Costa Rica national football team
Nickname(s) | Los Ticos (The Ticos) La Sele (The Selection) La Tricolor (The Tricolor) Los Diablos Rojos (The Red Devils) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Association | Federación Costarricense de Fútbol (FCRF)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Confederation | CONCACAF (North America) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sub-confederation | UNCAF (Central America) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Head coach | Claudio Vivas (Interim) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Captain | Francisco Calvo | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Most caps | Celso Borges (163) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Top scorer | Rolando Fonseca (47) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Home stadium | Estadio Nacional | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
FIFA code | CRC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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FIFA ranking | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current | 54 4 (28 November 2024)[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Highest | 13 (February–March 2015) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lowest | 93 (July 1996) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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) Spain 7–0 Costa Rica (Doha, Qatar; 23 November 2022) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
World Cup | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Appearances | 6 (first in 1990) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Best result | Quarter-finals (2014) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CONCACAF Championship / Gold Cup | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Appearances | 22 (first in 1963) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Best result | Champions (1963, 1969, 1989) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nations League Finals | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Appearances | 1 (first in 2021) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Best result | Fourth place (2021) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Copa América | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Appearances | 6 (first in 1997) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Best result | Quarter-finals (2001, 2004) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Website | fcrf.cr/sele-mayor |
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 is the most successful national football team from the region of Central America, winning three CONCACAF Championships (1963, 1969, 1989) and leading the Copa Centroamericana tournament with four 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 six 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 and has been widely considered to be the second or third best team in the CONCACAF, 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 qualified for the 2002 and 2006 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 shoot-out 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 first time but were defeated by the Netherlands, also in a penalty shoot-out (3–4) after a scoreless draw on 5 July.[4][5] Both their 2018 and 2022 World Cup campaigns ended in a fourth place group stage exit, with their only points coming from a 2–2 draw against Switzerland in 2018 and a 1–0 win over Japan in 2022.
History
[edit]Early history
[edit]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.[6]
Costa Rica's team in the late 1940s acquired the nickname "The Gold Shorties".[7] 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
[edit]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
[edit]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 Cayasso and Hernán Medford. They were drawn against Mexico in the second round, but advanced automatically when their opponents were disqualified for age fraud.
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 Hidalgo, Cayasso and a brace 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 |
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 |
2002 World Cup
[edit]The Ticos played first in qualification for the 2002 World Cup held in South Korea and Japan. During the qualifiers, Costa Rica were coached by 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 Jafet 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,[8] 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 brace 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 |
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 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 | −9 | 0 |
2006 World Cup
[edit]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.
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | United States | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 6 | +10 | 22[a] | 2006 FIFA World Cup | — | 2–0 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | |
2 | Mexico | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 22 | 9 | +13 | 22[a] | 2–1 | — | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–2 | 5–0 | ||
3 | Costa Rica | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 15 | 14 | +1 | 16 | 3–0 | 1–2 | — | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–1 | ||
4 | Trinidad and Tobago | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 15 | −5 | 13 | Inter-confederation play-offs | 1–2 | 2–1 | 0–0 | — | 3–2 | 2–0 | |
5 | Guatemala | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 16 | 18 | −2 | 11 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 5–1 | — | 2–1 | ||
6 | Panama | 10 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 21 | −17 | 2 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 0–0 | — |
Notes:
On 9 June 2006, Costa Rica played their debut match in Munich in the opening match of the World Cup against the hosts, Germany. Wanchope scored to equalise after an early goal from Philipp Lahm, and later added another, but Costa Rica lost 4–2. 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 |
2010 World Cup
[edit]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 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 Estadio Nacional, which was opened in 2011.
2014 World Cup
[edit]The Ticos' 2014 World Cup campaign began with a 2–2 draw 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.[10] Costa Rica again fell 1–0 to the United States in the Gold Cup that June.[11] 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.
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | United States | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 15 | 8 | +7 | 22 | Qualification to 2014 FIFA World Cup | — | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | |
2 | Costa Rica | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 13 | 7 | +6 | 18 | 3–1 | — | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | ||
3 | Honduras | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 12 | +1 | 15 | 2–1 | 1–0 | — | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | ||
4 | Mexico | 10 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 9 | −2 | 11 | Advance to inter-confederation play-offs | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–2 | — | 2–1 | 0–0 | |
5 | Panama | 10 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 14 | −4 | 8 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–0 | — | 0–0 | ||
6 | Jamaica | 10 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 13 | −8 | 5 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 1–1 | — |
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.[citation needed] 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 |
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. Former player Rónald González cited their long-term progress since 2007 as the reason for their achievement.[13]
2018 World Cup
[edit]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.
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Mexico | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 16 | 7 | +9 | 21 | Qualification to 2018 FIFA World Cup | — | 2–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | |
2 | Costa Rica | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 14 | 8 | +6 | 16 | 1–1 | — | 0–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–1 | ||
3 | Panama | 10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 10 | −1 | 13 | 0–0 | 2–1 | — | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–0 | ||
4 | Honduras | 10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 13 | 19 | −6 | 13 | Advance to inter-confederation play-offs | 3–2 | 1–1 | 0–1 | — | 1–1 | 3–1 | |
5 | United States | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 17 | 13 | +4 | 12 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 6–0 | — | 2–0 | ||
6 | Trinidad and Tobago | 10 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 19 | −12 | 6 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | — |
Costa Rica were drawn in Group E alongside Brazil, Switzerland and Serbia. Many key players from 2014 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 |
2022 World Cup
[edit]The Ticos' qualification for the 2022 World Cup started with a bye to the final qualifying round. They finished fourth behind the United States to advance to inter-confederation play-offs winning seven matches, drawing four and losing three. In the inter-confederation play-offs in Al Rayyan, Qatar, Costa Rica won the match 1–0 against New Zealand and qualified for the World Cup.
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Canada | 14 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 23 | 7 | +16 | 28 | 2022 FIFA World Cup |
2 | Mexico | 14 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 17 | 8 | +9 | 28 | |
3 | United States | 14 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 21 | 10 | +11 | 25 | |
4 | Costa Rica | 14 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 13 | 8 | +5 | 25 | Inter-confederation play-offs |
5 | Panama | 14 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 17 | 19 | −2 | 21 | |
6 | Jamaica | 14 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 22 | −10 | 11 | |
7 | El Salvador | 14 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 18 | −10 | 10 | |
8 | Honduras | 14 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 7 | 26 | −19 | 4 |
Costa Rica | 1–0 | New Zealand |
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Report |
On November 23, 2022, Costa Rica lost 7–0 against Spain, the biggest World Cup loss since 2010.[14] This match also tied for their worst defeat in professional football with a match against Mexico, which ended with Mexico 7–0 Costa Rica in Mexico Cityon 17 August 1975. After defeating Japan and scoring two goals against Germany in the first half, the latter scored three goals and eliminated Costa Rica.
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Japan | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 6 | Advanced to knockout stage |
2 | Spain | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 3 | +6 | 4 | |
3 | Germany | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | +1 | 4 | |
4 | Costa Rica | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 11 | −8 | 3 |
Home stadium
[edit]Estadio Nacional is the home stadium of the Costa Rica national team since its opening on 10 January 2011 This venue hosts their friendly matches as well as the World Cup qualifying matches against CONCACAF rivals. Previous matches were played in Estadio Ricardo Saprissa or in Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto.[citation needed]
Team image
[edit]Costa Rica traditionally wears a red jersey with blue shorts and white socks. Their away kit historically was a Juventus-style black and white striped jersey with white shorts and white or black 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. In 2015, Boston-based sportswear company New Balance became the provider of the national team, after taking over for Italian company Lotto. Since 2023, Adidas is the kit provider for the national team.
Kit sponsorship
[edit]Supplier | Period |
---|---|
Desport | 1980–1989 |
Lotto | 1990–1994 |
Reebok | 1995–1999 |
Trooper | 1999 |
Atletica | 2000–2001 |
Joma | 2001–2007 |
Lotto | 2007–2014 |
New Balance | 2015–2022 |
Adidas | 2023–present |
Results and fixtures
[edit]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 Fixture
2024
[edit]2 February Friendly | Costa Rica | 2–0 | El Salvador | San José, Costa Rica |
20:00 UTC−6 | Report | Stadium: Estadio Nacional Referee: Steven Madrigal (Costa Rica) |
23 March 2024 Copa América qualifying play-offs | Costa Rica | 3–1 | Honduras | Frisco, United States |
18:15 UTC−5 | Report |
|
Stadium: Toyota Stadium Attendance: 15,299 Referee: Ismail Elfath (United States) | |
Note: Costa Rica qualified for the 2024 Copa América after winning this game. |
26 March Friendly | Argentina | 3–1 | Costa Rica | Los Angeles, United States |
20:00 UTC−7 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Referee: Josef Mickelson (United States) |
31 May Friendly | Costa Rica | 0–0 | Uruguay A' | San José, Costa Rica |
20:00 UTC−6 | Report | Stadium: Estadio Nacional Referee: Óscar Barrera (El Salvador) |
6 June 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification | Costa Rica | 4–0 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | San José, Costa Rica |
20:30 UTC−6 | Report | Stadium: Estadio Nacional Attendance: 5,150 Referee: Julio Luna (Guatemala) |
9 June 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification | Grenada | 0–3 | Costa Rica | St. George's, Grenada |
17:30 UTC−4 | Report | Stadium: Kirani James Athletic Stadium Attendance: 2,780 Referee: Steffon Dewar (Jamaica) |
24 June 2024 Copa América GS | Brazil | 0–0 | Costa Rica | Inglewood, United States |
18:00 UTC−7 | Report | Stadium: SoFi Stadium Attendance: 67,158 Referee: César Ramos (Mexico) |
28 June 2024 Copa América GS | Colombia | 3–0 | Costa Rica | Glendale, United States |
15:00 UTC−7 | Report | Stadium: State Farm Stadium Attendance: 27,386 Referee: Gustavo Tejera (Uruguay) |
2 July 2024 Copa América GS | Costa Rica | 2–1 | Paraguay | Austin, United States |
20:00 UTC−5 | Report |
|
Stadium: Q2 Stadium Attendance: 12,765 Referee: Yael Falcón (Argentina) |
5 September 2024–25 Nations League | Costa Rica | 3–0 | Guadeloupe | San José, Costa Rica |
18:00 UTC−6 | Report | Stadium: Estadio Nacional Attendance: 7,542 Referee: Katia García (Mexico) |
9 September 2024–25 Nations League | Guatemala | 0–0 | Costa Rica | Guatemala City, Guatemala |
20:00 UTC−6 | Report | Stadium: Estadio Doroteo Guamuch Flores Attendance: 18,115 Referee: Daniel Quintero (Mexico) |
11 October 2024–25 Nations League | Suriname | 1–1 | Costa Rica | Paramaribo, Suriname |
19:00 UTC−3 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Dr. Ir. Franklin Essed Stadion Attendance: 3,274 Referee: Adonai Escobedo (Mexico) |
15 October 2024–25 Nations League | Costa Rica | 3–0 | Guatemala | San José, Costa Rica |
18:00 UTC−6 | Report | Stadium: Estadio Nacional Attendance: 20,450 Referee: Joseph Dickerson (United States) |
14 November 2024–25 Nations League QF | Costa Rica | 0–1 | Panama | San José, Costa Rica |
20:00 UTC−6 | Report | Stadium: Estadio Nacional Attendance: 29,201 Referee: Saíd Martínez (Honduras) |
18 November 2024–25 Nations League QF | Panama | 2–2 (3–2 agg.) | Costa Rica | Panama City, Panama |
21:00 UTC−5 | Report | Stadium: Estadio Rommel Fernández Referee: César Ramos (Mexico) | ||
Note: Panama won 3–2 on aggregate, advanced to the Finals and qualified for the 2025 Gold Cup. Costa Rica advanced to the 2025 Gold Cup qualification. |
2025
[edit]March 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup qualification | Belize | v | Costa Rica | Belize |
--:-- UTC−6 |
March 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup qualification | Costa Rica | v | Belize | Costa Rica |
--:-- UTC−6 |
7 June 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification | Bahamas | v | Costa Rica | Bahamas |
--:-- UTC−4 |
10 June 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification | Costa Rica | v | Trinidad and Tobago | Costa Rica |
--:-- UTC−6 |
13 June Hybrid friendly | Costa Rica | v | FC Bayern Munich | United States |
Coaching staff
[edit]Position | Name |
---|---|
Manager | Claudio Vivas |
Assistant coach 1 | Cristian Vella |
Assistant coach 2 | Paulo Wanchope |
Goalkeeper's coach | Matias Stampone |
Fitness coach 1 | Diego Ferella |
Video analyst | Carlos Di Pasqua |
Doctor | Alejandro Ramírez |
Physiotherapist | Martha Sisfontes |
Physiotherapist | Brayner Sánchez |
Nutritionist | Alhelí Mateos |
Massage therapist | Óscar Segura |
Props | Randall Obando |
Props | Alberto Mena |
Team administrator | Alvaro Herrera |
Sporting director | Claudio Vivas |
Coaching history
[edit]- Caretaker managers are listed in italics.
- Eladio Rosabal Cordero (1921)
- Manolo Rodríguez (1930)
- Ricardo Saprissa (1935–1938)
- Alejandro Morera Soto (1941, 1943)
- Jorge Rojas (1943)
- Hernán Bolaños (1946); (1948)
- Randolph Galloway & Hernán Bolaños (1946)
- Santiago Bonilla (1950)
- Ismael Quesada (1951)
- Ricardo Saprissa & Luis Cartín Paniagua (1951)
- Otto Bumbel (1953)
- Alfredo Piedra (1955–1957)
- Rubén Amorín (1960)
- Hugo Tassara (1960)
- Eduardo Toba Muíño (1961)
- Alfredo Piedra (1961–1963)
- Eduardo Viso Abella, Alfredo Piedra, & Mario "Catato" Cordero (1965)
- Rodolfo Ulloa Antillón (1967–1968)
- Américo Brunner (1968)
- Rogelio Rojas (1969)
- Marvin Rodríguez (1969, 1971, 1975, 1989–1990, 1992, 1999–2000)
- Eduardo Viso Abella (1970)
- Humberto Maschio (1972)
- José Etchegoyen (1975)
- Juan José Gámez (1976)
- Antonio Moyano (1979–1980, 1983–1984, 1994)
- Ivan Mráz (1980)
- Odir Jacques (1985)
- Álvaro Grant MacDonald (1985, 1993)
- Gustavo De Simone (1987–1989)
- Antonio Moyano & Marvin Rodríguez (1989)
- Bora Milutinović (1990)
- Rolando Villalobos (1991, 1998)
- Héctor Núñez (1992)
- Juan José Gámez (1993)
- Juan Luis Hernández Fuertes (1993–1994, 1997)
- Toribio Rojas (1994–1995)
- Juan Blanco (1995)
- Valdeir Vieira (1996)
- Horacio Cordero (1997)
- Francisco Maturana (1998–1999)
- Gílson Nunes (2000)
- Alexandre Guimarães (2001–2002, 2005–2006)
- Rodrigo Kenton (2002)
- Steve Sampson (2003–2004)
- Jorge Luis Pinto (2004–2005, 2011–2014)
- Carlos Watson (2006)
- Hernán Medford (2007–2008)
- Rodrigo Kenton (2008–2009)
- Renê Simões (2009)
- Rónald González (2010, 2018)
- Ricardo La Volpe (2010–2011)
- Paulo Wanchope (2014–2015)
- Óscar Ramírez (2015–2018)
- Gustavo Matosas (2018–2019)
- Douglas Sequeira (2019)
- Rónald González Brenes (2019–2021)
- Luis Fernando Suárez (2021–2023)
- Claudio Vivas (2023)
- Gustavo Alfaro (2023–2024)
- Claudio Vivas (2024)
Players
[edit]Current squad
[edit]The following players were called up to the squad for the 2024–25 CONCACAF Nations League matches against Suriname and Guatemala on 11 and 15 October 2024, respectively.[15]
Caps and goals as of 15 October 2024, after the match against Guatemala.
Recent call-ups
[edit]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 | Aarón Cruz | 25 May 1991 | 4 | 0 | Herediano | v. Guatemala, 9 September 2024 |
GK | Kevin Chamorro | 8 April 2000 | 11 | 0 | Estoril | 2024 Copa América |
GK | Alexandre Lezcano | 26 August 2001 | 0 | 0 | Herediano | Microcycle, 27–31 May 2024 |
GK | Keylor NavasRET | 15 December 1986 | 114 | 0 | Unattached | v. Argentina, 26 March 2024 |
DF | Gerald Taylor | 28 May 2001 | 8 | 1 | Heart of Midlothian | v. Guatemala, 9 September 2024 |
DF | Yeison Molina | 25 January 1996 | 1 | 0 | Guanacasteca | 2024 Copa América |
DF | Douglas Sequeira | 16 September 2003 | 0 | 0 | Nacional | 2024 Copa América |
DF | Yurguin Román | 19 January 1997 | 0 | 0 | San Carlos | v. Uruguay, 31 May 2024 |
DF | Joseth Peraza | 9 December 2004 | 0 | 0 | San Carlos | v. Uruguay, 31 May 2024 |
DF | Iverson Salmerón | 6 March 2003 | 0 | 0 | Municipal Grecia | Microcycle, 27–31 May 2024 |
DF | Pablo Arboine | April 3, 1998 | 9 | 0 | Saprissa | v. Argentina, 26 March 2024 |
DF | Alexis Gamboa | 20 March 1999 | 3 | 0 | Alajuelense | v. Argentina, 26 March 2024 |
DF | Yael López | 17 December 1998 | 3 | 0 | Alajuelense | v. Argentina, 26 March 2024 |
DF | Ian Lawrence | 28 May 2002 | 4 | 0 | Alajuelense | v. El Salvador, 2 February 2024 |
DF | Jefry Valverde | 10 June 1995 | 3 | 0 | Saprissa | v. El Salvador, 2 February 2024 |
MF | Orlando Galo | 11 August 2000 | 19 | 3 | Riga | 2024 Copa América |
MF | Carlos Mora | 18 March 2001 | 8 | 0 | U Craiova | v. Uruguay, 31 May 2024 |
MF | Douglas López | 21 September 1998 | 3 | 0 | Cartaginés | v. Uruguay, 31 May 2024 |
MF | Allan Cruz | 24 February 1996 | 24 | 2 | Herediano | Microcycle, 27–31 May 2024 |
MF | Elías Aguilar | 7 November 1991 | 22 | 2 | Herediano | Microcycle, 27–31 May 2024 |
MF | Kendall Porras | 8 September 2002 | 0 | 0 | Sporting San José | Microcycle, 27–31 May 2024 |
MF | Randall Leal | 14 January 1997 | 29 | 1 | Nashville | v. El Salvador, 2 February 2024 |
MF | Aarón Suárez | 27 June 2002 | 7 | 1 | Alajuelense | v. El Salvador, 2 February 2024 |
MF | Luis Flores | 23 January 1994 | 1 | 0 | Sporting San José | v. El Salvador, 2 February 2024 |
FW | Anthony Contreras | 29 January 2000 | 28 | 4 | Riga | 2024 Copa América |
FW | Steven Cárdenas | 13 December 1991 | 0 | 0 | Sporting San José | v. Uruguay, 31 May 2024 |
FW | Julián Ugalde | 12 April 2005 | 0 | 0 | Municipal Grecia | Microcycle, 27–31 May 2024 |
FW | Jostin Daly | 23 April 1998 | 2 | 1 | Cartaginés | v. El Salvador, 2 February 2024 |
INJ Withdrew due to injury. |
Records
[edit]- As of 14 November 2024[16]
- Players in bold are still active with Costa Rica.
Most appearances
[edit]Rank | Player | Caps | Goals | Career |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Celso Borges | 163 | 27 | 2008–2023 |
2 | Bryan Ruiz | 147 | 29 | 2005–2022 |
Joel Campbell | 147 | 27 | 2011–present | |
4 | Walter Centeno | 137 | 24 | 1995–2009 |
5 | Luis Marín | 128 | 5 | 1993–2009 |
6 | Keylor Navas | 114 | 0 | 2008–2024 |
7 | Rolando Fonseca | 113 | 47 | 1992–2011 |
8 | Álvaro Saborío | 112 | 36 | 2002–2021 |
9 | Mauricio Solís | 110 | 6 | 1993–2006 |
10 | Michael Umaña | 102 | 1 | 2004–2017 |
Top goalscorers
[edit]Rank | Player | Goals | Caps | Ratio | Career |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Rolando Fonseca | 47 | 113 | 0.42 | 1992–2011 |
2 | Paulo Wanchope | 45 | 73 | 0.62 | 1996–2008 |
3 | Álvaro Saborío | 36 | 112 | 0.32 | 2002–2021 |
4 | Bryan Ruiz | 29 | 147 | 0.2 | 2005–2022 |
5 | Juan Ulloa | 27 | 27 | 1 | 1955–1970 |
Joel Campbell | 27 | 146 | 0.18 | 2011–present | |
Celso Borges | 27 | 163 | 0.17 | 2008–2023 | |
8 | Rónald Gómez | 24 | 91 | 0.26 | 1993–2008 |
Walter Centeno | 24 | 137 | 0.18 | 1995–2009 | |
10 | Jorge Monge | 23 | 27 | 0.85 | 1955–1961 |
Competitive record
[edit]FIFA World Cup
[edit]FIFA World Cup record | Qualification record | ||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Squad | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | ||
1930 | Did not enter | Declined invitation | |||||||||||||||
1934 | Did not enter | ||||||||||||||||
1938 | Withdrew | Withdrew | |||||||||||||||
1950 | Did not enter | Did not enter | |||||||||||||||
1954 | Entry not accepted by FIFA | Entry not accepted by FIFA | |||||||||||||||
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 | Squad | 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 | Squad | 17 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 31 | 10 | ||
2006 | 31st | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 9 | Squad | 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 | Squad | 16 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 27 | 12 | ||
2018 | Group stage | 29th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | Squad | 16 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 25 | 11 | ||
2022 | 27th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 11 | Squad | 15 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 14 | 8 | |||
2026 | Qualification in progress | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | ||||||||||
2030 | To be determined | To be determined | |||||||||||||||
2034 | |||||||||||||||||
Total | Quarter-finals | 6/22 | 21 | 6 | 5 | 10 | 22 | 39 | — | 189 | 95 | 47 | 47 | 316 | 184 |
FIFA World Cup history | |
---|---|
First match | Costa Rica 1–0 Scotland (11 June 1990; Genoa, Italy) |
Biggest win | Uruguay 1–3 Costa Rica (14 June 2014; Fortaleza, Brazil) |
Biggest defeat | Spain 7–0 Costa Rica (23 November 2022; Doha, Qatar) |
Best result | Quarter-finals (2014) |
Worst result | Group stage (2002, 2006, 2018, 2022) |
- *Draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out.
CONCACAF Gold Cup
[edit]CONCACAF Championship & Gold Cup record | Qualification record | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Squad | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | |
1963 | Champions | 1st | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 2 | Squad | Qualified automatically | ||||||
1965 | Third place | 3rd | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 4 | Squad | Automatically entered | ||||||
1967 | Did not enter | Did not enter | ||||||||||||||
1969 | Champions | 1st | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 2 | Squad | Qualified as hosts | ||||||
1971 | Third place | 3rd | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 5 | Squad | Qualified as defending champions | ||||||
1973 | Did not qualify | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | |||||||||
1977 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 6 | ||||||||||
1981 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 10 | ||||||||||
1985 | Third place | 3rd | 8 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 10 | 8 | Squad | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 9 | |
1989 | Champions | 1st | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 6 | Squad | Qualified automatically | ||||||
1991 | Fourth place | 4th | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 9 | Squad | Qualified as defending champions | ||||||
1993 | Third place | 3rd | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 5 | Squad | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 2 | |
1996 | Did not qualify | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | |||||||||
1998 | Group stage | 5th | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 4 | Squad | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 3 | |
2000 | Quarter-finals | 6th | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6 | Squad | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 13 | 3 | |
2002 | Runners-up | 2nd | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 5 | Squad | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 5 | |
2003 | Fourth place | 4th | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 8 | Squad | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | |
2005 | Quarter-finals | 6th | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 4 | Squad | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 2 | |
2007 | 7th | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Squad | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | ||
2009 | Semi-finals | 4th | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 6 | Squad | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 1 | |
2011 | Quarter-finals | 5th | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 6 | Squad | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 4 | |
2013 | 5th | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 2 | Squad | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | ||
2015 | 7th | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | Squad | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 3 | ||
2017 | Semi-finals | 4th | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | Squad | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | |
2019 | Quarter-finals | 5th | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 4 | Squad | Qualified automatically | ||||||
2021 | 5th | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | Squad | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 3 | ||
2023 | 7th | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 8 | Squad | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | ||
Total | 3 Titles | 22/27 | 104 | 45 | 29 | 30 | 167 | 109 | — | 82 | 38 | 28 | 16 | 125 | 64 |
CONCACAF Championship & Gold Cup history | |
---|---|
First match | Costa Rica 6–0 Jamaica (24 March 1963; Santa Ana, El Salvador) |
Biggest win | Costa Rica 6–0 Jamaica (24 March 1963; Santa Ana, El Salvador) Costa Rica 6–0 Netherlands Antilles (28 March 1965; Guatemala City, Guatemala) |
Biggest defeat | Mexico 4–1 Costa Rica (12 June 2011; Chicago, United States) |
Best result | Champions (1963, 1969, 1989) |
Worst result | Quarter-finals (2007, 2015, 2023) |
CONCACAF Nations League
[edit]CONCACAF Nations League record | ||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
League | Finals | |||||||||||||||||||
Season | Division | Group | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | P/R | Year | Result | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Squad | ||
2019−20 | A | D | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 2021 | Fourth place | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | Squad | |||
2022–23 | A | B | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 2023 | Did not qualify | ||||||||||
2023–24 | A | Bye | 2024 | |||||||||||||||||
2024–25 | A | A | In progress | 2025 | To be determined | |||||||||||||||
Total | — | — | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 7 | — | Total | 0 Titles | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
CONCACAF Nations League history | |
---|---|
First match | Haiti 1–1 Costa Rica (10 October 2019; Nassau, Bahamas) |
Biggest win | Costa Rica 2–0 Martinique (5 June 2022; San José, Costa Rica) |
Biggest defeat | Costa Rica 0–3 Panama (16 November 2023; San José, Costa Rica) |
Best result | Fourth place (2019–20) |
Worst result | Eighth place (2023–24) |
Copa América
[edit]Copa América record | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Squad |
1993* | Not invited | ||||||||
1995 | |||||||||
1997 | Group stage | 10th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 10 | Squad |
1999 | Not invited | ||||||||
2001 | Quarter-finals | 5th | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 3 | Squad |
2004 | 7th | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 | Squad | |
2007 | Not invited | ||||||||
2011 | Group stage | 9th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | Squad |
2015 | Not invited | ||||||||
2016 | Group stage | 10th | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 | Squad |
2019 | Not invited | ||||||||
2021 | |||||||||
2024 | Group stage | 10th | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | Squad |
Total | Quarter-finals | 6/13 | 20 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 19 | 35 | — |
- *The 1993 Copa América was the first time nations from outside CONMEBOL were invited.
Copa Centroamericana
[edit]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 | 14/14 | 59 | 34 | 16 | 9 | 103 | 37 |
CCCF Championship
[edit]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
[edit]Olympic Games record | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Squad |
1900 | Only club teams participated | ||||||||
1904 | |||||||||
1908 | No national representative | ||||||||
1912 | |||||||||
1920 | |||||||||
1924 | Not an IOC member | ||||||||
1928 | |||||||||
1936 | Did not participate | ||||||||
1948 | |||||||||
1952 | |||||||||
1956 | |||||||||
1960 | |||||||||
1964 | |||||||||
1968 | Did not qualify | ||||||||
1972 | |||||||||
1976 | |||||||||
1980 | Group stage | 16th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 9 | Squad |
1984 | Group stage | 13th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 7 | Squad |
1988 | Did not qualify | ||||||||
Since 1992 | See Costa Rica national under-23 football team | ||||||||
Total | Quarter-finals | 2/12 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 16 | — |
Pan American Games
[edit]Pan American Games record | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
1951 | Silver medal | 2nd | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 12 |
1955 | Did not participate | |||||||
1959 | Round-robin | 5th | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 16 |
1963 | Did not participate | |||||||
1967 | ||||||||
1971 | ||||||||
1975 | Fourth place | 4th | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 13 |
1979 | Fourth place | 4th | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 7 |
1983 | Did not participate | |||||||
1987 | ||||||||
1991 | ||||||||
1995 | Quarter-finals | 6th | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 6 |
Since 1999 | See Costa Rica national under-23 football team | |||||||
Total | 1 Silver medal | 5/12 | 25 | 10 | 3 | 12 | 46 | 54 |
Panamerican Championship
[edit]Panamerican Championship record | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
1952 | Did not participate | |||||||
1956 | Third place | 3rd | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 15 |
1960 | Fourth place | 4th | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 10 |
Total | Third place | 2/3 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 15 | 25 |
Head-to-head record
[edit]The following table shows Costa Rica's all-time international record, correct as of 19 November 2024.
Positive Record Neutral Record Negative Record
Team | M | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Argentina | 7 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 15 | –9 |
Aruba | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
Australia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | –1 |
Austria | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | –2 |
Barbados | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
Belgium | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | –4 |
Belize | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 1 | 17 |
Bermuda | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Bolivia | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 6 |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Brazil | 12 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 9 | 34 | –25 |
Cameroon | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Canada | 24 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 22 | 18 | 4 |
Chile | 11 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 10 | 3 |
China | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 2 |
Colombia | 15 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 17 | 30 | –13 |
Cuba | 18 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 57 | 11 | 46 |
Curaçao | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Czech Republic[a] | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | –5 |
Dominican Republic | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 7 |
Ecuador | 12 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 22 | –12 |
El Salvador | 69 | 40 | 15 | 14 | 151 | 58 | 93 |
England | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | –2 |
Finland | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
France | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | –2 |
French Guiana | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
Germany | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 8 | –4 |
Greece | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Grenada | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 6 |
Guadeloupe | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 10 |
Guatemala | 66 | 33 | 16 | 17 | 135 | 72 | 63 |
Guyana | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
Haiti | 16 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 31 | 13 | 18 |
Honduras | 69 | 26 | 24 | 19 | 114 | 84 | 30 |
Hungary | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | –1 |
Iran | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | –1 |
Italy | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Jamaica | 31 | 15 | 11 | 4 | 56 | 19 | 37 |
Japan | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 13 | –9 |
Martinique | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 6 | 9 |
Mexico | 58 | 6 | 20 | 32 | 34 | 88 | –54 |
Netherlands | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
New Zealand | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
Nicaragua | 19 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 72 | 10 | 62 |
Nigeria | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Northern Ireland | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
Norway | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | –1 |
Oman | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
Panama | 64 | 29 | 16 | 19 | 122 | 63 | 59 |
Paraguay | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
Peru | 9 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 18 | –8 |
Poland | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 | –5 |
Puerto Rico | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
Qatar | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Republic of Ireland | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Russia[b] | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
Saint Kitts and Nevis | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
Saudi Arabia | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 6 | 6 |
Scotland | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Serbia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | –1 |
Slovakia | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 1 |
South Africa | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | –2 |
South Korea | 11 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 12 | 14 | –2 |
Spain | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 16 | –13 |
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 12 |
Suriname | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 5 | 15 |
Sweden | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Switzerland | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | –1 |
Trinidad and Tobago | 26 | 19 | 4 | 3 | 59 | 15 | 44 |
Tunisia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | –1 |
Turkey | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Ukraine | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | –4 |
Uruguay | 15 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 19 | 26 | –7 |
United Arab Emirates | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | –3 |
United States | 41 | 17 | 5 | 19 | 49 | 49 | 0 |
Uzbekistan | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Venezuela | 16 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 28 | 24 | 4 |
Wales | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Total (78) | 741 | 207 | 137 | 235 | 1,271 | 851 | +420 |
- ^ include Czechoslovakia
- ^ include Soviet Union
Honours
[edit]Major competitions
[edit]Continental
[edit]- CONCACAF Championship/Gold Cup
- Panamerican Championship
- Third place (1): 1956
Regional
[edit]Friendly
[edit]- Independence Centenary Games
- Champions (1): 1921
- Copa Centroamérica-Independencia
- Champions (1): 2006
- Marlboro Cup
- Runners-up (1): 1990
Summary
[edit]Senior Competition | Total | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
CONCACAF Gold Cup | 3 | 1 | 4 | 8 |
Panamerican Championship | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
CCCF Championship1 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 9 |
Total | 10 | 2 | 6 | 18 |
- According to FIFA statutes, official major competition organized by CCCF for senior national teams. It was the predecessor confederation of CONCACAF and affiliated with FIFA as the governing football body in Central America and Caribbean from 1938 to 1961.
FIFA World Ranking
[edit]Last update was on 27 May 2021 Source:[17]
Best Ranking Worst Ranking Best Mover Worst Mover
Costa Rica's FIFA World Ranking History | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rank | Year | Best | Worst | |||||
Rank | Move | Rank | Move | |||||
50 | 2021 | — | — | — | — | |||
51 | 2020 | 46 | 51 | 4 | ||||
46 | 2019 | 37 | 1 | 47 | 5 | |||
36 | 2018 | 23 | 2 | 37 | 9 | |||
26 | 2017 | 17 | 5 | 26 | 7 | |||
17 | 2016 | 17 | 8 | 37 | 4 | |||
37 | 2015 | 13 | 3 | 42 | 27 | |||
16 | 2014 | 15 | 12 | 35 | 3 | |||
31 | 2013 | 31 | 16 | 66 | 3 | |||
66 | 2012 | 57 | 8 | 72 | 6 | |||
65 | 2011 | 48 | 21 | 69 | 5 | |||
69 | 2010 | 40 | 3 | 69 | 13 | |||
44 | 2009 | 30 | 11 | 47 | 8 | |||
53 | 2008 | 53 | 12 | 79 | 4 | |||
70 | 2007 | 46 | 12 | 70 | 10 | |||
68 | 2006 | 21 | 68 | 19 | ||||
21 | 2005 | 19 | 6 | 27 | 3 | |||
27 | 2004 | 17 | 5 | 33 | 5 | |||
17 | 2003 | 17 | 3 | 22 | 2 | |||
21 | 2002 | 21 | 5 | 30 | 2 | |||
30 | 2001 | 29 | 14 | 56 | 2 | |||
60 | 2000 | 54 | 8 | 69 | 5 | |||
64 | 1999 | 64 | 5 | 69 | 2 | |||
67 | 1998 | 46 | 7 | 67 | 15 | |||
51 | 1997 | 51 | 9 | 66 | 2 | |||
72 | 1996 | 72 | 12 | 93 | 6 | |||
78 | 1995 | 56 | 18 | 78 | 13 | |||
65 | 1994 | 39 | 3 | 65 | 9 | |||
42 | 1993 | 37 | 1 | 42 | 5 |
See also
[edit]- Costa Rica national under-23 football team
- Costa Rica national under-20 football team
- Costa Rica national under-17 football team
- Costa Rica at the FIFA World Cup
References
[edit]- ^ Araya, José Fernando (24 November 2021). "Esta es la nueva imagen de la Federación Costarricense de Fútbol | Teletica". Teletica (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 25 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
- ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking". FIFA. 28 November 2024. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
- ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 21 November 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
- ^ Campomar, Andreas (4 July 2014). "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. Archived from the original on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
- ^ "When Saturday Comes – Costa Rica goes crazy for the "team of migrants"". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 9 July 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
- ^ Romero, Marcos (28 August 2009). "Costa Rica International Soccer Matches Since 1920". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 3 December 2022. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
- ^ ""Los Chaparritos de Oro", la increíble generación de la Selección de Costa Rica en los 50". Fútbol Centroamérica (in European Spanish). 22 April 2022. Archived from the original on 23 April 2022. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
- ^ "¡Aztecazo!". Nación.com. Archived from the original on 29 June 2019. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
- ^ "FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF) 2006, football - table and standings". soccer365.me. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ "U.S. win stands as Costa Rica appeal blown away". CNN. 26 March 2013. Archived from the original on 19 December 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
- ^ "U.S. downs Costa Rica 1–0 in Gold Cup group stage, advances to quarters". CBSSports.com. Archived from the original on 19 December 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
- ^ "FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF) 2014, football - table and standings". soccer365.me. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ^ "El éxito de Costa Rica se debe a la paciencia, según exmundialista González". mundodeportivo.com. 7 July 2014. Archived from the original on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
- ^ Group E. Spain 7– Costa Rica 0 Archived 23 November 2022 at the Wayback Machine FIFA
- ^ "Los convocados". Facebook. Federación Costarricense de Fútbol.
- ^ Luis Fernando Passo Alpuin. "Costa Rica – Record International Players". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 20 July 2014. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
- ^ "Costa Rica in the FIFA World Ranking". Archived from the original on 24 November 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
External links
[edit]- Official website
- Costa Rica FIFA profile
- 1921 to 2009 Costa Rica match results by Marcos Romero at RSSSF