You could say that Daniela Ocampo has been a leader her whole life. From the very first second when she was born as the first of quadruplets, the Costa Rican midfielder has felt right at home organising others and pointing the way forward.
Football was ideally suited to her personality, and it has manifested itself at the international level. A little more than 12 months after suiting up for Las Ticas at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Colombia 2024™ at the age of 16, Ocampo will be wearing the captain’s armband for her country at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2025™, shepherding a Costa Rica team that will take on Brazil, Italy and hosts Morocco in Group A.
Earlier this week Ocampo spoke with FIFA about Costa Rica’s ambitions at Morocco 2025, her life as a quadruplet with siblings Adrian, Irene and Mariana, and her aspiration to continue her studies while playing college soccer in the USA.
Daniela Ocampo: Good. We’ve been at it for weeks now, and on top of that, the base of the team has been working together since November of last year. I think we’ve gotten to know each other quite well, and each one of us knows what it means to take part in a World Cup. Everyone is training and giving it their all to be able to make the list and go to the World Cup.
I think it’s a team that has a lot of heart, and one that always fights. I think that we play well, we’re good with the ball at our feet, but I would say what stands out is that it’s a team with a lot of heart that always gives its best.
I think more than anything we feel a lot of enthusiasm. For all of us it has always been a dream to play a World Cup. And not just that, but to also represent the country, so I think we are all very excited for that opportunity.
They are strong opponents. They are teams that qualified for the most important tournament in this category, so they are strong teams. We are going to play against them and we want to do it in the best way and hopefully win.
Truthfully, yes. Hopefully a lot of people come to the game. It’ll be really nice because they are the host country.
It was a wonderful experience. To be able to go to a World Cup while playing above my age category was great. I learned a lot from the players that went to that World Cup. It was a very united group. Having that chance to be able to represent the country in a World Cup was a dream come true and hopefully I’ll be able to represent my country in other World Cups.
I felt very calm. I had the confidence of all the coaches, so I felt good. My team-mates always supported me. They treated me like the youngest of the group, but I received all of their support.
Yes, exactly. I’ve already lived it. I want to experience others and hopefully be able to share that experience with the rest of the team.
Like I always say, it is an honour. It makes me happy and I’m eager to bring good things to the group so that they feel good.
Yes, exactly, that is what we are thinking. I think we’re very clear about it. We know that we have to work hard for that, we’re aware of that, and hopefully that’s what happens.
Right now I’m in high school and in my final year. I graduate in November, God willing. I’m also a quadruplet. I think growing up as a quadruplet is difficult but also fun because you never get bored! You are always with your siblings, either bothering them or bothering each other. But I am happy and really eager to play in this World Cup and hope things go well.
Yes. I have a couple schools in mind but nothing concrete. We are sending letters and looking for places. Oregon State is one possibility, but like I said, nothing concrete yet.
Exactly. It is a great opportunity to show what you can do and get noticed.
Photos courtesy of Concacaf and the Ocampo family
