Costa Rica National Football Team

The Costa Rica National Football Team, sometimes called La Sele, is the national football (soccer) team in the country. It is part of CONCACAF (the Confederation of North, Central American, and Caribbean Association Football). Costa Rica is the most successful team in Central America, having qualified for three World Cups, and being the CONCACAF champions three times. When you visit with your Costa Rica airport car hire, you can see if there is a game going on for you to see.

A proud tradition

Costa Rica has a long-standing football culture and tradition. For many years in the 1950s and 1960s, they were the second strongest team in the CONCACAF zone, behind Mexico. At the end of the 1960s, other teams in the region emerged and came to the forefront. However, Costa Rica once again emerged in the late 1980s, going to the World Cup in 1990. Since their first appearance at the World Cup, they have made re-appearances in 2002 and 2006.

League stats

CONCACAF is the governing body for football in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, as well as three South American teams (Guyana, Surinam, and French Guiana). When you are here with your airport rental car Costa Rica, you may learn that CONCACAF was founded in its current form in 1961 in Mexico City. It was one of six continental confederations that was affiliated with FIFA. Its primary function is to organize competitions for national teams and clubs, and to conduct World Cup qualifying tournaments.

Where they play

Estadio Ricardo Sparissa Ayma is one of the main sports stadiums in the country that you can visit with your airport car hire Costa Rica. Located in San Jose, it is the biggest stadium in the country. There are also many concerts that take place here, such as The Black Eyed Peas, Carlos Santana, Shakira, Andrea Bocelli, and many others. The Costa Rica National Football Team also plays at Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto, in Alajuela.

Getting to know Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a beautiful country to see with your Costa Rica airport car hire. It is among the top Latin American countries in the Human Development Index. It is a country that has generally enjoyed greater peace and political stability than many other Latin American countries. Costa Rica was the point where Mesoamerican and South American native cultures met, so there is a mix of history and culture to experience when you are here. In the northwest, you will find some influence from the Nahuatl culture when the Spanish conquerors came in the 16th century. In the central and southern portions of the country, you will find Chibcha influences. And along the Atlantic coast you can find some influences from the African workers that populated the area during the 17th and 18th centuries.

Eat, drink, and be merry

The food here is a blend of Native American, Spanish, and African cuisine. Traditional dishes include tamal and many others that are made of corn. Gallo Pinto is a national dish of black beans and white rice spiced with cilantro, onions, garlic, salt, and salsa lizano. This dish is usually eaten at breakfast with eggs and sometimes sour cream. Other typical dishes are arroz con pollo, olla de carne, and casados.

When you are here with your Costa Rica airport car hire, you will find that football (soccer) is a much-loved sport in this country. The national team is close to many Costa Ricans, and if you are here when the team is playing, you should try to see a game. Try to get tickets ahead of time!