The Football War
Also known as the 100 Hours War, it was the 1969 war between El Salvador and Honduras.
Named so for the rioting that took place during the second round of the North American Qualifier for the 1970 FIFA World Cup.
It was fought over Honduran land reform and El Salvador's immigration problem, as well as a border dispute. 4,000 people died in the 4 days of fighting, and the war ended due to intervention from the OAS (no, not the OSS).
One of the few 20th Century wars where the nations eventually Earned a happy ending. They signed a peace treaty 11 years after the war ended and Honduras won the disputed territory in a ICJ (International Court of Justice) ruling in 1992.
Noted for being the last war where both sides fought in the skies using piston-engined fighters, namely ex-American World War II and Korean War fighters.
In the case of soccer, El Salvador won a spot for the World Cup, but lost in the Group Stages
- Cool Plane: Noted for being the last war involving both sides using prop planes.
- Foreshadowing: El Salvador's unrest worsened after this war, it sadly led to the death of 75,000 people in their Civil War. Ousted or homeless Salvadoran soldiers also fled to America after the war and created some of the deadliest street gangs the country has had to face, such as MS-13.
- Serious Business: Seriously, a war about football ?