Costa Rica national football team

The Costa Rica national football team (Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Costa Rica) represents Costa Rica in men's international football. The national team is administered by the Costa Rican Football Federation (FEDEFUTBOL), the governing body for football in Costa Rica. It has been a member of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) since 1927, the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) since 1961, and a member of the Central American Football Union (UNCAF) since 1990.

Costa Rica
Nickname(s)Los Ticos (The Ticos)
AssociationFederación Costarricense de Fútbol (FEDEFUTBOL)
ConfederationCONCACAF (North America)
Sub-confederationUNCAF (Central America)
Head coachRónald González Brenes
CaptainBryan Ruiz
Most capsWalter Centeno (137)
Top scorerRolando Fonseca (47)
Home stadiumEstadio Nacional
FIFA codeCRC
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 46 (11 June 2020)[1]
Highest13 (February–March 2015)
Lowest93 (July 1996)
Elo ranking
Current 48 6 (2 April 2020)[2]
Highest13 (11 March 1960)
Lowest81 (March 1983)
First international
 Costa Rica 7–0 El Salvador 
(Guatemala City, Guatemala; 14 September 1921)
Biggest win
 Costa Rica 12–0 Puerto Rico 
(Barranquilla, Colombia; 10 December 1946)
Biggest defeat
 Mexico 7–0 Costa Rica 
(Mexico City, Mexico; 17 August 1975)
World Cup
Appearances5 (first in 1990)
Best resultQuarter-finals (2014)
CONCACAF Championship & Gold Cup
Appearances20 (first in 1963)
Best resultChampions (1963, 1969, 1989)
Copa América
Appearances5 (first in 1997)
Best resultQuarter-finals (2001, 2004)
Copa Centroamericana
Appearances14 (first in 1991)
Best resultChampions (1991, 1997, 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2013, 2014)

Costa Rica is the most successful national football team in history from the region of Central America. Winning three CONCACAF Championships (1963, 1969, 1989) and leading the Copa Centroamericana tournament with three championships up until 2017, when it was absorbed into the CONCACAF Nations League. Costa Rica is the only national team in Central America to have played in five FIFA World Cup editions. Costa Rica's national football team has the all-time highest average Football Elo Ranking in Central America with 1597.1, and the all-time highest Football Elo Ranking in Central America, with 1806 in 2014.

Since the late 1980s, the team has continuously been visible as a solidly competitive side, with a prominent performance in the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy, making it to the knockout stage in their debut after finishing second in their group during the first phase, below Brazil. They also managed to qualify for the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cups.

In 2014, Costa Rica achieved their best performance in history by finishing first in their group that consisted of three former World Cup champions: Uruguay, Italy, and England. During the round 16 they defeated Greece 5–3 via a penalty shootout after a 1–1 draw. Moreover, during their match against the Greek team, Keylor Navas saved more than 15 shots. They reached the quarter-finals for the very first time but were defeated by the Netherlands, also in a penalty shootout (3–4) after a scoreless draw on 5 July.[3][4] Their 2018 World Cup campaign ended in a fourth place group stage exit, with their only point coming from a 2–2 draw against Switzerland.

History

Early history

Costa Rica national team at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia

The national team made its debut in the Independence Centenary Games held in Guatemala City in September 1921, winning their first game 7–0 against El Salvador. In the final, Costa Rica defeated 6–0 Guatemala to claim the trophy.[5]

Costa Rica's team in the late 1940s acquired the nickname "The Gold Shorties". Throughout the '50s and '60s, they were the second strongest team in the CONCACAF zone behind Mexico, finishing runners-up in World Cup qualifying in the 1958, 1962 and 1966 qualifiers. Stars of the side during this period included Ruben Jimenez, Errol Daniels, Leonel Hernandez and Edgar Marin. However, Costa Rica was not able to utilize this advantage, hence failed to reach any World Cup at that decade.

At the end of the 1960s their fortunes declined as Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Haiti, Trinidad & Tobago and Canada rose in prominence.

1980s

Costa Rica failed to qualify for any of the World Cups in the 1970s and 1980s, and did not reach the final round of the CONCACAF qualifying until the 1986 qualifiers.

They participated in two consecutive Summer Olympic Games, in Moscow 1980 and in Los Angeles 1984. In 1980, Costa Rica competed against Yugoslavia, Finland and Iraq in Group D, losing 3–2, 3–0 and 3–0 respectively. In Los Angeles, the Ticos lost 3–0 against the United States, and 4–1 against Egypt, but beat a strong Italy team, which included Walter Zenga, Pietro Vierchowod, Franco Baresi and Aldo Serena, 1–0 with a goal by the midfielder Enrique Rivers.

1990 World Cup

Flores (C)
Chavarria
Marchena
Gómez
Team that played against Scotland in the World Cup Italy 1990

Costa Rica won the 1989 CONCACAF Championship to qualify for the finals of a World Cup for the first time. In the first round of the qualifiers, they beat Panama 3–1 on aggregate after a 2–0 away victory in the second leg, with goals by Juan Arnoldo Cayasso and Hernán Medford. They were drwan against Mexico in the second round, but advanced automatically when their opponents were disqualified for youth player age tampering.

Costa Rica started the final qualifying group stage with a home victory and an away defeat against both Guatemala and the United States. They drew 1–1 with Trinidad and Tobago and then beat the same opponents 1–0 at home with a goal by Cayasso. They achieved an important away win, 4–2 against El Salvador at the Estadio Cuscatlán, with goals from Carlos Mario Hidalgo, Cayasso and a double from Leonidas Flores, before beating El Salvador 1–0 in San José with a goal from Pastor Fernández. They finished first in the group table, ahead of the United States on goal difference.

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Costa Rica 8 5 1 2 10 6 +4 11
 United States 8 4 3 1 6 3 +3 11
 Trinidad and Tobago 8 3 3 2 7 5 +2 9
 Guatemala 6 1 1 4 4 7 3 3
 El Salvador 6 0 2 4 2 8 6 2
Source:

Placed in Group C at the World Cup finals, Costa Rica began by beating Scotland 1–0 thanks to another goal by Cayasso. Although they lost to Brazil by the same score, they came from behind to beat Sweden 2–1 in their final group match to reach the knockout stages. There, they lost 4–1 to Czechoslovakia, for whom Tomáš Skuhravý scored a hat-trick.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Brazil 3 3 0 0 4 1 +3 6 Advance to knockout stage
2  Costa Rica 3 2 0 1 3 2 +1 4
3  Scotland 3 1 0 2 2 3 1 2
4  Sweden 3 0 0 3 3 6 3 0
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers

1990s and early 2000s

Costa Rica failed to qualify for World Cups in 1994 and 1998, but they were invited to the Copa América for the first time in 1997. In the tournament, held in Bolivia, they finished bottom of first round Group C behind Brazil, Mexico and Colombia, with just one point. Costa Rica's friendlies in this period included a 5–4 defeat against Uruguay in the Estadio Centenario.

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Brazil 3 3 0 0 10 2 +8 9
 Mexico 3 1 1 1 5 5 0 4
 Colombia 3 1 0 2 5 5 0 3
 Costa Rica 3 0 1 2 2 10 8 1
Source:

They returned to the Copa América in Colombia in 2001. On this occasion they finished top of their first round group, but lost 2–1 in the quarter-finals to Uruguay.

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Costa Rica 3 2 1 0 6 1 +5 7
 Honduras 3 2 0 1 3 1 +2 6
 Uruguay 3 1 1 1 2 2 0 4
 Bolivia 3 0 0 3 0 7 7 0
Source:

2002 World Cup

The Ticos won the qualification for the 2002 World Cup held in South Korea and Japan. During the qualifiers, Costa Rica were coached by the Brazilian, Gílson Nunes, and then by the naturalised Brazilian, Alexandre Guimarães. The first qualifying group stage began with an unexpected 2–1 defeat to Barbados. After this humiliation, Costa Rica beat the United States 2–1 at the Ricardo Saprissa Stadium, with goals from Rolando Fonseca and Hernán Medford. They then beat Guatemala 2–1 in the Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto, with two goals from Paulo Wanchope and Barbados 3–0 at the Ricardo Saprissa, with goals from Juan Soto, Fonseca and Medford. A draw against the United States and a 2–1 defeat to Guatemala forced Costa Rica into a play-off against Guatemala in Miami. Costa Rica won 5–2 with two goals from Fonseca and one each from Wanchope, Reynaldo Parks and Jafeth Soto.

Costa Rica displayed fine attacking form during the final qualifying round, beginning with a 2–2 draw against Honduras at the Ricardo Saprissa, with goals from Fonseca and Rodrigo Cordero, and a 3–0 defeat of Trinidad and Tobago at the Morera Soto. Their only loss in this round came when the United States beat them 1–0. Costa Rica bounced back with a 2–1 win against Mexico in Mexico City, a match known as the Aztecazo,[6] with goals from Fonseca and Medford. Further wins over Jamaica, Honduras and Trinidad and Tobago took Costa Rica to the brink of qualification, which they sealed with an emotional 2–0 win against the United States in the Saprissa, with a double from Fonseca.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Costa Rica 10 7 2 1 17 7 +10 23 Qualified to the 2002 FIFA World Cup
2  Mexico 10 5 2 3 16 9 +7 17
3  United States 10 5 2 3 11 8 +3 17
4  Honduras 10 4 2 4 17 17 0 14
5  Jamaica 10 2 2 6 7 14 7 8
6  Trinidad and Tobago 10 1 2 7 5 18 13 5
Source: FIFA

In the finals, Costa Rica were drawn into Group C with Brazil, China, and Turkey. Their campaign started in Gwangju, where the Ticos beat China 2–0. In their second game against Turkey in Incheon, Winston Parks scored an 86th-minute goal to earn a 1–1 draw. Against Brazil, Costa Rica fought back from 3–0 down to 3–2 early in the second half, only to concede two further goals and lose 5–2. With Turkey beating China 3–0, Costa Rica finished behind Turkey on goal difference and were eliminated.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Brazil 3 3 0 0 11 3 +8 9 Advance to knockout stage
2  Turkey 3 1 1 1 5 3 +2 4
3  Costa Rica 3 1 1 1 5 6 1 4
4  China PR 3 0 0 3 0 9 9 0
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Tie-breaking criteria

2006 World Cup

Costa Rica again managed to qualify for the World Cup finals in 2006, albeit with difficulties that saw their American coach Steve Sampson depart after they required away goals to beat Cuba in the preliminary phase. The Colombian Jorge Luis Pinto took over for the next round, which began with a disastrous 5–2 defeat at home against Honduras and a 2–1 loss in Guatemala. Costa Rica recovered with two wins over Canada and a resounding 5–0 triumph over Guatemala, when Wanchope scored a hat-trick and Carlos Hernández and Fonseca added further goals. Costa Rica advanced to the hexagonal round by winning the group.

In the final round they started with a 2–1 defeat against Mexico at the Saprissa, before beating Panama by the same score, with goals from Wayne Wilson and Roy Myrie. Pinto was dismissed after a goalless draw with Trinidad and Tobago, and Guimarães returned as coach. His first match ended in a 3–0 defeat to the United States, but wins followed against Guatemala, Panama and Trinidad and Tobago. Costa Rica decisively beat the United States in the Saprissa, 3–0, with a goal from Wanchope and two from Hernández, to guarantee their third World Cup qualification.

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 United States 10 7 1 2 16 6 +10 22[lower-alpha 1] 2–0 3–0 1–0 2–0 2–0
 Mexico 10 7 1 2 22 9 +13 22[lower-alpha 1] 2–1 2–0 2–0 5–2 5–0
 Costa Rica 10 5 1 4 15 14 +1 16 3–0 1–2 2–0 3–2 2–1
 Trinidad and Tobago 10 4 1 5 10 15 5 13 1–2 2–1 0–0 3–2 2–0
 Guatemala 10 3 2 5 16 18 2 11 0–0 0–2 3–1 5–1 2–1
 Panama 10 0 2 8 4 21 17 2 0–3 1–1 1–3 0–1 0–0
Source:
Notes:
  1. Tied on head-to-head points (3). Head-to-head goal difference: United States +1, Mexico −1.

On 9 June 2006, Costa Rica made their debut in Munich in the opening match of the World Cup against the hosts, Germany. Wanchope scored to equalise an early goal from Philipp Lahm, and later added another, but Costa Rica lost 4–2. However, they failed to match this encouraging performance in their remaining two games, losing 3–0 against Ecuador and 2–1 against Poland in a dead rubber.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Germany (H) 3 3 0 0 8 2 +6 9 Advance to knockout stage
2  Ecuador 3 2 0 1 5 3 +2 6
3  Poland 3 1 0 2 2 4 2 3
4  Costa Rica 3 0 0 3 3 9 6 0
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Tie-breaking criteria
(H) Host.

2010 World Cup

Costa Rica began the qualifying competition for the 2010 World Cup against Grenada, winning 5–2 on aggregate (2–2, 3–0). They won all six games played in the next phase, against El Salvador (1–0, 3–1), Haiti (3–1, 2–0) and Suriname (7–0, 4–1).

With two games left in the Hexagonal round, Costa Rica trailed Honduras by one point in trying to win the third automatic qualification place behind the United States and Mexico. When Honduras lost 3–2 at home to the United States, Costa Rica overtook them with a 4–0 win against Trinidad and Tobago. Needing to win the final match in Washington, D.C. against the United States to ensure qualification, the Ticos led 2–0 at half-time, but Jonathan Bornstein scored an injury-time equaliser to draw the match 2–2. Meanwhile, Honduras's 1–0 victory over El Salvador moved them into third place in the group table on goal difference.

Costa Rica finished fourth, pushing them into a play-off with the fifth-placed team from the CONMEBOL region, Uruguay. The Ticos lost the first leg in San José 1–0, after a goal by Diego Lugano, and finished with ten men after Randall Azofeifa was sent off. In the second leg, played at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, Sebastián Abreu put Uruguay ahead twenty minutes from time, and although Walter Centeno equalised, the 1–1 draw sent Uruguay to the World Cup finals, 2–1 on aggregate.

After failing to qualify, the team began a new era, with the young talent of players such as Azofeifa, Keylor Navas, Cristian Bolaños, Michael Barrantes and Joel Campbell. Rónald González was the interim coach before Ricardo La Volpe was appointed in September 2010. He lasted only ten months before being replaced replaced by the Colombian, Jorge Luis Pinto, in his second spell in charge. During this period, Costa Rica played many friendlies against the top-ranked teams in the world, including the world champion Spain, most of them in the new national stadium, the Estacio Nacional, which was opened in 2011.

2014 World Cup

The Ticos' 2014 World Cup campaign began with a 2–0 loss against El Salvador in the third round of the qualifiers. They followed this with a 4–0 win over Guyana with a hat-trick by Álvaro Saborío. Two defeats to Mexico put the Ticos one defeat away from elimination, but they resurrected their campaign with a 1–0 win against El Salvador, with the only goal scored by José Miguel Cubero. They clinched a final round berth with a 7–0 win over Guyana, with goals scored by Randall Brenes, Saborío, Cristian Bolaños, Celso Borges and Cristian Gamboa.

The fourth round began with a 2–2 draw against Panama. In March, Costa Rica lost 1–0 against the United States in Denver, and launched an unsuccessful appeal against the match because of inclement weather.[7] Costa Rica again fell 1–0 to the United States in the Gold Cup that June.[8] Costa Rica then won 2–0 against Jamaica, beat Honduras 1–0 against, drew 0–0 at the Azteca against Mexico and won at home 2–0 against Panama. In September, they won 3–1 against the United States in San José.

On 10 September 2013, Costa Rica drew 1–1 with Jamaica, thanks to a goal from Brenes, to qualify with two games to spare. After a 1–0 loss at Honduras and 2–1 win over Mexico in October, Costa Rica finished second in the table, behind the United States.

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 United States (Q) 10 7 1 2 15 8 +7 22 1–0 1–0 2–0 2–0 2–0
 Costa Rica (Q) 10 5 3 2 13 7 +6 18 3–1 1–0 2–1 2–0 2–0
 Honduras (Q) 10 4 3 3 13 12 +1 15 2–1 1–0 2–2 2–2 2–0
 Mexico (A) 10 2 5 3 7 9 2 11 0–0 0–0 1–2 2–1 0–0
 Panama 10 1 5 4 10 14 4 8 2–3 2–2 2–0 0–0 0–0
 Jamaica 10 0 5 5 5 13 8 5 1–2 1–1 2–2 0–1 1–1
Source:
(Q) Top three teams qualified directly for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.; (A) Fourth-placed team advanced to the CONCACAF v OFC play-off.

Costa Rica were drawn in finals Group D against three previous tournament winners – Italy, England and Uruguay – and were given odds of 2500–1 to win the tournament. However, they beat Uruguay and Italy and drew 0–0 with England to finish top of the group and qualify for the knockout stage.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Costa Rica 3 2 1 0 4 1 +3 7 Advance to knockout stage
2  Uruguay 3 2 0 1 4 4 0 6
3  Italy 3 1 0 2 2 3 1 3
4  England 3 0 1 2 2 4 2 1
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Tie-breaking criteria

In the second round, they beat Greece 5–3 on penalties after a 1–1 draw, seeing them through to the quarter-finals for the first time. There, they held the Netherlands to a 0–0 draw after extra time, before losing 4–3 on penalties. Costa Rica rose 12 places to 16th in the FIFA World Rankings. The former Federation member Farabundo Fidel Calderón cited their long-term progress since 2007 as the reason for their achievement.[9]

2018 World Cup

The Ticos' qualification for the 2018 World Cup started with a bye to the fourth qualifying round, where they won five games and drew one, winning their group. In the final round, they finished second behind Mexico to qualify automatically, winning four matches, drawing four and losing two.

{{2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – CONCACAF Fifth Round |expanded=yes |fixtures=yes |scenarios=yes }} Costa Rica were drawn in Group E alongside Brazil, Switzerland and Serbia. Many key players from 2014 tournament remained in the squad, but they made a disappointing exit at the group stage. Costa Rica lost their first two games, against Serbia and Brazil, without scoring, but drew 2–2 with Switzerland in their last match after equalising in injury time.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Brazil 3 2 1 0 5 1 +4 7 Advance to knockout stage
2   Switzerland 3 1 2 0 5 4 +1 5
3  Serbia 3 1 0 2 2 4 2 3
4  Costa Rica 3 0 1 2 2 5 3 1
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers

Home stadium

Estadio Nacional is a home stadium of Costa Rica national team it was opened in 2011.

They play most of the World Cup qualifying matches against North and Central American teams like Mexico, Panama, USA, Honduras, Canada, Cuba, Jamaica and many more, They play their friendly matches against teams across the globe and train in the stadium.

Following the demolition of the old stadium they've played every matches at the old stadium after they've moved to the new stadium in 2011 and they play their every matches and train in the new stadium.

Competitive record

* Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup record FIFA World Cup qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA Pld W D* L GF GA
1930 Did not enter Did not enter
1934
1938
1950
1954
1958 Did not qualify 6 4 1 1 16 7
1962 9 5 1 3 22 14
1966 8 5 2 1 17 3
1970 4 2 1 1 7 3
1974 2 0 1 1 4 5
1978 6 1 4 1 8 6
1982 8 1 4 3 6 10
1986 8 2 5 1 10 8
1990 Round of 16 13th 4 2 0 2 4 6 10 6 2 2 13 7
1994 Did not qualify 8 4 0 4 16 11
1998 16 7 3 6 22 17
2002 Group stage 19th 3 1 1 1 5 6 17 11 3 3 31 10
2006 Group stage 31st 3 0 0 3 3 9 18 8 4 6 30 25
2010 Did not qualify 20 12 3 5 41 22
2014 Quarter-finals 8th 5 2 3 0 5 2 16 8 4 4 27 12
2018 Group stage 29th 3 0 1 2 2 5 16 9 5 2 25 11
2022 To be determined To be determined
Total Quarter-finals 5/21 18 5 5 8 19 28 153 77 37 41 274 160
* Uruguay beat Costa Rica 2–1 in the 2010 CONCACAF vs CONMEBOL play-off.

CONCACAF Gold Cup

CONCACAF Championship / CONCACAF Gold Cup record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA
1963 Champions 1st 6 5 1 0 14 2
1965 Third place 3rd 5 2 2 1 11 4
1967 Did not enter
1969 Champions 1st 5 4 1 0 13 2
1971 Third place 3rd 5 2 1 2 6 5
1973 Did not qualify
1977
1981
1985 Third place 3rd 8 2 5 1 10 8
1989 Champions 1st 8 5 1 2 10 6
1991 Fourth place 4th 5 1 0 4 5 9
1993 Third place 3rd 5 1 3 1 6 5
1996 Did not qualify
1998 Group stage 5th 2 1 0 1 8 4
2000 Quarter-finals 6th 3 0 2 1 5 6
2002 Runners-up 2nd 5 3 1 1 8 5
2003 Fourth place 4th 5 2 0 3 10 8
2005 Quarter-finals 6th 4 2 1 1 6 4
2007 7th 4 1 1 2 3 4
2009 Fourth place 4th 5 2 2 1 10 6
2011 Quarter-finals 5th 4 1 2 1 8 6
2013 5th 4 2 0 2 4 2
2015 7th 4 0 3 1 3 4
2017 Fourth place 4th 5 3 1 1 6 3
2019 Quarter-finals 5th 4 2 1 1 8 4
Total 3 Titles 20/25 95 41 28 26 154 97

Copa América

Copa América record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA
1993* Not invited
1995
1997 Group stage 10th 3012210
1999 Not invited
2001 Quarter-finals 5th 421173
2004 7th 410338
2007 Not invited
2011 Group stage 9th 310224
2015 Not invited
2016 Group stage 10th 311136
2019 Not invited
2021
Total Quarter-finals 5/12 17 5 3 9 17 31
* Ecuador 1993 was the first time nations from outside CONMEBOL were invited.

Copa Centroamericana

Copa Centroamericana record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA
1991 Champions 1st 3 3 0 0 10 1
1993 Runners-up 2nd 3 2 0 1 3 2
1995 Fourth place 4th 4 1 1 2 5 6
1997 Champions 1st 5 3 2 0 12 3
1999 Champions 1st 5 3 0 2 13 3
2001 Runners-up 2nd 5 2 2 1 8 5
2003 Champions 1st 5 4 1 0 5 1
2005 Champions 1st 4 3 1 0 8 2
2007 Champions 1st 4 2 1 1 5 2
2009 Runners-up 2nd 4 3 1 0 9 1
2011 Runners-up 2nd 4 1 2 1 6 5
2013 Champions 1st 5 4 1 0 6 1
2014 Champions 1st 3 2 1 0 7 3
2017 Fourth place 4th 5 1 3 1 4 2
Total 8 Titles 13/13 59 34 16 9 103 37

CCCF Championship

CCCF Championship record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA
1941 Champions 1st 4 4 0 0 23 5
1943 Third place 3rd 6 3 0 3 20 15
1946 Champions 1st 5 4 0 1 24 6
1948 Champions 1st 8 5 1 2 25 11
1951 Runners-up 2nd 4 2 1 1 13 5
1953 Champions 1st 6 6 0 0 19 2
1955 Champions 1st 6 6 0 0 19 4
1957 Withdrew
1960 Champions 1st 5 3 2 0 14 4
1961 Champions 1st 7 7 0 0 32 4
Total 7 Titles 9/10 51 40 4 7 191 56

Olympic Games

Olympic Games record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA
1900Did not enter
1904
1908
1912
1920
1924
1928
1936
1948
1952
1956
1960
1964
1968Did not qualify
1972
1976
1980First round16th300329
1984First round13th310227
1988Did not qualify
1992
1996
2000
2004Quarter-finals8th411248
2008Did not qualify
2012
2016
2020
Total Quarter-finals 3/27 10 2 1 7 8 24

Pan American Games

Pan American Games record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA
1951 Silver medal2nd4211912
1955 Did not participate
1959 Round 15th62131016
1963 Did not participate
1967
1971
1975 Fourth place4th6213713
1979 Fourth place4th520387
1983 Did not participate
1987
1991
1995 Quarter-finals6th4402126
1999 Round 15th413054
2003 Did not qualify
2007 Round 19th301225
2011 Fourth place4th420247
2015 Did not qualify
2019
Total 1 Silver medal 8/18 36 15 16 7 57 70

Panamerican Championship

Panamerican Championship record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA
1952 Did not participate
1956 Third place3rd52121115
1960 Fourth place4th6123410
Total Third place 3/3 11 3 3 5 15 25

Honours

Costa Rica national football team players celebrating their classification at the FIFA World Cup 2014 for the round of 16 in first place of Group D at Mineirão stadium in Belo Horizonte after their draw with England.

Results and fixtures

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

  Win   Draw   Loss

2019

6 September FriendlyCosta Rica 1–2 UruguaySan José, Costa Rica
20:00 (UTC−6) Borges  48' Report De Arrascaeta  42' (pen.)
Rodríguez  90'
Stadium: Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica
Referee: Daneon Parchment (Jamaica)
14 November Nations League ACuraçao 1–2 Costa RicaWillemstad, Curaçao
18:30 Janga  20' Report Venegas  14' (pen.)
Calvo  84'
Stadium: Ergilio Hato Stadium
Referee: Marco Ortiz (Mexico)
17 November Nations League ACosta Rica 1–1 HaitiSan José, Costa Rica
18:00 Calvo  27' Report Nazon  38' (pen.) Stadium: Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Aymá
Referee: Saíd Martínez (Honduras)

2020

1 February FriendlyUnited States 1–0 Costa RicaCarson, United States
15:55 UTC−8
Report Stadium: Dignity Health Sports Park
Attendance: 9,172
Referee: Oshane Nation (Jamaica)
4 June Nations League SFMexico Postponed Costa RicaHouston, Texas
Report Stadium: NRG Stadium
7 June Nations League 3rd/FCosta Rica PostponedTBDArlington, Texas
Report Stadium: AT&T Stadium

Players

Current squad

The following players were named for the friendly match against United States on 1 February 2020.
Caps and goals as of 1 February 2020 after the game against United States.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Esteban Alvarado (1989-04-28) 28 April 1989 15 0 Herediano
1GK Luis Alpízar (1995-05-23) 23 May 1995 0 0 Jicaral
1GK Aaron Cruz (1991-05-25) 25 May 1991 0 0 Saprissa

2DF Giancarlo González (1988-02-08) 8 February 1988 81 2 LA Galaxy
2DF Rónald Matarrita (1994-07-09) 9 July 1994 37 3 New York City
2DF Keysher Fuller (1994-07-12) 12 July 1994 8 1 Herediano
2DF Joseph Mora (1993-01-15) 15 January 1993 4 0 D.C. United
2DF Keyner Brown (1991-12-30) 30 December 1991 3 0 Herediano
2DF Pablo Arboine (1998-04-03) 3 April 1998 1 0 San Carlos
2DF Kevin Espinoza (1997-02-11) 11 February 1997 0 0 Guadalupe

3MF Johan Venegas (1988-11-27) 27 November 1988 55 11 Saprissa
3MF David Guzmán (1990-02-18) 18 February 1990 55 0 Saprissa
3MF Yeltsin Tejeda (1992-03-17) 17 March 1992 53 0 Herediano
3MF Randall Leal (1997-01-14) 14 January 1997 16 0 Nashville
3MF Ulises Segura (1993-06-23) 23 June 1993 9 0 D.C. United
3MF Ariel Lassiter (1994-09-27) 27 September 1994 6 0 Alajuelense
3MF Luis Díaz (1998-12-06) 6 December 1998 3 0 Columbus Crew
3MF Bernald Alfaro (1997-01-26) 26 January 1997 1 0 Alajuelense
3MF Marvin Loría (1997-04-24) 24 April 1997 1 0 Portland Timbers
3MF Cristopher Núñez (1997-12-08) 8 December 1997 1 0 Cartaginés
3MF Jeikel Venegas (1988-04-06) 6 April 1988 0 0 Cartaginés

4FW Marco Ureña (1990-03-05) 5 March 1990 67 15 Gwangju
4FW Manfred Ugalde (2002-05-25) 25 May 2002 1 0 Saprissa

Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up within the last twelve months.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Adonis Pineda (1997-04-02) 2 April 1997 0 0 Alajuelense v.  Haiti, 17 November 2019
GK Bryan Segura (1997-01-14) 14 January 1997 0 0 Pérez Zeledón v.  Haiti, 17 November 2019
GK Keylor Navas (1986-12-15) 15 December 1986 91 0 Paris Saint-Germain v.  Curaçao, 14 November 2019 INJ
GK Leonel Moreira (1990-04-02) 2 April 1990 15 0 Alajuelense v.  Curaçao, 13 October 2019
GK Marco Madrigal (1985-08-03) 3 August 1985 1 0 San Carlos v.  Uruguay, 6 September 2019

DF Francisco Calvo (1992-07-08) 8 July 1992 50 6 Chicago Fire v.  Haiti, 17 November 2019
DF Kendall Waston (1988-01-01) 1 January 1988 42 7 Cincinnati v.  Haiti, 17 November 2019
DF José Sosa (1994-10-04) 4 October 1994 0 0 Cartaginés v.  Haiti, 17 November 2019
DF Ricardo Blanco (1989-05-12) 12 May 1989 5 0 Saprissa v.  Curaçao, 14 November 2019
DF Orlando Galo (2000-08-11) 11 August 2000 0 0 Herediano Training Camp, 4–9 November 2019
DF Mauricio Núñez (1993-10-28) 28 October 1993 0 0 Pérez Zeledón Training Camp, 4–9 November 2019
DF Bryan Oviedo (1990-02-18) 18 February 1990 55 2 Copenhagen v.  Curaçao, 13 October 2019
DF Óscar Duarte (1989-06-03) 3 June 1989 52 2 Levante v.  Curaçao, 13 October 2019
DF Cristian Gamboa (1989-10-24) 24 October 1989 78 3 VfL Bochum 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup

MF Celso Borges (1988-05-27) 27 May 1988 130 23 Göztepe v.  Haiti, 17 November 2019
MF José Miguel Cubero (1987-02-14) 14 February 1987 54 2 Alajuelense v.  Haiti, 17 November 2019
MF Marvin Angulo (1986-09-30) 30 September 1986 8 0 Saprissa v.  Haiti, 17 November 2019
MF Dylan Flores (1993-05-30) 30 May 1993 4 0 Alajuelense v.  Haiti, 17 November 2019
MF Jefferson Brenes (1997-04-13) 13 April 1997 0 0 Limón v.  Curaçao, 14 November 2019 PRE
MF Allan Cruz (1996-02-24) 24 February 1996 17 2 Cincinnati v.  Curaçao, 13 October 2019
MF Bryan Ruiz (Captain) (1985-08-18) 18 August 1985 126 26 Santos v.  Uruguay, 6 September 2019
MF Elías Aguilar (1991-11-07) 7 November 1991 20 2 Jeju United v.  Uruguay, 6 September 2019
MF Christian Bolaños (1984-05-17) 17 May 1984 86 7 Saprissa 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup
MF Jimmy Marín (1997-10-08) 8 October 1997 5 0 Ashdod 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup

FW José Guillermo Ortiz (1992-06-20) 20 June 1992 13 3 Millonarios v.  Haiti, 17 November 2019
FW Jonathan Moya (1992-01-06) 6 January 1992 7 0 Alajuelense v.  Haiti, 17 November 2019
FW Anthony Contreras (2000-01-29) 29 January 2000 0 0 UCR Training Camp, 4–9 November 2019
FW Jostin Daly (1998-04-23) 23 April 1998 0 0 Comunicaciones Training Camp, 4–9 November 2019
FW Jurgens Montenegro (2000-12-13) 13 December 2000 0 0 Cartaginés Training Camp, 4–9 November 2019
FW Frank Zamora (1991-08-16) 16 August 1991 0 0 Guadalupe Training Camp, 4–9 November 2019
FW Joel Campbell (1992-06-26) 26 June 1992 93 17 León v.  Curaçao, 13 October 2019
FW Francisco Rodríguez (1993-02-08) 8 February 1993 1 0 Herediano v.  Curaçao, 13 October 2019
FW Mayron George (1994-03-06) 6 March 1994 13 1 Honvéd v.  Uruguay, 6 September 2019
FW Álvaro Saborío (1982-03-25) 25 March 1982 111 35 San Carlos 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup
FW Jonathan McDonald (1987-10-28) 28 October 1987 16 1 Alajuelense 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup

INJ Withdraw due to injury.
PRE Preliminary squad.
WD Withdrew for personal reasons.

Previous squads

Records

As of 29 June 2019
Bold indicates active players.

Managers

 
Name Years
Eladio Rosabal Cordero1921
Manolo Rodríguez1930
Ricardo Saprissa1935, 1938
Alejandro Morera Soto1941
Jorge ''Lalo'' Rojas1943
Alejandro Morera Soto1943
Hernán Bolaños1946
Randolph Galloway
Hernán Bolaños
1946
Hernán Bolaños1948
Santiago Bonilla1950
Ismael ''Melo'' Quesada1951
Ricardo Saprissa
Luis Cartín Paniagua
1951
Otto Bumbel1953
Alfredo Chato Piedra1955, 1957
Rubén Amorín1960
Hugo Tassara1960
Eduardo Toba Muíño1961
Alfredo Chato Piedra1961, 1963
Eduardo Viso Abella
Alfredo Chato Piedra
Mario "Catato" Cordero
1965
Rodolfo Ulloa Antillón1967–1968
Américo Brunner1968
 
Name Years
Rogelio Rojas1969
Marvin Rodríguez1969
Eduardo Viso Abella1970
Marvin Rodríguez1971
Humberto Maschio1972
José Etchegoyen1975
Marvin Rodríguez1975
Juan José Gámez1976
Antonio Moyano1979–80
Ivan Mráz1980
Antonio Moyano1983–84
Odir Jacques1985
Álvaro Grant MacDonald1985
Gustavo De Simone1987–89
Antonio Moyano
Marvin Rodríguez
1989
Marvin Rodríguez1989–90
Bora Milutinović1990
Rolando Villalobos1991
Héctor Núñez1992
Juan José Gámez1993
Álvaro Grant MacDonald1993
Juan Luis Hernández Fuertes1993–94
Antonio Moyano1994
 
Name Years
Toribio Rojas1994–95
Juan Blanco1995
Valdeir Vieira1996
Horacio Cordero1997
Juan Luis Hernández Fuertes1997
Rolando Villalobos1998
Francisco Maturana1998–99
Marvin Rodríguez1999–00
Gílson Nunes2000
Alexandre Guimarães2001–02
Rodrigo Kenton2002*
Steve Sampson2003–04
Jorge Luis Pinto2004–05
Alexandre Guimarães2005–06
Carlos Watson2006*
Hernán Medford2007–08
Rodrigo Kenton2008–09
Renê Simões2009
Rónald González Brenes2010*
Jorge Luis Pinto2011–2014
Paulo Wanchope2014–2015
Óscar Ramírez2015–2018
Rónald González Brenes (Interim)2018
Gustavo Matosas2018–2019
Douglas Sequeira (Interim)2019
Ronald Gonzalez Brenes2019-

Coaching staff

Position Name
ManagerRónald González Brenes
Assistant Coach 1Douglas Sequeira
Assistant Coach 2Mauricio Solis
Goalkeeper's CoachLuis Gabelo Conejo
Youth Co-ordinatorLuis Roberto Sibaja
Medical DirectorDr. Alejandro Ramirez

Record versus other nations

As of 2011-03-25

Facts

Kit history

Costa Rica wears traditionally a red jersey with blue shorts and white socks. Its away kit historically was a Juventus-style Black and White Striped Jersey with white shorts and white socks, due to these colors being the ones of CS La Libertad, one of the oldest clubs in Costa Rica. However, after 1997, the striped kit was replaced by a white kit with blue shorts. Starting in 2015, Boston based sportswear company New Balance will be the kit provider of the national team, taking over for Italian company Lotto.

Kit Suppliers

Sponsor Period
Desport 1980–1989
Lotto 1990–1994
Reebok 1995–1999
Trooper 1999
Atletica 2000–2001
Joma 2002–2007
Lotto 2007–2014
New Balance 2015–present

See also

References

  1. "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 11 June 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  2. Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 2 April 2020. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  3. "The Hopes of Central America Rest on a Perpetual Underdog : World Cup 2014: Costa Rica Could Learn From Uruguay's Example". The New York Times. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  4. "When Saturday Comes – Costa Rica goes crazy for the "team of migrants"". Nytimes.com. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  5. Romero, Marcos (28 August 2009). "Costa Rica International Soccer Matches Since 1920". RSSSF. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
  6. "¡Aztecazo!". Nación.com. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
  7. "U.S. win stands as Costa Rica appeal blown away". CNN. 26 March 2013. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  8. "U.S. downs Costa Rica 1–0 in Gold Cup group stage, advances to quarters". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  9. "El éxito de Costa Rica se debe a la paciencia, según exmundialista González". mundodeportivo.com. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  10. Luis Fernando Passo Alpuin. "Costa Rica – Record International Players". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 20 July 2014. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
Preceded by
Inaugural Champion
CONCACAF Champions
1963 (First title)
Succeeded by
1965 Mexico 
Preceded by
1967 Guatemala 
CONCACAF Champions
1969 (Second title)
Succeeded by
1971 Mexico 
Preceded by
1985 Canada 
CONCACAF Champions
1989 (Third title)
Succeeded by
1991 United States 
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