In 1969, a tense World Cup qualifying match between El Salvador and Honduras ignited a brief but bloody war. But the real fuel was decades of land disputes and the plight of Salvadoran migrants. Soccer was merely the spark.

This episode traces the four days of fighting that saw bombing raids and ground invasions. We examine how populist media and nationalism turned a sports rivalry into a military mobilization, leaving thousands dead and a region further destabilized.

Hosted by Ibnul Jaif Farabi. Produced by Light Knot Studios (lightknotstudios.com).