The 100-hour war between El Salvador and Honduras is famous for starting with a football match, but the truth is more complicated. In 1969, the two countries played each other three times in the 1970 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, and two of the matches were marred by fan violence. However, the violence in the games was a result of existing conflicts, not the cause of the war [70bbf638].
On the same day as the third match, the government of El Salvador cut off diplomatic relations with Honduras. This move was a response to broader socio-political tensions, including land ownership disputes and the suppression of peasant movements in Honduras. Two weeks later, the military operation began, lasting 100 hours and ending with a ceasefire. The war led to the displacement of thousands of civilians and increased Salvadoran nationalist sentiment, setting the stage for the Salvadoran Civil War in 1979 [70bbf638].
It is important to recognize that football can have political significance, as seen in the strong reaction from fans and Chinese authorities when Lionel Messi did not play in Hong Kong. However, in the case of the 100-hour war, the idea that football started the conflict is incorrect. The violence in the games was a manifestation of the existing tensions between the two countries [70bbf638].