The Costa Rican Football Federation (Fedefútbol) has released an official statement following the national team’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The team finished the final round of the Concacaf qualifiers with one win, four draws, and one loss, resulting in their elimination from the tournament to be held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
The disappointment among fans has been evident, with calls for head coach Miguel “Piojo” Herrera to step down intensifying since a home draw against Haiti. However, Fedefútbol has not yet announced any decision regarding Herrera’s future.
In its statement, Fedefútbol expressed regret over not achieving qualification: “This result, without a doubt, does not correspond to our country’s aspirations nor to the effort that every person linked to the National Team gave during this process. As a Federation, we take responsibility for this elimination, knowing it is unfair for our fans, whom we thank for their unconditional support as always,” according to Fedefútbol.
The federation also acknowledged sharing in the pain and sadness felt by supporters and those involved with Costa Rican football.
Fedefútbol stated that it will begin an internal review process: “From now on, the FCRF activates a deep analysis process on sporting, structural and operational aspects that marked this qualifying campaign. This will be aimed at strengthening the national teams’ model, optimizing talent recruitment and ensuring more solid planning for upcoming cycles.”
They described missing out on World Cup qualification as a significant setback but also an opportunity: “Disqualification is a blow but also an opportunity to reconfigure our football in a profound and sustainable way.”
The federation concluded by urging unity and resilience: “But we cannot stay down. We know it won’t be easy but we have to get up stronger. We hope to count on all your support to turn this moment into an opportunity to relaunch our football. We are not going to make excuses but from now on we will look for solutions,” said Fedefútbol in its statement.
