Costa Rica’s Men’s Soccer National Team was the one who obtained their place in Qatar after defeating New Zealand 1-0.

On Tuesday, the Ticos Team and New Zealand played the second of the playoffs between teams from two different Confederations. The first qualifier was on Monday, June 13, between Australia and Peru, which ended in favor of the oceanic team. Today, Costa Rica is the winner and will be the last team to go to Qatar for the worldwide competition that takes place every four years. This year, the competition starts on Nov. 21.

The first half of the game was totally exciting and after just three minutes of play former Arsenal forward Joel Campbell scored the match-winner for Costa Rica and made scored the 1- 0. From there New Zealand became owners of the ball even scoring a goal in the 38th minute, later invalidated by the Video Assistant Referee Technology,VAR.

At 68 minutes again through VAR, New Zealand, who until then controlled the ball but without being deep, were left with 10 players due to the expulsion of Konstantinos Barbarouses. 

When New Zealand was able to generate some clear scoring situation, goalie Keylor Navas responded in the best way giving the Ticos a long-suffering victory and the last place in Qatar.

Costa Rica was the last country to qualify for the tournament. The World Cup groups are:

Group A: Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal and Netherlands.

Group B:  England, Iran, USA and Wales.

Group C: Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Poland.

Group D: France, Australia, Denmark and Tunisia.

Group E: Costa Rica, Spain, Germany and Japan.

Group F: Belgium, Canada, Morocco and Croatia.

Group G:  Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon.

Group H: Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay and South Korea.

This year marks the 22nd anniversary of the FIFA World Cup. The international tournament is the quadrennial men's football championship played by the national teams of the member associations of FIFA. The competition is scheduled to take place in Qatar from Nov. 21 to Dec. 18.

Police surveillance operation is held today due to the World Cup game, to prevent these massive celebrations from blocking public zones such as streets, parks or bridges.

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