The World Cup is coming to Central America's doorstep.
On Thursday, Mexico, alongside the US and Canada, will kick-off the largest tournament in football history, drawing millions of fans and generating an estimated $11bn in revenue for Fifa.
Just south of the host nations lies a region where football is woven into daily life, where children play on dusty pitches and national team victories can bring entire cities to a halt.
But Central America will once again watch from the sidelines.
Only Panama has qualified for the tournament. But more importantly, no Central American country will host a single match. And despite the region's passion for the sport, economists say none are likely to host a World Cup anytime soon.
