Costa Rica is considered the rising star of the CONCACAF region, in the early years of the 20^th century, semi-organized soccer clubs began to appear and organize games all around the country.  After several attempts, seven Costa Rican clubs came together and organized a national soccer league and a soccer federation in 1921, under the presidency of Jose Albertazzi Avendaño. (Costa Rica Soccer Federation).

The Ticos took home the Central American an Caribbean Cup in 1941, 1946, 1948, 1953, 1955, 1960 and 1961, and they won the CONCACAF championship in 1963 and 1969.  More recently, Costa Rica was crowned Central American champion in 1991, 1997. In the world Cup of 1990 celebrated in Italy, Hernán Medford scored a goal during the first half of the game to send Sweden back to their homeland, and Czechoslovakia sent Ticos' Selection back home in the second round.

Ticos passion for soccer didn't die at that time.  In 2002, Costa Rica had another chance.  In the qualifying rounds, "La Sele" finished first in its zone above Mexico, USA, Honduras, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, when Costa Rica scored 23 points in 10 games.  However, the team's great achievement was something that no one else in the area had ever done; they beat the Mexicans in the gigantic Estadio Azteca in Mexico. 

Costa Rica got to the World Cup in Group C during the World Cup of 2002 in Korea and Japan.  Their first game was against China on June 4^th, then against Turkey.  Their last game in the group was against the four-time champion Brazil, that beat them 5 - 2 in the first half. 

The national team did not do much in the last World Cup in Germany 2006, but Ticos have not lost their faith in "La Sele". 

Adapted from Reading Strategies