Costa Rica has taken part in every FIFA World Cup qualifying competition since 1958, and gone through to the final tournament in 1990, 2002, 2006, 2014, 2018, and 2022. The team's best performance was making the quarter-finals in 2014.

1990

  • Costa Rica made it out of Group C at the 1990 World Cup with 4 points. The team won two matches and lost a game to Brazil, who topped Group C with 6 points.
  • Costa Rica lost 1-4 to Czechoslovakia in the Round of 16 at the 1990 World Cup.

2002

  • Costa Rica did not make it out of Group C at the 2002 World Cup. The team finished with 4 points after winning its match against China, playing a draw against Turkey, and losing its last game to Brazil.

2006

  • Costa Rica did not make it out of Group A at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. The team lost its three group games against Germany, Ecuador, and Poland.

2014

  • Costa Rica topped Group D with 7 points ahead of Uruguay, Italy, and England. The team won its first two matches against Uruguay and Italy, and played a draw with England in its final group game.
  • Costa Rica won Greece 5-3 on penalties in the Round of 16 of the 2014 World Cup to proceed to the Quarter-finals.
  • Costa Rica lost 3-4 on penalties to the Netherlands in the Quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup.

2018

  • Costa Rica did not make it out of Group E at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. The team lost two matches and drew its last game against Switzerland.

2022

  • Costa Rica did not make it out of Group E at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The team finished with 3 points after losing two matches and winning just one match against Japan.

2026

  • Costa Rica did not qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

Trivia

  • Cost Rica's best game result was in 1946, when they beat Panama 12-0.
  • Their most ignominious defeat was at the hands of Mexico, who beat them 7-0 in 1975.
  • In 2014, Costa Rica were beaten in the quarter-finals by the Netherlands after penalties after the match finished nil all.