Argentine Coach Batista Sacked from Costa Rica Job After Six Months

Batista and his coaching staff were dismissed just six months after taking charge, following defeats to Curacao and Haiti in the first two rounds of the tournament.

Costa Rica had reached the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup after advancing from a group that included Italy, England, and Uruguay, but the team has seen a decline in recent years.

The Central American nation failed to advance beyond the group stage in the next two World Cup editions and also missed qualification for the 2026 tournament.

Costa Rica suffered a 4-3 home defeat to Curacao last Thursday despite leading 3-0 at halftime, and three days later, they lost 2-0 to Haiti.