Costa Rica name squad for World Cup 2022
Costa Rica officially announced their 26-man squad for the upcoming World Cup in Qatar. The Central American nation became just the second team to release their roster after Japan did on Tuesday.
Captain Bryan Ruiz will make his third World Cup appearance for his country. The former Fulham star previously captained his team for the 2014 and 2018 tournaments. Ruiz has racked up 144 total senior appearances for Costa Rica.
Keylor Navas is also making his third consecutive World Cup as well. The Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper was between the posts for Costa Rica’s final qualification match. He managed to keep a clean sheet against New Zealand to help cement his team’s place in the upcoming competition.
Three Major League Soccer players also made manager Luis Fernando Suarez’s team. Defenders Bryan Oviedo, Daniel Chacon, and Ronald Matarrita will all be going to Qatar. The trio was the soccer league’s first confirmed representatives to play in the 2022 World Cup.
Costa Rica squad faces tough World Cup challenge
Costa Rica are part of a tough group for the tournament. They will have to face Spain, Germany, and Japan. Los Ticos begin their World Cup run on Wednesday, November 23rd in Doha against Spain. However, Costa Rica has also scheduled two friendly matches prior to the start of the World Cup. They are set to play Nigeria and Iraq over the next two weeks.
Here is the full 2022 World Cup Costa Rica roster:
Goalkeepers: Keylor Navas (PSG), Esteban Alvarado (Herediano), Patrick Sequeira (Club Deportivo Lugo).
Defenders: Francisco Calvo (Konyaspor), Juan Pablo Vargas (Millonarios), Kendall Waston (Saprissa), Óscar Duarte (Al-Wehda), Daniel Chacón (Colorado Rapids), Keysher Fuller (Herediano), Carlos Martínez (San Carlos), Bryan Oviedo (Real Salt Lake), Ronald Matarrita (Cincinnati).
Midfielders: Yeltsin Tejeda (Herediano), Celso Borges (Alajuelense), Youstin Salas (Saprissa), Roan Wilson (Grecia), Gerson Torres (Herediano), Douglas López (Herediano), Jewison Bennette (Sunderland), Álvaro Zamora (Saprissa), Anthony Hernández (Puntarenas), Brandon Aguilera (Nottingham Forest), Bryan Ruiz (Alajuelense).
Forwards: Joel Campbell (León), Anthony Contreras (Herediano), Johan Venegas (Alajuelense).
PHOTO: IMAGO / VWPics
