November 9, 2022 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – FC Cincinnati News Release
FC Cincinnati’s Ronald Matarrita will be with Costa Rica as Los Ticos take the world stage in Qatar for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. FCC’s defender was named to Costa Rica’s World Cup squad for the first time in his career as Los Ticos attempt to navigate through a difficult Group E.
Alongside the Central American nation are European powerhouses Spain and Germany, two of the previous three FIFA World Cup winners. Meanwhile Japan, winners of a record four Asian Cups, qualified for their seventh-consecutive World Cup.
Costa Rica qualified for their sixth all-time FIFA World Cup. Qatar will mark the third consecutive appearance in the event for Los Ticos.
Los Ticos face Nigeria on Wednesday, Nov. 9 at home in San Jose as a send-off match. They will face Iraq on their home soil on Nov. 17 as a final tune-up before the real show gets underway.
Matarrita has made 52 caps with the Costa Rican National Team, scoring three goals. Matarrita made 10 appearances, including seven starts, in Costa Rica’s qualifying campaign through Concacaf for the World Cup.
A look at the fixtures for Matarrita and Los Ticos in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Wednesday, November 23 – Spain (Al Thumama Stadium; Doha, Qatar) – 11 a.m. ET
La Roja are 12 years removed from their 2010 World Cup triumph, part of Spain’s golden generation when the national team became the only team to win three consecutive major titles, including back-to-back European Championships in 2008 and 2012.
Spain enter this year’s World Cup ranked seventh in the FIFA rankings. They finished atop Group B in UEFA World Cup Qualification over Sweden, Greece, Georgia and Kosovo to qualify directly for their 12th-straight World Cup.
Spain possesses a roster loaded with talent at some of the world’s biggest clubs, particularly in the nation’s own La Liga. Veterans Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba are among the final holdovers from Spain’s golden era, in a squad which includes rising stars including 22-year-old Ferran Torres, 25-year-old Carlos Soler and Pedri, a 19-year-old Barcelona star beaming with talent.
The last meeting between the two sides came on Nov. 11, 2017, an International Friendly which Spain thumped Costa Rica, 5-0. All-time, La Roja are 2-0-1 against Los Ticos.
Sunday, November 27 – Japan (Ahmad bin Ali Stadium; Al Rayyan, Qatar) – 5 a.m. ET
The Samurai Blue will battle Los Ticos in what is sure to be a must-win for either side hoping to advance…
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