The Salvadoran Football Federation (FESFUT) ratified Hernán Darío Gómez as coach of the senior national team on October 8, 2026, keeping the 70-year-old Colombian in charge despite El Salvador’s relegation from League A of the Concacaf Nations League. The unanimous vote of the FESFUT executive committee means Gómez, known as Bolillo, will lead La Selecta into November’s play-in against Saint Martin.
FESFUT announced the decision in an official statement confirming Gómez’s continuity and noting he will soon begin preparing for the play-in ties. The federation added that his coaching staff will be expanded, with details to be announced later. Bukele said the executive committee’s evaluation weighed the work done so far, the players’ views and the improvements the team needs, arguing that a coaching change would force the team to start another cycle of diagnosis and adaptation. The ratification came three days after a 1-1 draw at Martinique sealed relegation to League B. Before the final group matches, Gómez had said he would step aside if El Salvador failed to remain in League A, a pledge FESFUT president Yamil Bukele confirmed publicly on September 30.
The results under Gómez explain the pressure. He took over in February 2025 and has overseen 20 matches in charge of the national team, with 4 wins, 6 draws and 10 defeats. El Salvador exited the 2025 Gold Cup in the group stage with one point and no goals scored. In the final round of 2026 World Cup qualifying, one win away at Guatemala was followed by five straight defeats, a last-place finish and elimination. The Nations League campaign ended with one win, one draw and two defeats, including a 6-0 loss at Guatemala, the heaviest defeat of his tenure.
El Salvador now faces Saint Martin in the Nations League play-in in November. FESFUT has not yet announced dates, venues or the expanded coaching staff. The ties will be Gómez’s first matches since the ratification.
