Costa Rica national football team roster changes

The Costa Rica national football team is undergoing a period of roster transition ahead of the CONCACAF Nations League. Initially, reports indicated that defender Francisco Calvo, playing for Nacional in Uruguay, was expected to rejoin the squad due to his strong recent form.

However, the official 30-player squad announcement for the tournament revealed a significant generational shift under coach Fernando Batista. The roster features an average age of 24.4 years, and notably excludes veteran players Keylor Navas and Joel Campbell. The squad is composed of six players from international leagues and 24 from the local tournament as they prepare for Group A competition.

Coach Batista confirmed the omission of veteran goalkeeper Keylor Navas from the upcoming matches against Curaçao, Haiti, and Nicaragua, citing a lack of communication. Batista claimed he attempted to contact Navas to discuss the player’s future but received no response. Navas, who plays for Pumas in Mexico, appeared to rebut these claims via Instagram stories, posting a poll asking followers if someone with something important to say should ‘call directly or send a message.’

While Navas’s future remains officially undecided, he has recently met with Fedefútbol officials to discuss his role regarding the 2030 World Cup cycle. The current 30-man roster continues to emphasize youth, including 13 players aged 23 or younger.