Luis Fernando Suarez has hinted at who might be nominated to the Costa Rica World Cup 2022 roster, which is anticipated to be announced in October.
This month, Costa Rica will compete against South Korea and Uzbekistan as part of their ongoing preparation for the major competition in Qatar.
In the intercontinental play-offs in June, Suarez’s team defeated New Zealand to secure their place in the finals.
The Ticos have qualified for three consecutive World Cups, which is their best qualification sequence ever (and a sixth overall).
Given that they were paired with the 2010 winners Spain, Japan, and four-time champion Germany, they appear to be in for a difficult challenge this time around.
Goalkeepers
Esteban Alvarado, Aaron Cruz, Patrick Sequeira
Defenders
Juan Pablo Vargas, Keysher Fuller, Oscar Duarte, Bryan Oviedo, Francisco Calvo, Kendall Watson, Carlos Martinez
Midfielders
Carlos Mora, Celso Borges, Jewison Bennette, Bryan Ruiz, Daniel Chacon, Anthony Hernandez, Douglas Lopez, Aaron Suarez, Gerson Torres, Orlando Galo, Roan Wilson, Alvaro Zamora, Brandon Aguilera
Forwards
Anthony Contreras, Johan Venegas, Joel Campbell
As a special measure brought in due to the COVID-19 pandemic, national managers were permitted to send 26 players to the 2017 European Championship for the first time at a major tournament.
As opposed to the customary 23-man teams, 26-player squads will now be used at the World Cup in Qatar.
The World Cup this year, which runs from November 21 to December 18, is the first to occur near the conclusion of the calendar year.
Along with their significant play-off triumph, Costa Rica began their 2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League campaign in June with victories against Martinique and a loss to Panama.
Suarez should use pre-tournament friendlies to fine-tune his final roster, which is typically revealed about six weeks before the tournament begins.
However, given that club football is being played earlier than usual before the World Cup, which could alter.
There are a few players we anticipate to be lock-ins for the final Costa Rica team, barring injuries or suspensions.
Goalkeeper Keylor Navas, who has won the Champions League three times, midfielder Celso Borges, captain Bryan Ruiz, a former Fulham player, and forward Joel Campbell, an ex-Arsenal player, are all towards the top of the list with over 100 caps each.
Player to watch
For the Costa Rican national team and Liga FPD team Alajuelense, Celso Borges is a central midfielder.
With 154 caps and 27 goals, Borges now leads the national football team’s appearance record. In more than 50 FIFA World Cup qualifying games and at the 2014 and 2018 FIFA World Cup finals, he has played for his nation.
He has also participated in the Copa Centroamericanas of 2011 and 2013, as well as the CONCACAF Gold Cups of 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2019, and 2021, as well as the Copa América Centenario.
Borges took part in the Canada-hosted FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2007.
Borges was selected for the Costa Rican World Cup team in June 2014. In a 5-3 penalty shootout victory over Greece in the round of 16, Borges was the first of five Costa Rican players to make a kick that was successful.
He was included in Costa Rica’s 23-man roster in May 2018 for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
