Costa Rica is not part of CONMEBOL, but they have been invited as a guest nation. They have competed in the Copa América 5 times and reached the quarterfinals twice (2001 and 2004). La Sele as the team is affectionately called has appeared in 6 World Cups, but they have never won. They have won 3 CONCACAF Championships (1963, 1969, and 1989), so although they do not have a strong history of extreme success, they will look to change this in the 2024 Copa.
La Sele has been led by Gustavo Alfaro since November 2023, and because of his leadership, they secured the last invite to the Copa Cup after defeating Honduras in March 2024. La Sele will look to harness this success as they move forward to the Cup. Joel Campbell, a 31-year-old midfielder who plays for Liga FPD, will look to be instrumental in the pursuit of success. He is not known for being a strong finisher, so it is unlikely that he will be the leading goal scorer. He is known, however, for making key crosses that set up goal-scoring opportunities. Costa Rica will need to not only create these opportunities but work to capitalize on them.
Although football is part of many nation’s cultural identity, Costa Rica has a particularly rich relationship with the game. The game is more than wins, losses, best players, and worst players. It is a chance for everyone to come together to celebrate and to grieve when necessary. If you listen to a Costa Rica game you will not be surprised to hear the announcer exclaim “Grítenlo con nosotros,” which roughly translates to shout it with us or cheer with us. When big victories are won, everyone crowds the streets to celebrate at La Fuente de la Hispanidad. La Sele will play to bring such a culture of celebration back to their country and back to their people.
Check Out Highlights from Costa Rica's Victory over Honduras to Advance to Copa