Suriname vs El Salvador in a crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualification (CONCACAF) – Third Round Group A match on Thursday, November 13, 2025.
Suriname tops the group but cannot afford any slip-ups, while El Salvador is under pressure and must get a result to keep their qualification hopes alive.
Suriname hosts El Salvador at Dr. Franklin Essed Stadium in Paramaribo in a crucial CONCACAF World Cup qualifier where both nations desperately need victory.
The hosts lead Group A with 6 points and aim for their historic first World Cup qualification, while El Salvador sit bottom with 3 points and face potential elimination after three consecutive defeats.
This rematch comes just two months after Suriname’s stunning 2-1 away victory in September—their first win over the Salvadorans since 1968.
Suriname vs El Salvador Match Information, Prediction, H2H and Where to Watch
Table of Contents
- Tournament: 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualification (CONCACAF)
- Match Date: Thursday, November 13, 2025
- Time: 22:00 UTC (Local: Dr. Ir. Franklin Essed Stadion, Paramaribo)
- Stadium: Dr. Ir. Franklin Essed Stadion, Paramaribo, Suriname
- Past 5 Matches / Form:
- Suriname: D D W D D (in recent qualifiers)
- El Salvador: W L L L L (struggling form)
Suriname’s Historic Push:
Stanley Menzo’s squad has never reached a World Cup finals and currently leads Group A with 6 points from 4 matches (1 win, 3 draws).
Suriname’s campaign has been defined by defensive solidity and resiliency rather than attacking prowess—demonstrating the organization and determination of a team pursuing an impossible dream.
Their September 2-1 victory over El Salvador in San Salvador snapped a disastrous 8-match winless streak against the Salvadorans dating back decades.
However, Suriname have drawn three of four matches in this round and must convert draws into wins to secure qualification. Late goal concessions to Panama (1-1 in 90+6′) epitomize their inability to close out matches despite strong performances.
El Salvador’s Desperate Situation:
Hernan Dario Gomez’s side sit bottom with just 3 points and have collapsed spectacularly after winning their opener against Guatemala.
El Salvador lost three consecutive matches by single-goal margins and must avoid defeat to maintain top-two qualification hopes.
With just two matchdays remaining, defeat on Thursday would mathematically end their automatic qualification prospects, forcing a playoff route at best. La Selecta’s only World Cup appearance since 1982 underscores how rare qualification is for the nation.
Suriname Last 5 Matches
| Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panama (A) | 1-1 | D | WCQ CONCACAF | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Guatemala (H) | 1-1 | D | WCQ CONCACAF | Oct 10, 2025 |
| El Salvador (A) | 2-1 | W | WCQ CONCACAF | Sep 9, 2025 |
| Panama (H) | 0-0 | D | WCQ CONCACAF | Sep 5, 2025 |
| Guatemala (A) | 1-0 | W | Friendly | Aug 28, 2025 |
El Salvador Last 5 Matches
| Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guatemala (H) | 0-1 | L | WCQ CONCACAF | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Guatemala (A) | 1-0 | W | WCQ CONCACAF | Oct 9, 2025 |
| Panama (H) | 0-1 | L | WCQ CONCACAF | Oct 1, 2025 |
| Suriname (H) | 1-2 | L | WCQ CONCACAF | Sep 9, 2025 |
| Guatemala (H) | 1-1 | D | WCQ CONCACAF | Jun 11, 2025 |
Suriname vs El Salvador Head to Head History
El Salvador dramatically hold the historical advantage, boasting 8 wins to Suriname’s 2 with just 1 draw across their 11 all-time meetings.
However, Suriname’s psychological breakthrough came with their 2-1 September victory—their first win since 1968—snapping nearly 6 decades of futility against the Central Americans.
El Salvador’s last victory dates to 2011, highlighting Suriname’s recent competitive improvement.
| Info | Played | Suriname Wins | Draws | El Salvador Wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Matches | 11 | 2 | 1 | 8 |
| Goals For | 5 | 18 | ||
| Goals Against | 18 | 5 |
Current Team News of Suriname vs El Salvador
Suriname Team News:
Manager Stanley Menzo has reported no major injury concerns for his squad. Captain Shaquille Pinas provides defensive leadership and was involved in racist chanting allegations post-September victory.
Midfielder Tjarron Chery (NEC Nijmegen playmaker) orchestrates possession from midfield with creative distribution. Defender Radinio Balker (Huddersfield Town, Dutch-born) scored the opening goal in September’s 2-1 win with his powerful header.
Forward Dhoraso Klas delivered the September match-winner with his 81st-minute goal and provided a finishing threat.
El Salvador Team News:
Coach Hernan Dario Gomez has called up Michel Mercado and Bolillo Gomez to strengthen the squad. Striker Brayan Gil leads the attack with 5 international goals and was denied an equalizer via VAR in September’s loss.
Defender Jefferson Valladares anchors the backline, while Adan Climaco provides full-back support.
The team’s recent form suggests defensive organization is their stronger suit than attacking penetration.
Current Possible Starting Lineups of Suriname vs El Salvador
Suriname Predicted XI (4-4-2):
- Hahn; Blanco, Pinas, Van Geel, Lonwijk; Chery, Beenhakker, Marhoef, Amatkarijo; Klas, Balker
El Salvador Predicted XI (4-4-2):
- Gonzáles; Climaco, Sibrian, Rodriguez, Valladares; Ruiz, Guevara, Melara, Cabrera; Gil, López
Key Players
Suriname Key Players:
- Dhoraso Klas: Scored the decisive September goal and provided attacking thrust with pace and positioning.
- Radinio Balker: Huddersfield Town defender scored in September and anchors the defense.
- Tjarron Chery: NEC Nijmegen midfielder controls possession and creates from midfield,
- Shaquille Pinas: Captain and defensive leader for historic World Cup push,
El Salvador Key Players:
- Brayan Gil: Forward with 5 international goals leads the attack despite recent struggles.
- Michel Mercado: Recently recalled midfielder adds attacking support.
- Jefferson Valladares: Right-back provides defensive stability and positional discipline.
Match Prediction
Suriname enters as the narrow favorites with home advantage, psychological edge from September’s victory, league leadership, and unbeaten home form.
However, El Salvador’s desperation could produce a determined performance given their bottom-of-the-table position and playoff elimination risk.
Suriname’s concern is converting draws into wins—they have transformed just 1 of 4 matches into victory and conceded late goals repeatedly.
El Salvador has lost three consecutive matches by a single goal, suggesting defensive fragility but also competitive matches.
The analytics suggest a low-scoring affair with both teams’ recent patterns showing under 2.5 goals in the majority of matches.
Suriname’s home record (1 win, 2 draws) and El Salvador’s attacking deficiency (2 goals in 4 matches) support a cautious prediction.
- Predicted Score: Suriname 1-0 El Salvador
Group A Standings
| Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suriname | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 6 |
| Panama | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 6 |
| El Salvador | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 3 |
| Guatemala | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 2 |
Where to Watch Suriname vs El Salvador FIFA World Cup Qualifications 2026
- North America: Check CONCACAF.com, ESPN+, Paramount+ for broadcasting details
- Global: Various regional broadcasters available through official CONCACAF channels
- Time: 22:00 UTC / 17:00 EST / 6:00 PM CST (November 13, 2025)
