Costa Rica Tickets

Costa Rica has been quite prominent in the world of soccer. Since the early 1900's, this Central American state has championed the sport and excelled at an international level. With some of the best players and some of the most spectacular match performances, Costa Rica is a favorite among many soccer enthusiasts.

The official beginning of the game in Costa Rica came with the establishment of The Federación Costarricense de Fútbol, a.k.a. Costa Rican Football Federation, in 1921. Almost a century later, the federation has not only promoted soccer in the country, but has expedited the country's involvement in soccer, both at regional and international levels.

The Costa Rican Football Federation is currently responsible for looking over all the independent clubs and the national team of Costa Rica. It bagged an affiliation with FIFA in 1927 and with CONCACAF in 1962. Three major league divisions operate under this body. The premier league, UNAFUT, currently has a line-up of twelve teams. Out of these, Club Sport Herediano, Liga Deportiva Alajuelense and Deportivo Saprissa rank among the best teams, not just in the league but in the country. The secondary league, LIASCE, has eighteen teams which have been divided into two groups for the 2013-2014 season. This league is often used as a stepping stone for teams that aim for a promotion into the primary league. The third league, LINAFA, has sixty four teams for this season. 

While there is an abundance of association clubs in Costa Rica, it is the men's national team which has made international headlines. Fondly referred to as La Sele or Ticos, the Costa Rican National Team is fast becoming one of the most promising teams globally. They have appeared in a total of four world cups; in 1990, 2002, 2006 and 2014.

Over its run, the national soccer team has oscillated widely on the FIFA Ranking scale. In 1996, they ranked at their personal lowest, ninety six and in 2003, they had a personal best placement at seventeen. As of March 2014, the team ranks thirty-fourth in the world, in February 2014, it ranked at thirty-five. With its first appearance at the international scene in 1930, the 1990 FIFA World Cup was by far one of the most successful years for the team as they qualified to the Round of 16s and ended up at the thirteenth position. In 2014, they came in as a strong second in the regional qualifiers for the 2014 tournament, and their rank promotion over the span of a mere month made the team a strong contender.

One of the most celebrated soccer players hailing from Costa Rica, Jorge Luis Pinto returned in 2011 to coach and manage the national football team. Making their fourth appearance at the FIFA World Cup, under the guidance of Pinto, the National team is much more cohesive than before. Qualifying at number two in the CONCACAF Hex, the odds appear to be in Costa Rica's favor for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Those who want to watch one of the most promising soccer teamscan now purchase Costa Rica tickets.