Women's football in the Concacaf region continues to improve, with El Salvador and the Dominican Republic providing perfect examples. Both nations jumped eight points in the latest FIFA Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking thanks to their performances in the first stage of qualifying for the 2027 Women's World Cup.
While their qualification fortunes differed, with El Salvador punching their ticket to the 2026 Concacaf W Championship and Dominican Republic narrowly missing out, their ranking climbs reflect years of hard work. Just eight years ago, El Salvador's situation was dramatically different. They went winless in first-round qualifying for France 2019 with a minus-15 goal difference, and their ranking had fallen to 119th by December 2021.
That was when Eric Acuna took over as head coach of the senior, U-17, and U-20 teams. He searched tirelessly across El Salvador and North America to hold camps for eligible players. His recruitment strengthened teams across all levels, creating internal competition. The result has been a senior squad featuring players who developed through the youth ranks together, achieving the country's highest-ever ranking of 78th. They now stand on the verge of qualifying for their first Women's World Cup at any age level.
