Bryan Oviedo Named To Costa Rica World Cup Squad
Nov 4, 2022, 9:13 AM
Bryan Oviedo of Costa Rica drives the ball during the match between Mexico and Costa Rica as part of the Concacaf 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier at Azteca Stadium on January 30, 2022 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
(Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Real Salt Lake left-back Bryan Oviedo has been named to the 26-player Costa Rican national team squad set to compete at the 2022 Qatar Fifa World Cup.
It is no surprise given Oviedo’s role throughout the qualifying process for Costa Rica. The 32-year-old has played sixteen times for Costa Rica throughout the 2021-22 calendar years. In total, Oviedo has 71 caps for his country.
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— FCRF (@fedefutbolcrc) November 3, 2022
Costa Rica qualified following a playoff fixture against New Zealand that concluded with “Los Ticos” winning 1-0. During that fixture, Oviedo started and played the full 90 minutes.
Costa Rica has been drawn into Group E, which many consider the most challenging group of the tournament. Spain, Germany, and Japan all await Oviedo and Costa Rica.
Costa Rica World Cup Fixtures
Oviedo and Costa Rica will begin their World Cup campaign with a fixture against Spain on Wednesday, November 3. Kickoff is scheduled for 9 a.m. Then, they will prepare for a clash with Japan on Sunday, November 27. Kickoff at 3 a.m. The final group game for Costa Rica will occur on Thursday, December 1, with a noon kickoff against Germany.
For Costa Rica to qualify for the knockout rounds, it is likely that they will need to force a draw against either Spain or Germany while defeating Japan. A task that will prove challenging.
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Real Salt Lake World Cup History
Oviedo joins a select group of former Real Salt Lake players to play on the world stage. No other current member of the Real Salt Lake roster is expected to represent their country at this year’s World Cup.
However, Oviedo will join a growing list that has done so in the past. Most recently, Kyle Beckerman and Nick Rimando starred in the 2014 World Cup for the United States. Robbie Findley donned the USA guernsey in 2010 and Eddie Pope shared a similar experience in 2016.
The last Real Salt Lake player to represent Costa Rica was Douglas Sequira who participated in the 2006 World Cup hosted by Germany.
