
Paraguay equalized while playing with a numerical advantage. Gutierrez was later shown a second yellow card as well, leaving El Salvador with nine players. Monserrat Ayala scored the winner in the 80th minute, and El Salvador could not recover.
## Eric Acuna Stripped Players of Perks
After the first loss, Acuna told reporters he was taking away the team’s privileges ahead of the second match. He said players would not be allowed to leave the training center for activities such as getting coffee, and argued that the squad needed to focus on its work and improve its performance.
Following the second defeat, Acuna again criticized the team. He questioned the goalkeeping, compared players’ abilities and expressed little confidence in the options available on the bench. He also suggested that some players from the October camps might not be selected for the November matches.
His remarks drew particular attention because they singled out individual players and compared teammates publicly.
## Players and Federation Respond to the Comments
Several players and members of the wider soccer community responded to the controversy. Ceren, whom Acuna had praised in comparison with teammate Sam Fisher, emphasized that El Salvador’s team is built on collective effort. She said every player contributes, whether starting, coming on as a substitute or waiting for an opportunity.
Isabella Recinos, who has represented El Salvador at the under-20 level, called for a change in leadership in a social media post. She argued that coaches should take responsibility for results instead of placing blame on players in public.
Acuna later apologized for his conduct during the press conferences and said he wanted to move forward. The Salvadoran Football Federation (FESFUT) also issued a statement supporting the players and condemning comments that discredit or belittle members of the national team.
The federation said the case would be handled seriously and stressed that representing El Salvador deserves respect in both successful and difficult moments.
## Acuna’s Previous Suspension
The latest controversy comes after Acuna was suspended in May 2025 following a hair-pulling allegation involving a parent of an under-17 player. He returned after a three-month suspension and retained responsibility for the senior national team, while his role was separated from the youth teams.
That history has added scrutiny to the federation’s response and raised questions about whether any immediate changes to the coaching setup will follow.
## What the Controversy Means Before the USWNT Match
The USWNT and El Salvador are scheduled to meet in the Concacaf W Championship quarterfinals. The eight-team tournament also serves as a qualifying competition for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
The United States earned a direct place in the tournament and will face El Salvador in the knockout round. The other quarterfinal matchups are Canada against Panama, Mexico against Haiti, and Jamaica against Costa Rica.
The challenge for El Salvador is significant. The United States is one of the region’s strongest teams, while El Salvador enters the tournament dealing with public tension between its coach and players. The controversy may make preparation more difficult, particularly with limited time before the quarterfinal.
El Salvador has made progress in recent years, including expanding its player pool and recruiting dual-national talent. The team also earned a bronze medal at the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games. However, the upcoming USWNT match will test both its on-field readiness and its ability to move forward as a unified group.
## A Key Test for El Salvador’s Team Culture
The Concacaf W Championship quarterfinal gives El Salvador an opportunity to focus attention back on soccer. But resolving the fallout from Acuna’s comments may be just as important as preparing tactically for the USWNT.
With World Cup and Olympic qualification at stake, the team will need clear leadership, trust among teammates and a shared plan for the challenge ahead.