Costa Rica at the Copa América

Costa Rica and the USA lining up for the group match at the Copa América Centenario.
Mauricio Wright is the only Costa Rican player to score at two different Copa Américas.

The Copa América is South America's major tournament in senior men's football and determines the continental champion. Until 1967, the tournament was known as South American Championship. It is the oldest continental championship in the world.

Costa Rica are not members of the South American football confederation CONMEBOL. But because CONMEBOL only has ten member associations, guest nations have regularly been invited since 1993. Costa Rica have competed in the Copa América five times, and reached the quarter-finals twice.

On four occasions, they have been directly invited. The Copa América Centenario in 2016 was a collaboration of the CONCACAF and the CONMEBOL and Costa Rica qualified by virtue of winning the 2014 Copa Centroamericana. They again qualified for the 2024 tournament via the qualifying play-offs.

In their home confederation, the North American CONCACAF, Costa Rica have won three titles (1963, 1969 and 1989).

Record at the Copa América

Copa América record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA
Bolivia 1997 Group stage 10th 3 0 1 2 2 10
Colombia 2001 Quarter-finals 5th 4 2 1 1 7 3
Peru 2004 Quarter-finals 8th 4 1 0 3 3 8
Argentina 2011 Group stage 9th 3 1 0 2 2 4
United States 2016 Group stage 10th 3 1 1 1 3 6
United States 2024 Group stage 10th 3 1 1 1 2 4
Total Quarter-finals 6/13 20 6 4 10 19 35

* Draws include matches decided on penalties.

Match overview

Tournament Round Opponent Score Venue
Bolivia 1997 Group stage  Brazil 0–5 Santa Cruz
 Colombia 1–4
 Mexico 1–1
Colombia 2001 Group stage  Honduras 1–0 Medellín
 Uruguay 1–1
 Bolivia 4–0
Quarter-finals  Uruguay 1–2 Armenia
Peru 2004 Group stage  Paraguay 0–1 Arequipa
 Brazil 1–4
 Chile 2–1 Tacna
Quarter-finals  Colombia 0–2 Trujillo
Argentina 2011 Group stage  Colombia 0–1 Jujuy
 Bolivia 2–0
 Argentina 0–3 Córdoba
United States 2016 Group stage  Paraguay 0–0 Orlando
 United States 0–4 Chicago
 Colombia 3–2 Houston
United States 2024 Group stage  Brazil 0–0 Inglewood
 Colombia 0–3 Glendale
 Paraguay 2–1 Austin

Squads

Record players

Rank Player Matches Tournaments
1 Rónald Gómez 9 1997, 2001 and 2004
Joel Campbell 9 2011, 2016 and 2024
3 Steven Bryce 8 2001 and 2004
Walter Centeno 8 2001 and 2004
Luis Marín 8 2001 and 2004
Francisco Calvo 8 2011, 2016 and 2024
7 Mauricio Solís 7 1997 and 2001
Mauricio Wright 7 1997 and 2004
9 Jhonny Acosta 6 2011 and 2016
10 Six players 5

Top goalscorers

Paulo Wanchope scored five out of seven Costa Rican goals at their most successful Copa América run in 2001.
Rank Player Goals Tournaments
1 Paulo Wanchope 5 2001
2 Mauricio Wright 2 1997 and 2004
3 Hernán Medford 1 1997
Steven Bryce 1 2001
Rolando Fonseca 1 2001
Andy Herron 1 2004
Luis Marín 1 2004
Joel Campbell 1 2011
Josué Martínez 1 2011
Celso Borges 1 2016
Johan Venegas 1 2016
Josimar Alcócer 1 2024
Francisco Calvo 1 2024

See also

References