Costa Rica National Football Team: Players, Fixtures, Ranking
Costa Rica’s national team, known affectionately as “La Sele,” has long punched above its weight in CONCACAF, reaching the World Cup quarter-finals in 2014 and qualifying for six tournaments overall. But the road to 2026 has been bumpy: a string of draws in September 2025 sent the team tumbling seven spots to 47th in the FIFA rankings, and questions are mounting about squad cohesion and tactical direction. FIFA rankings reflect that decline. Here’s what the current picture looks like.
FIFA Ranking: 45th · Squad Size: 23 · CONCACAF Position: 5th · WC Qual Group C: 3rd (7 pts from 6 matches)
Quick snapshot
- 6 FIFA World Cup qualifications (Wikipedia)
- FIFA rank dropped to 47th in September 2025 (Tico Times)
- 3rd in CONCACAF 2026 Qualifiers Group C with 7 points (FotMob)
- Official captain designation for 2025-2026 cycle
- Whether Keylor Navas remains the primary starter
- Coach’s tactical adjustments post-September draws
The key facts table below summarizes Costa Rica’s competitive position relative to the rest of CONCACAF.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| FIFA World Ranking | 47th (September 2025) |
| CONCACAF Ranking | 5th (current) |
| World Cup Appearances | 6 (1990, 2002, 2006, 2014, 2018, 2022) |
| Best World Cup Finish | Quarter-finals (2014) |
| Current Squad Size | 23 players |
| Average Squad Age | 24.8 years |
Costa Rica national football team players
The squad for the 2026 CONCACAF World Cup qualifying campaign features a blend of experienced veterans and emerging talent, with 11 of the 23 players based abroad. The goalkeeping department is anchored by Keylor Navas, now 38, who remains a defining presence between the posts despite questions about his starting role. Leonel Moreira (35) and Aarón Cruz (34) provide cover.
Current Squad Overview
The outfield roster spans three age brackets. At one end stands Bryan Ruiz, at 40 the oldest player in the squad list, whose leadership and creativity have been relied upon for nearly two decades. At the other end, 21-year-old Jewison Bennette represents the future of Costa Rican football as one of the team’s most promising attacking prospects.
- Goalkeepers: Keylor Navas (38), Leonel Moreira (35), Aarón Cruz (34)
- Defenders: Carlos Martinez (26), Kendall Waston (37), Bryan Oviedo (35), Francisco Calvo (33), Óscar Duarte (36), Juan Pablo Vargas (30), Keysher Fuller (31), Ian Lawrence (23)
- Midfielders: Orlando Galo (25), Yeltsin Tejeda (33), Celso Borges (37), Daniel Chacón (24), Brandon Aguilera (22)
- Forwards: Carlos Mora (24), Gerson Torres (28), Johan Venegas (36), Bryan Ruiz (40), Joel Campbell (33), Anthony Contreras (25), Jewison Bennette (21)
Key Defenders
Francisco Calvo leads the defensive line with 108 international caps, serving as a central figure both on and off the pitch. His latest call-up came in November 2025 for the fixtures against Honduras. Kendall Waston, at 37, brings 78 caps and a physical presence, while Bryan Oviedo offers experience on the left side. According to FotMob player ratings, Calvo has been the standout performer this qualifying cycle with a 7.64 rating, followed closely by Orlando Galo (7.50) in midfield.
With half the squad aged 30 or above, Costa Rica faces a generational transition. The next World Cup cycle may look very different.
Costa Rica national football team fixtures
The qualifying schedule has delivered frustrating results so far, with La Sele failing to convert leads into wins against regional rivals.
Upcoming Matches
Costa Rica’s next critical fixtures center on the remaining CONCACAF third-round qualifiers. The November 2025 call-up, featuring players like Francisco Calvo and Kenay Myrie, prepares the squad for a clash against Honduras at the Estadio Morazán in San José. According to Tico Times, the team faced Honduras on October 9, 2025 at Morazán Stadium.
Recent Results
The September 2025 window proved particularly damaging to Costa Rica’s qualification hopes. A 1-1 draw in Nicaragua saw the team squander a lead, followed by a 3-3 thriller against Haiti where Costa Rica again let a winning position slip away. These results triggered the team’s sharpest ranking decline among all CONCACAF nations that month.
Costa Rica has drawn four of six qualifying matches (1 win, 4 draws, 1 loss), collecting just 7 points. The inability to close out games is costing both points and FIFA ranking points.
Costa Rica national football team captain
Identifying the official captain for the 2025-2026 cycle proves difficult from available sources. While Francisco Calvo carries the most international experience with 108 caps and has been consistently called up, including the November 2025 squad announcement, the formal armband assignment for this qualifying campaign is unclear from current public records.
Leadership Role
Whatever the official designation, veteran presence abounds. Bryan Ruiz, at 40 the oldest player in the squad, has captained the team in past cycles. Keylor Navas, the 38-year-old goalkeeper, reportedly urged unity among teammates as pressure mounted on the coaching staff following the September ranking drop. The combination of experienced figures suggests leadership is distributed rather than concentrated in a single player.
Costa Rica national football team stadium
The home venue for Costa Rica’s national team is the Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica, located in San José. This 35,000-capacity stadium has hosted World Cup qualifiers, the 2014 knockout stage matches (including the famous quarter-final run), and serves as the primary venue for CONCACAF fixtures.
Home Venue Details
The Estadio Nacional, built in 2011, replaced the older Estadio Nacional Ricardo Saprissá Aymá as the national team’s primary home. Its modern facilities and central location in San José make it the logical choice for high-stakes qualifiers. The November 2025 fixtures against Honduras were scheduled at this venue.
The implication: Modern infrastructure and fan familiarity give Costa Rica a measurable home advantage in crucial qualifiers.
Costa Rica national football team FIFA ranking
Costa Rica’s FIFA ranking has become a barometer for the team’s struggles during the 2026 World Cup qualifying cycle. The September 2025 update, published by FIFA’s official ranking page, placed La Sele at 47th—a drop of seven spots from the previous month.
Current Position
The team now sits fifth in the CONCACAF ranking index according to CONCACAF’s official rankings, trailing Mexico, the United States, Canada, and Panama. This represents a notable fall from the heights of 2014 when Costa Rica reached 13th in the world—the team’s historical peak.
Historical Trends
The ranking trajectory tells a story of decline. Costa Rica’s all-time highest FIFA ranking was 13th, achieved during the 2014 World Cup run. The lowest recorded position stands at 93rd, with a historical average around 21st. The current 47th position is notably below that long-term average, reflecting inconsistent performances across recent qualifying cycles.
Ranking drops compound over qualification cycles. Every draw instead of a win costs ranking points that become difficult to recover, especially against regional competitors fighting for the same continental berths.
Timeline
A century of CONCACAF competition has brought Costa Rica moments of triumph and frustration, with the 2014 World Cup serving as the defining chapter.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1990 | First FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 2002 | First of back-to-back World Cup qualifications |
| 2006 | Second consecutive World Cup appearance |
| 2014 | Advanced to quarter-finals in Brazil; highest-ever FIFA ranking (13th) |
| 2022 | Finished 4th in final CONCACAF qualifying round, lost inter-confederation playoff |
| 2025 | Drops to 47th in FIFA rankings after September draw struggles |
The pattern: Consistent World Cup presence since 1990 masks underlying inconsistency that has worsened since the 2014 peak.
What we know and what remains unclear
The facts around Costa Rica’s current state are concrete in some areas but genuinely uncertain in others.
Confirmed facts
- FIFA ranking: 47th as of September 2025 (Tico Times)
- CONCACAF group position: 3rd in Group C with 7 points from 6 matches (FotMob)
- Francisco Calvo: 108 caps, 13 goals, age 33 (Wikipedia)
- Bryan Ruiz: 40 years old, oldest player in current squad (ESPN)
- Jewison Bennette: 21 years old, youngest forward
What’s uncertain
- Official captain designation for 2025-2026
- Whether Keylor Navas remains first-choice goalkeeper
- Coach’s tactical plans post-September collapses
- Injury updates for squad members
What people are saying
“La Sele fell seven spots, now sitting at 47th in the world—a sharp decline that highlights growing concerns over the team’s performance.”
— Tico Times, September 2025
“The Ticos took a tumble down the rankings in September, only getting a draw in Nicaragua, only getting a draw against Haiti.”
— CONCACAF Power Rankings analysis (YouTube)
Summary
Costa Rica entered the 2026 World Cup qualifying cycle with hopes of returning to the global stage, but inconsistent results have derailed momentum. The September 2025 draws against Nicaragua and Haiti proved costly, with the team dropping seven places to 47th in the FIFA rankings. With four draws from six matches and just 7 points in Group C, La Sele faces mounting pressure to convert draws into wins. The squad blends veterans like Keylor Navas and Bryan Ruiz with emerging talents, but the generational transition looms. For Costa Rican fans, the message from the remaining qualifiers is clear: support the team through this difficult stretch, or prepare for the possibility of missing a second consecutive World Cup.
The Costa Rica squad, led by Keylor Navas, shone in World Cup clashes like against Spain, where Spain vs Costa Rica lineups break down the key lineups deployed.
Frequently asked questions
What is the nickname of the Costa Rica national football team?
The team is commonly known as “La Sele,” short for La Selección Costarricense.
Who is the head coach of the Costa Rica national football team?
The head coach position has seen changes during the qualifying cycle, with pressure mounting following the September 2025 ranking drop. Exact current designation requires verification from official CONCACAF sources.
What are the major achievements of the Costa Rica national football team?
La Sele has qualified for six FIFA World Cups (1990, 2002, 2006, 2014, 2018, 2022) and reached the quarter-finals in 2014—the best performance by any CONCACAF team besides the USA and Mexico. They hold the highest all-time Football Elo rating in Central America.
How has the Costa Rica national football team performed in CONCACAF?
Costa Rica ranks 5th in the CONCACAF Ranking Index as of 2025, behind Mexico, USA, Canada, and Panama. They have been historically considered among the second-tier powers in the region, often competing for automatic qualification spots.
When was the last World Cup appearance by the Costa Rica national football team?
Costa Rica’s most recent World Cup appearance was in Qatar 2022, where they finished fourth in their group behind Spain, Japan, and Germany.
What colors does the Costa Rica national football team wear?
La Sele traditionally plays in a white shirt with blue shorts and socks, featuring red accents. The away kit typically inverts to blue or red.
How to watch Costa Rica national football team matches?
CONCACAF qualifiers are broadcast through various regional and international sports networks. Fans in Costa Rica can access matches through local sports channels, while international viewers should check their regional sports broadcasting agreements.
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