Costa Rica's national soccer team missed the 2026 World Cup after a draw with Honduras, sparking widespread disappointment among fans. The team finished their 2026 World Cup qualifying run with a 0-0 draw against Honduras on Tuesday night, placing third in their Concacaf group with seven points from six matches, behind Honduras and Haiti. They missed direct qualification and a playoff spot.
The country has qualified for the past three World Cups and reached the quarterfinals in 2014, so this outcome hit hard. The game at Estadio Nacional drew a full crowd, but the team could not score despite home support. Fans hoped for a win to stay in contention, yet the draw ended those chances.
Coach Miguel Herrera, who started last year, took responsibility afterward and called the effort a painful failure. He noted the team won only one match in the group. Media and supporters criticized his tactics and the squad’s lack of results against teams like Nicaragua and Haiti.
Fans showed anger right after the final whistle. Outside the stadium, some booed and insulted players as they left. Social media posts described the performance as shameful and the worst elimination in the team’s history. One report quoted a fan saying the team achieved the near-impossible by failing in a setup without host nations in qualifiers. Others demanded changes, with comments like “fire everyone – players, coaches, higher-ups.”
Summary: Costa Rica’s elimination highlighted a disappointing campaign, prompting calls for changes in leadership, tactics, and accountability across the football program.
Авторское резюме: Кубок мира 2026 стал поворотным моментом для коста-риканского футбола, заставив пересмотреть тактику и руководство ради возвращения к прошлым уровням выступлений.