Costa Rica

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Costa Rica's national team made its debut in the Independence Centenary Games in Guatemala City in September 1921, winning their first game 7–0 against El Salvador and defeating Guatemala 6–0 in the final. The 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 1958, 1962 and 1966. Stars included Ruben Jimenez, Errol Daniels, Leonel Hernández and Edgar Marín. Costa Rica won the 1989 CONCACAF Championship to qualify for their first World Cup. In the 1990 World Cup, they beat Scotland 1–0, lost to Brazil, and beat Sweden 2–1 to reach the knockout stages, where they lost 4–1 to Czechoslovakia. In 2014, Costa Rica achieved their best performance by finishing first in a group that included Uruguay, Italy, and England. They defeated Greece 5–3 via a penalty shoot-out after a 1–1 draw, with Keylor Navas saving more than 15 shots. They reached the quarter-finals but were defeated by the Netherlands 3–4 in a penalty shoot-out after a scoreless draw.

In Their Own Story

In 2014, Costa Rica entered a group with three former World Cup champions: Uruguay, Italy, and England. They finished first in the group, a stunning achievement. During the round of 16 against Greece, the match ended 1–1 after extra time. Keylor Navas saved more than 15 shots, and Costa Rica won 5–3 via a penalty shoot-out. 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. 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.

Reader's Guide

Costa Rica has participated twenty-three times in CONCACAF's premier continental competition, winning 3 CONCACAF Championship titles (1963, 1969 and 1989). Their best performance under the CONCACAF Gold Cup format was finishing as runners-up in 2002. They have participated four times in League A of the CONCACAF Nations League, finishing in fourth place in the 2021 finals. Costa Rica has participated six times in the Copa América, reaching the quarter-finals in 2001 and 2004, and also participated twice in the Panamerican Championship, finishing in third place in 1956. Regionally, the team won 7 CCCF Championship titles and 8 Copa Centroamericana titles. Costa Rica 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.

Did You Know?

• Costa Rica became the first champions of the CONCACAF Championship in 1963.
• In the 2014 World Cup, Keylor Navas saved more than 15 shots during the round of 16 match against Greece.
• Costa Rica's 2014 World Cup group included three former champions: Uruguay, Italy, and England.
• Costa Rica has the all-time highest Football Elo Ranking in Central America, with 1806 in 2014.
• The team's nickname in the late 1940s was 'The Gold Shorties'.