El Salvador has no illusions about what’s at stake in its final Concacaf Nations League qualifying contest against Jamaica. Win, and your Gold Cup hopes are alive and, probably, well. Lose, and La Selecta miss out on a tournament they’ve been to in each of the last six editions.

The advent of the Nations League meant a change to how teams qualify for the region’s biggest showpiece. Gone is the Copa Centroamericana, replaced by four matchdays that in addition to serving as Gold Cup qualification also will sort teams into their leagues for when the Nations League proper begins in the fall. 

El Salvador looks fixed in League B, which their fans could accept. With a win and a bit of help, though, getting into the Gold Cup is still an option. Missing that tournament wouldn’t sit well with fans of a team that has a rich footballing history that includes greats like Jorge “Magico” Gonzalez and his teammates at the 1982 World Cup.

“For us, it’s super important to qualify for the Gold Cup. It’s a tournament where it’s become normal for El Salvador always to be there,” veteran midfielder Darwin Ceren said, “So we have a huge match the 23rd against Jamaica because we’re playing for our life, practically. It’s a game that could put us in the Gold Cup or eliminate us. As a group, we have to face it with responsibility and commitment to move forward.”

If El Salvador does miss out on the tournament, it would be a bit harsh. A draw against a Jamaica team who already assured itself of a Gold Cup place would mean El Salvador lost just once but wouldn’t move on.

It’s a 1-0 loss against Bermuda that is the problem for Carlos de los Cobos’ side. That and the fact that El Salvador was unable to run up the score in victories over Montserrat and Barbados has put the team in the situation it currently finds itself in.

Ceren says the team can’t look for excuses, though, or dwell on what happened in the past.

“Beyond the fact the system was different and changed, we have to recognize that we messed up in the games we had,” the Houston Dynamo player said. “We weren’t dominant, we didn’t have the quality in the final third to score goals. We had a lot of chances we didn’t finish off and from there, when you don’t score goals and don’t take advantage the other team can build from that and can surprise you. Soccer is like that.”

The sport is sometimes cruel, but it often rewards the team with the most talent. While most teams fear Jamaica’s speed and strength in attack, the Salvadorans have struggled with finding the back of the net more often than with their back line.

The last several years have brought a rotating cast of forwards who have largely failed to impress at the international level. The latest player who Salvadorans are hoping will be able to score in bunches is Joaquin Rivas.

The St. Louis FC forward had a bumper year with the Tulsa Roughnecks last season and has a goal in three caps. He’s part of a new cast of characters for whom the match manipulation scandal that rocked the team in 2013 is a distant memory.

Since that dark period, things mostly have progressed in the right direction for El Salvador — though often in fits and starts. Now it’s up to this current squad to make sure it doesn’t take a massive blow to that positive momentum by missing the region’s most important tournament.

“I know we all feel the pressure from that, but we also understand that we’re capable to do it — especially because that game is at home. I think we have a slight advantage, and I know Jamaica is a very tough opponent, but I think we’ll be able to get a result that day,” Rivas said. “It would be a step back not making it, but we can’t be thinking about that. We’ve got to be positive and go in thinking win or go home, really.”

While fans often have grown frustrated with the federation, the players are hoping to have a full Estadio Cuscatlan making life tough for the Jamaicans and rooting them on to victory.

“The fans definitely bring out a different game, especially for the opponents. Playing in front of everybody in that stadium would be something memorable for me. I know in the last game I was there it wasn’t even nearly sold-out crowd but I think this one will definitely, coming from the win against Guatemala I think people hopefully will be there, it’ll be close to a sell-out and then hopefully they’ll support us,” Rivas said. “We understand that the support of the fans is definitely very important to us in every aspect.”

If things go right for La Azul y Blanco, they’ll be able to celebrate. Otherwise, they may have to wait for Sunday’s results to know their fate - or worse, they’ll know the next important fixture they’ll have won’t come until the League B opener in November.

Jon Arnold is a journalist based in Texas who works as Goal's Concacaf correspondent and appears on the BBC World Football Phone-In. Follow him on Twitter.