World Cup History
Best Result:
1982, First Round
Placed in Group 5 with Northern Ireland, hosts Spain and Yugoslavia at the 1982 World Cup, Honduras made the football community sit up and take notice with its first appearance in the World Cup finals. A 1-1 draw with Spain was followed by another 1-1 result against Northern Ireland. An 87th minute penalty saw them lose 1-0 to Yugoslavia and bow out (which coincidentally allowed hosts Spain through) and a 28-year wait for a return to the World Cup began.
Road to World Cup
Qualified in third place CONCACAF
There were plenty of nervous moments before Honduras finally clinched their berth to South Africa 2010. Qualifying started easily enough, a 6-2 aggregate win over Puerto Rico securing a round three placing in a group containing regional powerhouse Mexico, the dangerous Jamaica and Canada. But that too proved a breeze, Honduras topping the group with an impressive four wins-two draws record.
It was then the path got a lot bumpier. Honduras was thrown into the hexagonal final group of qualifying with the US, El Salvador, Trinidad and Tobago and Costa Rica - the top three place-getters receiving a direct ticket to the finals. Los Catrachos fell 2-0 to Costa Rica first-up then drew with Trinidad and Tobago. A 2-1 win over Mexico breathed new life into the Honduran campaign, subsequent victories over El Salvador, Costa Rica and T & T pushing them into first place. But two successive defeats left Honduras needing a win in El Salvador in their final match to qualify, as long as Costa Rica did not beat the Americans. Catrachos held up their end of the bargain, beating El Salvador 1-0. But drama was unfolding in the other crucial tie, Costa Rica leading the US 2-1 deep into injury time. A 95th minute equaliser denied the Costa Ricans and Honduras was through to just their second World Cup.
Star Men
Carlos Pavon - Scorer of the crucial match winner in the final qualifying match against El Salvador, Pavon has been a mainstay of the national team since 1993. His 95 appearances have yielded an impressive 56 goals.
Noel Valladares - The veteran goalkeeper has been with the national side since 2000 and endured two painful World Cup qualifying exits before celebrating a spot at the 2010 finals. He has played senior football as a striker.
Stranger than Fiction
Although he is the son of Honduran footballing legend Allan Costly, star striker Carlos Costly also has strong ties to the country's regional rivals Mexico. His parents separated when he was young, his mother marrying a Mexican. Costly spent some of his teenage years living in Mexico City but is fully committed to Los Catrachos.
