Costa Rica’s Football History :
Costa Rica’s national football team, also known as La Sele or Los Ticos, is governed by the Federación Costarricense de Fútbol, the football association of Costa Rica. The team marked their international debut against El Salvador in the Independence Centenary Games in September, 1921. They won the match by a massive margin of 7-0.
FIFA participation started in the year 1990 and till now it has qualified for four FIFA world cups. In Copa America it started playing in 1997 and up until now it has appeared in the tournament four times. In the popular CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football) championship, it has been playing since 1963 and appeared as a successful team grabbing three titles. In other international competitions like Copa Centro Americana or UNCAF National Cup, it has been playing since 1991 and has emerged as the most successful team in Central America grabbing 7 titles out of the 12.
The Costa Rica national football team appeared in the Olympics twice, once in the Summer Olympics held in 1980, Moscow, and the second time in the Summer Olympics of 1984 held in Los Angeles. Other than this, the country has separate football teams for Olympics under the age of 23 years that represent them in the Olympic Games.
Costa Rica Success Story :
The football team is the third most successful team in CONCACAF and the most successful team in Central America. Though it hasn’t achieved any significant success in FIFA and Copa America tournaments, the team has made its country proud in other international contests. Besides grabbing titles in the CONCACAF championship and UNCAF National Cup, it has finished as runners-up once, entered semi finals once and in quarter finals five times in CONCACAF tournament and finished as runner-ups four times in UNCAF National Cup, respectively. The team also had a great run in CCCF Championship emerging as winners seven times from 1941 to 1961 and finished runners-up once in 1951. Besides all the above mentioned, the team has maintained its record in the Pan American Games. The Costa Rica national football team has qualified for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and is all pumped up to show its mettle on the global front.
Costa Rica squad |
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| Goalkeepers: | Keilor Navas (Levante) Patrick Pemberton (Alajuelense) Daniel Cambronero (Herediano) |
Defenders: | Johnny Acosta (Alajuelense) Giancarlo Gonzalez (Columbus Crew) Michael Umana (Saprissa) Oscar Duarte (Brugge) Waylon Francis (Columbus Crew) Heiner Mora (Saprissa) Junior Diaz (Mainz) Christian Gamboa (Rosenborg) Roy Miller (Red Bull New York) Kendall Waston (Saprissa) |
| Midfielders: | Celso Borges (AIK) Christian Bolanos (Copenhaguen) Oscar Esteban Granados (Herediano) Michael Barrantes (Aalesund) Yeltsin Tejeda (Saprissa) Diego Calvo (Valerenga) Jose Miguel Cubero (Herediano) Carlos Hernandez (Wellington Phoenix) |
Forwards: | Alvaro Saborio (Real Salt Lake) Bryan Ruiz (PSV Eindhoven) Joel Campbell (Olympiacos) Randall Brenes (Cartagines) Marco Urena (Kuban Krasnodar) |
Costa Rica’s performance in all the FIFA World Cups :
| World Cup Year | World Cup Hosting Nation | FIFA Qualification | Quarter Final Birth | Semi Final Birth | Third Place Secured | Reached Final | Title Won |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | South Africa | No | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2006 | Germany | Yes | No | – | – | – | – |
| 2002 | South Korea | Yes | No | – | – | – | – |
| 1998 | France | No | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1994 | United States | No | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1990 | Italy | Yes | No | – | – | – | – |
| 1986 | Mexico | No | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1982 | Spain | No | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1978 | Argentina | No | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1974 | West Germany | No | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1970 | Mexico | No | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1966 | England | No | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1962 | Chile | No | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1958 | Sweden | No | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1954 | Switzerland | Did Not Enter | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1950 | Brazil | Did Not Enter | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1938 | France | Did Not Enter | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1934 | Italy | Did Not Enter | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1930 | Uruguay | Did Not Enter | – | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 19 World Cups | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |