Costa Rica is another Central American state that has embraced soccer. The Costa Rican national soccer team played in the FIFA World Cup six times and finally reached the quarter-finals in 2014. They also played in the CONCACAF Gold Cup where they became a runner-up in 2002, their best performance yet.

The La Sele of Costa Rica qualified for the FIFA World Cup in 1990, 2002, 2006, 2014, 2018, and 2022.

Paulo Wanchope is one of the players who made the world recognize the talent of Costa Rican players. He played forward for various clubs in the Premiere League of England in the later part of 1990s all the way to the early 2000.

Costa Rica is also one of the few Central American countries that have joined both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games, 1936 and 1980 respectively. In the latest count, the country have taken a total of four Olympic medals, all of which were by Silvia and Claudia Poll who represented the country in swimming.

Rafting in Costa Rica Rafting in Costa Rica

Claudia Poll is the only Costa Rican who has won an Olympic gold medal, which she snatched during the 1996 Atlanta Games. The other three medals were a silver, by Silvia Poll in the 1988 Seoul Games and 2 bronze, both of which are from Claudia Poll in the 2000 Sydney Games.

Below are details of sports, sporting events and sports people related to Costa Rica. Is there something missing? If you know of something that should be listed here, please let us know.

Popular sports of Costa Rica

  • Football (Soccer), beach volleyball, golf, mountain biking, basketball, baseball, surfing, tennis, bull-fighting, rodeo, fishing

Costa Rica Sporting Success

  • Costa Rica reaching the quarter-finals at the 2014 FIFA World Cup
  • Winner CONCACAF Championship (1963, 1969)
  • Costa Rica won its first Olympic gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics

Great athletes from Costa Rica

  • Paulo Wanchope (Football)
  • Claudia Poll (swimming)
  • Keylor Navas (football)
  • Bryan Ruiz (football)
  • Nery Brenes (football)
  • Leilani McGonagle (surfing)
  • Andrea Vargas (sprint hurdles)

Costa Rica Sports trivia

  • Costa Rica is one of the few Central American countries that have participated in both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games
  • Swimmer Claudia Poll Ahrens won the Costa Rica's first Olympic gold medal in the 200m freestyle event at the 1996 Atlanta Games.

Costa Rica at major events

Past sporting events hosted in Costa Rica

  • 1980 Central American and Caribbean Games (San José)

Upcoming sporting events in Costa Rica

  • Annual sporting calendar events (see below)

Annual sporting events held in Costa Rica

  • The Primera División de Costa Rica
  • Costa Rica International Marathon, San Jose.
  • Ruta de los Conquistadores Mountain Bike Race
  • The National Soccer Tournament - It is held every year in the summer.
  • The Costa Rican National Marathon - This event is held every year in the capital city of San Jose.
  • The Costa Rican National Basketball Tournament - This annual event is held in the capital city of San Jose.
  • The Costa Rican National Volleyball Tournament - This annual event is also held in the capital city of San Jose and attract some of the best volleyball players around the world.

Sporting Facilities in Costa Rica

  • Estadio Nacional (National Stadium) in La Sabana Park
  • Estadio Ricardo Saprissa in Tibas