COSTA RICA have been performing on the international stage for over 100 years.

Established in 1921, the national team debuted in the Independence Centenary Games in Guatemala City.

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After defeating El Salvador 7-0 in their first game, Costa Rica went on to claim the trophy with a 6-0 win over Guatemala.

The team quickly grew in prominence, becoming the second strongest team in the CONCACAF zone behind Mexico in the 1940’s, 50’s and 60’s.

However, they slipped down the rankings in the 1970’s while the likes of Honduras, Haiti and Canada improved.

After missing out on the 1998 World Cup, Costa Rica changed their national team badge from a simple red, white and blue crest to one which included the image of a person playing football.

The design was enhanced in 2001 – one year before the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan – and reworked again in 2014 to include a gold figure among red, white and blue circles.

However, on first glance, some fans have claimed that the circular lines create the illusion of a never ending tunnel.

Costa Rica’s badge has since changed again, but this time it looks completely different.

In 2021, the current crest – which draws inspiration from the Costa Rica flag and National Shield – was unveiled.

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Several people were interviewed as part of the design process for the badge, including members of the squad, former players, journalists and officials of the Costa Rican Football Federation.

Costa Rica currently sit 39th in the FIFA rankings.