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Costa Rica

First Match: 1921 (104 years ago)

Stadium: Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica (Capacity: 42,000)

Nickname: Los Ticos

Confederation: CONCACAF

All-time Appearances
Country Player Years Appearances Goals
1. Costa Rica Celso Borges 2008 - present 164 27
2. Costa Rica Joel Campbell 2011 - present 150 27
3. Costa Rica Bryan Ruiz 2005-22 147 29
4. Costa Rica Walter Centeno 1995-2009 137 24
5. Costa Rica Luis Marín 1993-2009 128 5
6. Costa Rica Keylor Navas 2008 - present 126 0
7. Costa Rica Francisco Calvo 2011 - present 115 15
8. Costa Rica Rolando Fonseca 1992-2011 113 47
9. Costa Rica Álvaro Saborío 2002-21 112 36
10. Costa Rica Mauricio Solís 1993-06 110 6
All-time Goalscorers
Country Player Years Appearances Goals GpG
1. Costa Rica Rolando Fonseca 1992-2011 113 47 0.42
2. Costa Rica Paulo Wanchope 1996-2008 73 45 0.62
3. Costa Rica Álvaro Saborío 2002-21 112 36 0.32
4. Costa Rica Bryan Ruiz 2005-22 147 29 0.20
5. Costa Rica Juan Ulloa 1955–70 27 27 1.00
= Costa Rica Joel Campbell 2011 - present 150 27 0.18
= Costa Rica Celso Borges 2008 - present 164 27 0.16
8. Costa Rica Rónald Gómez 1993-2008 91 24 0.26
= Costa Rica Walter Centeno 1995-2009 137 24 0.18
10. Costa Rica Jorge Monge 1955-61 27 23 0.85

Nation Profile
First match: 1921 (104 years ago)
The Costa Rica national football team, governed by the Federación Costarricense de Fútbol since its founding in 1921, has developed into one of Central America’s most consistent international sides. The team debuted that same year at the Independence Centenary Games in Guatemala City, immediately winning the tournament, and went on to dominate early regional competitions, claiming multiple CCCF Championship titles. After joining FIFA in 1927 and later becoming a founding member of CONCACAF in 1961, Costa Rica established itself as a regional force, winning the inaugural CONCACAF Championship in 1963 and adding further titles in 1969 and 1989. Despite strong squads in the 1950s and 1960s—featuring players such as Ruben Jimenez and Errol Daniels—World Cup qualification remained elusive until the late 20th century. The breakthrough came under coach Bora Milutinović, when Costa Rica won the 1989 CONCACAF Championship and qualified for the 1990 FIFA World Cup, reaching the round of 16 in their debut and signaling their arrival on the global stage.

Since then, Costa Rica has qualified for multiple World Cups, with notable campaigns in 2002, 2006, 2014, 2018, and 2022. The most significant achievement came at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, where, under coach Jorge Luis Pinto, they topped a group containing former champions Italy, England, and Uruguay before reaching the quarter-finals for the first time. Goalkeeper Keylor Navas was central to this run, particularly in the penalty shootout victory over Greece. Earlier, the 2002 campaign under Alexandre Guimarães showcased an attacking generation led by Paulo Wanchope and Rolando Fonseca. Regionally, Costa Rica remains one of CONCACAF’s most successful teams, with multiple titles and consistent competitiveness, supported by strong performances in tournaments such as the CONCACAF Gold Cup and appearances in the Copa América. While recent World Cup campaigns in 2018 and 2022 ended at the group stage, Costa Rica has maintained a reputation as a disciplined and tactically resilient side, regularly ranking among the top teams in Central America and continuing to produce internationally recognised talent.
Nickname: Los Ticos - because "Tico" is an affectionate, widely used demonym for Costa Ricans.

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