 At the 1997 UNCAF Nations Cup , hosted in Guatemala using a two – round two – group – stage system , El Salvador was drawn into a group with Honduras and Panama . La Selecta lost 3 – 0 to Honduras in their first match but defeated Panama 2 – 0 in their second . In the second group stage they finished in third place , losing to Guatemala 0 – 1 , Costa Rica 0 – 1 , and drawing Honduras 0 – 0 . They finished in third , with 1 point . They advanced to the 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup , hosted in the United States . El Salvador were coached by Kiril <unk> . At the Gold Cup , El Salvador was drawn into a group with Brazil , Guatemala , and Jamaica . They tied Guatemala 0 – 0 and lost to Brazil 0 – 4 and Jamaica 0 – 2 . 
