Costa Rica at the Copa América

Costa Rica and the USA lining up for the group match at the Copa América Centenario.

Mauricio Wright is the only Costa Rican player to score at two different Copa Américas.

The Copa América is South America's major tournament in senior men's football and determines the continental champion. Until 1967, the tournament was known as South American Championship. It is the oldest continental championship in the world.

Costa Rica are not members of the South American football confederation CONMEBOL. But because CONMEBOL only has ten member associations, guest nations have regularly been invited since 1993. Costa Rica have competed in the Copa América five times, and reached the quarter-finals twice.

On four occasions, they have been directly invited. The Copa América Centenario in 2016 was a collaboration of the CONCACAF and the CONMEBOL and Costa Rica qualified by virtue of winning the 2014 Copa Centroamericana. They again qualified for the 2024 tournament via the qualifying play-offs.

In their home confederation, the North American CONCACAF, Costa Rica have won three titles (1963, 1969 and 1989).

Record at the Copa América

Copa América record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA
1997	Group stage	10th	3	0	1	2	2	10
2001	Quarter-finals	5th	4	2	1	1	7	3
2004	Quarter-finals	8th	4	1	0	3	3	8
2011	Group stage	9th	3	1	0	2	2	4
2016	Group stage	10th	3	1	1	1	3	6
2024	Group stage	10th	3	1	1	1	2	4
Total	Quarter-finals	6/13	20	6	4	10	19	35

* Draws include matches decided on penalties.

Match overview

Tournament	Round	Opponent	Score	Venue
1997	Group stage	Brazil	0–5	Santa Cruz
		Colombia	1–4
		Mexico	1–1
2001	Group stage	Honduras	1–0	Medellín
		Uruguay	1–1
		Bolivia	4–0
	Quarter-finals	Uruguay	1–2	Armenia
2004	Group stage	Paraguay	0–1	Arequipa
		Brazil	1–4
		Chile	2–1	Tacna
	Quarter-finals	Colombia	0–2	Trujillo
2011	Group stage	Colombia	0–1	Jujuy
		Bolivia	2–0
		Argentina	0–3	Córdoba
2016	Group stage	Paraguay	0–0	Orlando
		United States	0–4	Chicago
		Colombia	3–2	Houston
2024	Group stage	Brazil	0–0	Inglewood
		Colombia	0–3	Glendale
		Paraguay	2–1	Austin

Record players

Rank	Player	Matches	Tournaments
1	Rónald Gómez	9	1997, 2001 and 2004
	Joel Campbell	9	2011, 2016 and 2024
3	Steven Bryce	8	2001 and 2004
	Walter Centeno	8	2001 and 2004
	Luis Marín	8	2001 and 2004
	Francisco Calvo	8	2011, 2016 and 2024
7	Mauricio Solís	7	1997 and 2001
	Mauricio Wright	7	1997 and 2004
9	Jhonny Acosta	6	2011 and 2016
10	Six players	5

Top goalscorers

Paulo Wanchope scored five out of seven Costa Rican goals at their most successful Copa América run in 2001.

Rank	Player	Goals	Tournaments
1	Paulo Wanchope	5	2001
2	Mauricio Wright	2	1997 and 2004
3	Hernán Medford	1	1997
	Steven Bryce	1	2001
	Rolando Fonseca	1	2001
	Andy Herron	1	2004
	Luis Marín	1	2004
	Joel Campbell	1	2011
	Josué Martínez	1	2011
	Celso Borges	1	2016
	Johan Venegas	1	2016
	Josimar Alcócer	1	2024
	Francisco Calvo	1	2024

See also

• Costa Rica at the CONCACAF Gold Cup
• Costa Rica at the FIFA World Cup

External links

• RSSSF archives and results
• Soccerway database