Keylor Navas omitted from Costa Rica national team squad

Costa Rica national team coach Fernando Batista has omitted veteran goalkeeper Keylor Navas from the squad for the upcoming CONCACAF Nations League matches against Curaçao, Haiti, and Nicaragua. The decision marks a significant step in the team's generational shift following their failure to qualify for the recent World Cup.

Batista stated that the exclusion was due to a lack of communication, claiming he sent a message to Navas to discuss the player's future with the national team but received no response. Navas, who currently plays for Pumas in Mexico, responded to these claims via Instagram stories, posting a poll asking followers if someone with something important to say should “call directly or send a message,” which appeared to be a direct rebuttal to the coach.

While Navas's future with the national team remains officially undecided, he has recently met with officials from Fedefútbol to discuss his role ahead of the 2030 World Cup cycle. The new 30-man roster features a significantly younger squad, with an average age of 24.4 years and 13 players aged 23 or younger.