costa rica

Bio

A founding member of Concacaf, the Costa Rica Football Federation celebrated its centennial in 2021. Much has been accomplished in that time, as Costa Rica has established itself as one of the powers of Central American football.

The men’s national team has shown that in recent years with five FIFA World Cup appearances since 1990, qualifying in back-to-back cycles in both 2002 and 2006 and again in 2014 and 2018, with a best-ever quarterfinal finish at Brazil 2014.

Costa Rica also lifted the Concacaf Championship, winning in 1963, 1969 and 1989, but a runner-up finish in 2002 is its best-ever Concacaf Gold Cup finish. It landed in the Final Four of the first-ever Concacaf Nations League by winning its League A group, going undefeated en route to the CNL Finals in Denver, but falling in the semifinals.

Still, there is no doubt Los Ticos will look to get back to the CNL Final Four and this time lift another Concacaf trophy. Costa Rica also has been a reference for women’s football in the region, qualifying for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2015 and getting a pair of points from a group that included Spain, South Korea and Brazil.

Like the men’s squad, Las Ticas also can boast of a second-best finish in the continental championship after a runner-up spot in 2014. Costa Rica also is a powerhouse in futsal, having won four Concacaf Futsal Championships including three straight in 2012, 2016 and 2021.

While it has more than 100 years of history behind it, Costa Rica’s future in the sport also looks bright.