Costa Rica have qualified for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar thanks to a 1-0 win over New Zealand in the final play-off game before the tournament.
The central American nation are the 32nd and final team to secure their place at the tournament, with ex-Arsenal man Joel Campbell scoring the crucial goal at the Al Rayyan Stadium in Qatar. The goal came in the third minute and Costa Rica were able to hold off an attacking onslaught from New Zealand thereafter.
Frustrations at not being able to breakdown a staunch Costa Rica defence in the 68th minute when Kosta Barbarouses cynically chopped down a defender – earning himself a red card for his troubles.
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Costa Rica will join Spain, Germany and Japan in what many consider to be the tournament’s ‘group of death’. Their first game is scheduled to be against Spain in the 40,000-seater Al Thumama Stadium on 23rd November.
The 2022 World Cup will be Costa Rica’s sixth ever, with their best performance in the tournament coming in 2014 when they miraculously reached the quarter finals.