Teams

34

FIFA Ranking

1

Finals

2018

Last World Cup

2014 (8th)

Best Performance

Costa Rica qualified for their third straight World Cup, and their 5th in 6 editions, but they had to go about it the long way. Despite defeating USA 2-0 on the final qualifying day, they finished in 4th spot, below the United States on goal difference, and required a one off play match to make it to Qatar. A third minute goal from Joel Campbell, formerly of Arsenal, Villarreal, Real Betis and Sporting Lisbon was enough to secure a 1-0 win over New Zealand to secure their place. Costa Rica famously reached the Quarter Finals in Brazil 2014, finishing top of the Group of Death consisting of Uruguay, England and Italy before defeating Greece in the Round of 16. Only a penalty shootout defeat to Netherlands stopped them in their tracks.

Fixtures

Player to Watch

35 year old goalkeeper Keylor Navas is undoubtedly the most decorated player for his nation at domestic level, having featured in the first time squad for Real Madrid and Paris Saint Germain for many years. Everpresent in qualifying, the three time UEFA Champions League winner is a major reason for Costa Rica’s impressive defensive record, and he will be a huge factor in determining whether or not they will progress this time around.

Squad List

Name

Esteban Alvarado

Patrick Sequeira

Keylor Navas

Francisco Calvo

Óscar Duarte

Keysher Fuller

Carlos Martínez

Bryan Oviedo

Juan Pablo Vargas

Kendall Waston

Rónald Matarrita

Brandon Aguilera

Jewison Bennette

Celso Borges

Daniel Chacón

Anthony Hernández

Douglas López

Bryan Ruiz (captain)

Gerson Torres

Roan Wilson

Álvaro Zamora

Yeltsin Tejeda

Youstin Salas

Joel Campbell

Anthony Contreras

Johan Venegas

Position

GK

GK

GK

DF

DF

DF

DF

DF

DF

DF

DF

MF

MF

MF

MF

MF

MF

MF

MF

MF

MF

MF

MF

MF

FW

FW

Club

Herediano (Costa Rica)

Lugo (Spain)

Paris Saint-Germain (France)

Konyaspor (Turkey)

Al-Wehda (Saudi Arabia)

Herediano (Costa Rica)

San Carlos (Costa Rica)

Real Salt Lake (United States)

Millonarios (Colombia)

Saprissa (Costa Rica)

FC Cincinnati (United States)

Guanacasteca (Costa Rica)

Sunderland (England)

Alajuelense (Costa Rica)

Cartaginés (Costa Rica)

Puntarenas (Costa Rica)

Santos de Guápiles (Costa Rica)

Alajuelense (Costa Rica)

Herediano (Costa Rica)

Grecia (Costa Rica)

Saprissa (Costa Rica)

Herediano (Costa Rica)

Grecia (Costa Rica)

León (Mexico)

Herediano (Costa Rica)

Alajuelense (Costa Rica)

Age

33

23

35

30

33

28

23

32

27

34

28

19

18

34

21

20

23

37

25

20

20

30

26

30

22

33

Caps

23

0

107

74

69

28

4

73

11

61

52

2

6

153

6

0

1

144

12

1

0

73

3

117

7

79

Goals

0

0

0

8

3

3

0

2

1

7

3

3

0

27

0

0

0

29

1

0

0

0

0

25

2

11