Bukele Sidesteps โSoccer Failure, highlights Tourism Amid World Cup Qualifying Disappointment
SAN SALVADOR – Following El Salvador‘s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup under coach David “Bolillo” Gรณmez, President nayib โBukele conspicuously avoided direct comment on the national team’s performance, rather turning to socialโค media to promote tourism and another sport gainingโ traction in the country. Bukele’s response, or lack thereof,โฃ has drawn โขattention as the nation grapples with missing out on World Cup contention.
The Salvadoran national team’s elimination from the Concacaf qualifying groups marks a โsetback โfor the country’s soccer ambitions and disappoints a passionate fanbase. While many โanticipated a statement fromโค the President regarding the team’s performance,Bukele opted to highlight El Salvador’s growing appeal as a tourist destination,specificallyโ referencing the promotion of surfing in a key location at a high altitude. This strategic shift in focus underscores the administration’s priorities and its efforts to diversify national attention โคbeyond soccer.
Bukele initially reactedโ to news of the qualifying defeat โคwith a “trill” – aโข retweet – on X (formerly Twitter), as captured in a โขscreenshot shared by @Bitcoinbeach. He then followed up with an Instagram post โshowcasing the country’s surfing scene, signaling a โฃintentional redirection โof the national conversation.
