Costa Rica's La Sele will play the first of a two-game World Cup qualifying series against Jamaica on Friday, as the team looks to get one step closer to classification for Russia 2018.
After canceling a scheduled friendly against Saint Vincent and the Grenadines because of travel itinerary complications, Costa Rica's Football Federation has now gone to Plan B: a Dec. 15 friendly against Nicaragua in Liberia.
For the first time in a long time, Costa Rica football is riding a hot streak. And the Ticos couldn't have picked a better spot to get rolling again than the qualifying stages of the 2018 World Cup.
Costa Rica beat Panama in an instant classic on Tuesday night, giving the banged-up team sole possession of first place in its group for CONCACAF World Cup qualifying play.
Despite winning its first World Cup qualifying game against Haiti, La Sele enters Tuesday's match with Panama more vulnerable than ever after a rash of injuries has broken out
Though most of the team's core lineup will be intact when Costa Rica takes the pitch against Haiti on Friday, the country’s best player will be watching from across the ocean in Spain.