Hondurans put aside political crisis to celebrate reaching 1st World Cup since 1982

World Cup bid unites Hondurans divided by coup

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — A soccer victory that clinched Honduras’ first trip to the World Cup in almost 30 years is giving its people an exhilarating distraction from the divisive political crisis that has gripped the country for the last 3½ months.

Negotiators are continuing talks on whether to reinstate ousted President Manuel Zelaya. But right now Hondurans are more interested in celebrating Wednesday night’s 1-0 defeat of neighboring El Salvador.

Thursday was declared a national holiday and hundreds of thousands of people celebrated outside, many welcoming the team at the airport and others lining the streets to a church where the players attended Mass.

Next year’s World Cup in South Africa will be Honduras’ first since 1982.

(This version CORRECTS that it will be Honduras’ first trip to World Cup in almost 30 years, sted 30 years)