Women's World Cup: Costa Rica Women's Team Profile

Costa Rica will be making just their second appearance at a World Cup finals but after a solid debut in 2015, they will be hoping to punch above their weight again this time around.

A decent performance in last year's CONCACAF W Championship has also raised hopes that they could cause a few surprises. The Central Americans do face a tricky group however, with Spain, Japan and Zambia their opponents in Group C. 
 

Costa Rica's World Cup record:

Costa Rica reached their first ever women's World Cup in 2015 after they qualified by producing a shock run to the final of the 2014 CONCACAF W Championship, topping their group and beating Trinidad and Tobago in the semi-finals before they were beaten 6-0 by the United States in the final.

La Sele picked up impressive draws against Spain and South Korea in the 2015 World Cup before falling to a late Brazil goal in their final group game that saw them eliminated.

The Central Americans certainly exceeded expectations with that effort and they will be hoping to build on that effort in this year's tournament, where they will again meet Spain.

Missing out on qualification four years ago was a major blow but Costa Rica are back on the world's biggest stage and will be looking to make a big impact. 
 

How Costa Rica qualified:

Costa Rica finished fourth in last year's CONCACAF W Championship to qualify for this year's World Cup in Australia.

After beating Panama 3-0 and Trinidad and Tobago 4-0 in the group stages of that tournament, they faced Canada in their final group game to decide who would top the group.

A 2-0 loss to the Canucks meant that Costa Rica had to settle for second place in their section and they were beaten 3-0 by eventual winners the United States in the semi-finals before losing out to Jamaica after extra-time in the third-placed play-off.

Nevertheless, reaching the semi-finals confirmed the Central American side's position in this year's World Cup for just the second time in their history.
 

The Manager - Amelia Valverde:

Amelia Valverde is the Costa Rica manager and has been involved with the national team since 2011 in various positions, including assistant manager of the senior and under-20 teams.

Prior to her coaching career, the 36-year-old played for a number of teams in the Costa Rica Women's Premier Division, including Herediano and Saprissa.

In January 2015 Valverde replaced Uruguayan Garabet Avedissian as head coach of the women's national team and one of her first efforts was to lead her side to their first World Cup campaign.
 

Confirmed Costa Rica squad:

Costa Rica are yet to confirm their squad for the Women's World Cup. Here are the 31 players who have been selected for the provisional squad.

Goalkeepers: Noelia Bermudez, Priscilla Tapia, Daniela Solera, Genesis Perez

Defenders: Mariana Benavides, Maria Paula Elizondo, Daniela Cruz, Lixy Rodriguez, Valeria Del Campo, Maria Paula Porras, Yesmi Rodriguez, Fabiola Villalobos, Maria Paula Coto, Gabriela Guillen, Carol Sanchez

Midfielders: Katherine Alvarado, Raquel Rodriguez, Cristin Granados, Mariela Campos, Emilie Valenciano, Alexandra Pinell, Gloriana Villalobos, Melissa Herrera, Yearling Ovares, Emily Flores, Sheika Scott

Forwards: Catalina Estrada, Priscilla Chinchilla, Carolina Venegas, Sofia Varela, Maria Paula Salas
 

Costa Rica's Key Players:

Costa Rica have a number of players who could make a big impression at this year's World Cup but probably the most experienced is midfielder Raquel Rodriguez.

The 29-year-old won the NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Championship in 2015 for Penn State and since then has starred for Sky Blue FC and Portland Thorns in the NWSL, winning Rookie of the Year in 2016.

Rodriguez has scooped a number of honours with the Thorns including the NWSL Shield, NWSL Challenge Cup, the International Champions Cup and the NWSL Championship. 

She also has 55 goals in 100 appearances for her country.

A youngster who could impress for the Central Americans is Glasgow City's Priscila Chinchilla. 

The 21-year-old was named Scotland Women's Player of the Year in 2021/22 and helped steer her side to the Scottish Women's Premier League title this season, scoring 12 goals and registering seven assists in 27 games.
 

Costa Rica's Group fixtures

Group C

Spain v Costa Rica, Wellington, 21st July 2023

Japan v Costa Rica, Dunedin 26th July 2023

Costa Rica v Zambia, Hamilton, 31st July 2023