A goal by Jamaica in extra time delayed the celebration — but only for 45 minutes. Shortly after Costa Rica tied Jamaica 1-1, the U.S. took care of Mexico and Honduras drew against Panama. The result: La Selección de Costa Rica (otherwise known as “La Sele”) was going to Brazil for the 2014 World Cup.
Fans in San José spilled into the streets to celebrate Costa Rica’s return to the World Cup for the first time since 2006. A few Ticos literally danced the samba after La Sele booked its ticket to Brazil. Mostly the fans clogged the area around the Fuente de la Hispanidad (a fountain in east San José). Several thousand Ticos waved flags, chanted songs, honked horns and banged noisemakers.
About 1,000 fans made it to 3 a.m. when they greeted the Costa Rican national squad as the team arrived in Juan Santamaría International Airport. Let the celebration begin:
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Tico Times photographer Alberto Font
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Tico Times photographer Alberto Font
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Tico Times photographer Alberto Font
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Tico Times photographer Alberto Font
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Tico Times photographer Alberto Font
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Tico Times photographer Alberto Font
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Tico Times photographer Alberto Font
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Tico Times photographer Alberto Font
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Costa Ricans celebrate the qualification of the national team to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. This will be the Ticos first trip to the World Cup since 2006.
AFP
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La Sele star Joel Campbell parties with Costa Rican fans at Juan Santamaría International Airport at 3 a.m. Wednesday.
Source/Fuente: @joel_campbell12
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Even between all the partying, inspired La Sele fans still had time to create some Internet memes.
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Christ the Redeemer dons a La Sele jersey after Costa Rica qualifies for the World Cup.
Source/Fuente: pic.twitter.com/Y3zcVoe1FR
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Pope Francis celebrates Costa Rica’s qualification for the 2014 World Cup.
Source/Fuente: Diócesis De Cartago Cr
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More than 1,500 Ticos reportedly attended the match in Jamaica.
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Oh, by the way, the Gringos also qualified for the World Cup on Tuesday night.
A U.S. men’s national Ttam fan cheers as the game against Mexico nears the 90th minute at Columbus Crew Stadium on Tuesday in Columbus, Ohio. The United States defeated Mexico 2-0 and qualified for the World Cup.
AFP
Only 10 teams out of 32 have qualified for the World Cup so far. With two qualifiers still to go, Costa Rica and the United States became 9th and 10th teams to samba to Brazil last night.
Anyway…
Back to the party.
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After Costa Rica qualified Tuesday night for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, thousands of Tico supporters packed the streets to celebrate.
Alberto Font
