SEATTLE - Costa Rica will arrive to Copa América 2024 with one of the youngest squads of the tournament. 'Los Ticos' will have an average age of 23,9 years as they continue their rebuilding process.
"We will play against the best teams in the world and we are a developing team. Obviously, we want to go and win but we have to go to Copa América to get some experience," said Gustavo Alfaro, coach of the Costa Rican national team since November of last year.
Out of the 26 players called by Alfaro for Copa América 2024, 12 of them play for a club outside of Costa Rica, signaling the Argentine's bet for a new generation of Costa Rican talent.
As preparations for Copa América 2024, Costa Rica played two World Cup Qualifying games earlier this month that ended in 4-0 and 3-0 wins over St. Kitts and Nevis and Grenada, respectively. This year's edition will be 'Los Ticos' sixth appearance at the CONMEBOL tournament and only between 2001 and 2004 were they able to get past the group stages.
Costa Rica's Copa América quick facts
Group: D
Best result: quarterfinals (twice); has not gotten past the group stages since 2004
Coach: Gustavo Alfaro (appointed November 2023); 4-3-1 W-L-D
All-time Costa Rican top scorer in Copa América: Paulo Wanchope (5 goals)
Where is the Costa Rica playing?
Costa Rica will open things up at Copa América 2024 against Brazil at the new SoFi Stadium near Los Angeles. Four days later, they will face one of the contenders in Colombia at the city of Glendale, in Arizona. 'Los Ticos' will close out the group stage against Paraguay at the Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas.
June 24: Brazil vs Costa Rica - SoFi Stadium, Inglewood
June 28: Colombia vs Costa Rica - State Farm Stadium, Glendale
July 2: Costa Rica vs Paraguay - Q2 Stadium, Austin
Costa Rica's 26-man list for Copa América
Goalkeepers: Kevin Chamorro (Deportivo Saprissa), Patrick Sequeira (Ibiza), Aaron Cruz (Herediano)
Defenders: Fernán Faerrón (Herediano), Julio Cascante (Austin FC), Gerald Taylor (Deportivo Saprissa), Francisco Calvo (Juárez), Juan Pablo Vargas (Millonarios), Joseph Mora (Deportivo Saprissa), Haxzel Quirós (Herediano), Jyeyland Mitchell (Alajuelense), Yeison Molina (Guanacasteca), Douglas Sequeira (Deportivo Saprissa)
Midfielders: Brandón Aguilera (Nottingham Forest), Orlando Galo (Herediano), Josimar Alcócer (Westerlo), Ariel Lassister (CF Montréal), Jefferson Bremes (Deportivo Saprissa), Alejandro Bran (Minnesota United)
Forwards: Manfred Ugalde (Spartak Moscow), Joel Campbell (Alajuelense), Anthony Contreras (Pafos), Kenneth Vargas (Heart of Midlothian), Álvaro Zamora (Aris), Andy Rojas (Herediano), Warren Madrigal (Deportivo Saprissa)
Notable absence
Keylor Navas
For the first time in more than 15 years, the Costa Rican goal will undergo a massive change as Keylor Navas announced he was retiring from international football just a few weeks ago.
The 37-year-old made his Costa Rica debut in 2008 with 21 years of age and represented his country in 114 games, the sixth most by any Costa Rican player all-time.
Although Navas has been a staple for 'Los Ticos' for more than 15 years, Navas missed out on many major tournaments for Costa Rica throughout his career due to injuries. He missed the last three Gold Cup editions as well as Copa América Centenario in 2016, but was fit enough to play the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Kevin Chamorro, Patrick Sequeira and Aaron Cruz will be the ones in charge of replacing Navas at goal for Costa Rica during Copa América 2024.
Player to watch
Joel Campbell
Joel Campbell will be Costa Rica's most experienced player when they kick things off against Brazil at SoFi Stadium near Los Angeles. The now Alajuelense forward has had a fantastic last 12 month at the club level, scoring 16 goals in all competitions for 'La Liga.'
He will enter Copa América 2024 with 139 caps for the national team, good enough for third place all-time and the most by any active player in the current squad. This will be his third appearance at the tournament, having played part at the 2011 and 2016 Copa América editions.
Ever since Ricardo La Volpe gave him his senior debut at just 18 years of age, Campbell has been one of the main players for 'Los Ticos' at the attack, as no other active player has score more goals for Costa Rica since Campbell's debut in 2011 (27).
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