By OkayGoal
The USWNT is gearing up for another major international competition, and its first opponent has a historic story of its own.
Meet El Salvador’s women’s national team, better known as La Selecta Cuscatleca. The Salvadoran squad is preparing for its first-ever appearance in the 2026 CONCACAF W Championship. Led by head coach Eric Acuña, the team is looking to make its mark against some of the region’s biggest names.
And while El Salvador may not have the same international résumé as the United States, this team is coming into the tournament with something to prove.
Making History
El Salvador officially punched its ticket to the 2026 CONCACAF W Championship after an impressive qualifying campaign. The team finished first in Group F with a perfect 3-0-0 record.
La Selecta didn’t just qualify. It made a statement along the way.
The team scored 18 goals and allowed zero across its three qualifying matches. One of its biggest performances came against Barbados, where El Salvador delivered a dominant 13-0 victory.
Captain Brenda Cerén and Danielle Fuentes each recorded hat tricks in the match. Cerén then delivered again in the team’s final qualifier against Trinidad and Tobago.
Her two goals secured a 2-0 victory and officially sent El Salvador into the tournament. It was a moment that marked a major milestone for the country’s women’s soccer program.
For a team making its tournament debut, the excitement surrounding this group is well deserved.
Meet the Star: Brenda Cerén
If there is one name USWNT fans should know heading into this matchup, it is Brenda Cerén.
The forward serves as El Salvador’s captain and one of its biggest offensive threats. She has become a key figure in the team’s growth under Acuña.
Cerén finished the 2025-26 CONCACAF W Qualifiers with five goals and four assists. Her performance also earned her a spot in CONCACAF’s Best XI for the qualifying competition.
But her impact goes beyond one tournament.
As of October 2026, Cerén had scored 26 goals under Acuña’s leadership. That makes her the leading scorer of his tenure with the national team.
She currently plays for Cruz Azul Femenil in Mexico’s Liga MX Femenil. Her experience and ability to find the back of the net make her someone the United States cannot afford to overlook.
The Woman Leading the Way
Behind El Salvador’s recent success is head coach Eric Acuña.
Acuña has led the women’s national team since 2020. Under his leadership, the program has continued to build its international presence and develop a competitive squad.
His team has shown it can create scoring opportunities, apply offensive pressure and compete against regional opponents.
The roster also features players competing internationally across Mexico, the United States, Europe and South America.
That international experience gives El Salvador another important piece heading into the tournament.
What to Expect Against the USWNT
Now comes the biggest test yet.
El Salvador will face the United States on November 27 in the CONCACAF W Championship quarterfinals. The matchup will take place at Texas Health Mansfield Stadium in Mansfield, Texas.
The USWNT enters as the defending champion and the top-ranked team in the tournament. El Salvador, meanwhile, will be looking to turn its historic debut into an even bigger moment.
The stakes are high. The four quarterfinal winners automatically qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. The losing teams will have another opportunity through the tournament’s Play-In round.
For La Selecta, this is more than another match on the schedule. It is an opportunity to show how far its women’s program has come.
The USWNT will certainly be the favorite, but El Salvador has already proven it can make history. And with Cerén leading the attack, this is a team that deserves some attention.
One thing is certain: La Selecta isn’t coming just to participate. It’s coming to compete.
Featured image via @brendaceren_11