For the first time since 2017, Costa Rica are in the FIFA U-17 World Cup™, with Los Ticos part of an octet from the Concacaf region that will be competing at Qatar 2025 in November.
At the age of 16, centre-back Thiago Cordero is in line to wear the captain’s armband when the Central Americans kick off their campaign in Group C against the United Arab Emirates, followed by Senegal and Croatia.
Considered one of the top prospects in Costa Rican football, it is no surprise to see Cordero play in one of the country’s pressure-cookers, Saprissa, where a first-team debut appears to be around the corner. Speaking with FIFA, the talented defender spoke about the secrets he’s learned from Costa Rican legend and fellow Saprissa man Oscar Duarte, what makes this Ticos team special and their expectations at the 48-team showcase.
Thiago Cordero: Everything is good. I was able to do preseason with the first team, secured my place in the U-21 team and have had chances to go to training sessions each week with the first team.
That’s what I’m hoping for. I think there is a possibility of that happening.
Even when you are in the youth teams, they teach you that there is always pressure at Saprissa. They teach us how to manage it in a good way. Personally, I like it. I like when there is pressure because it shows that people are interested in how you perform. They want to see the fruits of your labour, so I feel like I manage it well and the team handles it quite well.
I have a good relationship with all the [first team] defenders, Kendall, Duarte, Pablo [Arboine], Gerald Taylor, Fidel [Escobar]. I have learned a lot about the importance of communication, and other specific things to improve, like my marking and when I have the ball.
For example, from Oscar, when it’s time to move forward with the ball, you shouldn’t go too fast. Sometimes you need to go a little slow in order to observe everything, which is something that helps him. To first take a look at what long pass options there are, and if there is difficulty in playing out of the back, to look for a shorter pass and play a triangle.
Very excited. It’s a dream, no? One of my brothers [Julen] also played in a U-17 World Cup in India [in 2017], which was the last time the country qualified for one. Ever since then I’ve been waiting for the opportunity. It’s something that only happens once in a lifetime and I hope I can take full advantage and squeeze every last drop out of it.
The team is very determined to make history. We want to put the country’s name on a pedestal and get people to watch our young players again because we are doing well. We are a team with hunger, with a lot of camaraderie and aggressiveness. They will get 100% from us in each match we have.
They are very good teams. We have each done our own research on them and the coaches have looked at them, but we as a group have not observed them. We expect it to be at the same level of the friendlies that we’ll play against Brazil and Peru, but also with the pressure of playing for three points in a World Cup. The tune-up matches are going to help us compete against them.
Of course. We have the faith to do it and that’s why we’re working every day. Ever since our coach arrived, the team has talked about it, so why not dream? How come we can’t have the same dream of being champions that a world power has? We hope that the preparation helps us have a good performance in the World Cup.
I would highlight the desire that the team have, the hunger to always want to go far and not give up. To always fight until the end, because that is the DNA that Costa Ricans have, that we battle until the final moment and give 100% on every ball. I think what separates this team is the drive to win and achieve big things.
I have never travelled to the Middle East, so that has me excited, also to see where the previous senior World Cup was played. Overall, just the games, preparation and everything around the competition is going to be wonderful. It’s a unique opportunity. It’s not every year that you get the chance of playing against opponents of such high quality.
Photos courtesy of Concacaf
