Costa Rica's Women's U-20 Team Qualifies for 2026 World Cup
Despite a heavy defeat to the United States, Costa Rica's women secure a place in the upcoming FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Poland.
The women's U-20 national team of Costa Rica has secured its place in the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Poland, achieving this milestone despite suffering a 4-0 defeat against the United States.
This achievement follows a significant victory of 9-0 over Guyana earlier in the tournament, which allowed the team to qualify alongside other regional teams such as the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Costa Rica was placed in Group A with participants including the United States, Guyana, and Puerto Rico, ending the initial stage of the qualifying tournament in second place with four points.
Both Costa Rica and Puerto Rico finished with the same points, but Costa Rica's superior goal difference, bolstered by nine goals scored, allowed them to advance.
Puerto Rico scored eight goals, which put them in a tie on goal difference but saw them eliminated from contention.
The games were held at Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto between May 29 and June 3, with the semifinals slated for next Friday and the final on Sunday.
Alongside Costa Rica, the semifinals will feature Mexico, the leader of Group B, against Costa Rica, while the United States will face Canada in the other semifinal.
In the match against the United States, statistics indicated a significant predominance in ball possession and offensive threats, with the U.S. team maintaining 70% possession.
The United States opened the scoring with a goal from Linda Ullmark in the 21st minute, followed by Mary Long in the 59th minute, Grace Restovich in the 65th minute, and Kennedy Fuller in the 87th minute, concluding the match with a decisive score.
The Costa Rican team, led by standout player Lucía Paniagua, has now qualified for the U-20 World Cup for the fifth time, marking a record third consecutive qualification.
The tournament will host a total of 24 teams, with qualification slots distributed among the various football confederations.
Four spots will be allocated between the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) and South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL), while UEFA will receive five and the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) will have two.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed optimism about Poland hosting the tournament, emphasizing the event's potential to elevate the profile of women's football globally.
This achievement follows a significant victory of 9-0 over Guyana earlier in the tournament, which allowed the team to qualify alongside other regional teams such as the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Costa Rica was placed in Group A with participants including the United States, Guyana, and Puerto Rico, ending the initial stage of the qualifying tournament in second place with four points.
Both Costa Rica and Puerto Rico finished with the same points, but Costa Rica's superior goal difference, bolstered by nine goals scored, allowed them to advance.
Puerto Rico scored eight goals, which put them in a tie on goal difference but saw them eliminated from contention.
The games were held at Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto between May 29 and June 3, with the semifinals slated for next Friday and the final on Sunday.
Alongside Costa Rica, the semifinals will feature Mexico, the leader of Group B, against Costa Rica, while the United States will face Canada in the other semifinal.
In the match against the United States, statistics indicated a significant predominance in ball possession and offensive threats, with the U.S. team maintaining 70% possession.
The United States opened the scoring with a goal from Linda Ullmark in the 21st minute, followed by Mary Long in the 59th minute, Grace Restovich in the 65th minute, and Kennedy Fuller in the 87th minute, concluding the match with a decisive score.
The Costa Rican team, led by standout player Lucía Paniagua, has now qualified for the U-20 World Cup for the fifth time, marking a record third consecutive qualification.
The tournament will host a total of 24 teams, with qualification slots distributed among the various football confederations.
Four spots will be allocated between the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) and South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL), while UEFA will receive five and the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) will have two.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed optimism about Poland hosting the tournament, emphasizing the event's potential to elevate the profile of women's football globally.