World Cup '90: Costa Rica, USA - Tale of Two Destinies

By Steven Torres - ANCCIF President   (Posted on  12 June 2026)

The 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy became a defining crossroads for Costa Rica and USA football. A sudden vacancy opened in the Concacaf region after regional giants Mexico were suspended for youth tournament irregularities. With this a unique door opened for two contrasting nations: the USA, a sleeping giant trying to awaken from a 40-year slumber, and Costa Rica, a completely unheralded debutant.

While both qualified, their actual campaigns in Italy would trace two completely opposite destinies—one a brutal lesson in reality, the other an enchanting fairytale.

Destiny 1: A Brutal Awakening for USA

The USA punched their ticket to Italy through pure grit. In a do-or-die final qualifier against Trinidad & Tobago, a stunning long-range strike from Paul Caligiuri secured a 1–0 win and ended a four-decade World Cup drought.

They arrived in Italy under coach Bob Gansler with the youngest roster in the entire tournament, averaging just 24 years of age. While they boasted a few European-based pioneers like Tab Ramos and Peter Vermes, their destiny in Group A would be defined by a steep and punishing learning curve:

• The Collapse in Florence: Facing Czechoslovakia on 10 June before 33,266 spectators at Stadio Comunale, the young USA side held their own for 20 minutes before completely fracturing. A brace from Czech star Tomáš Skuhravý fueled a 5:1 rout. The lone bright spots were Caligiuri scoring the nation's first World Cup goal since 1950 and goalkeeper Tony Meola stopping a late penalty kick.

• The Stand at the Stadio Olimpico: Refusing to be embarrassed by hosts Italy, the USA put up a fiercely defiant defensive display in front of 73,000 fans on 14 June. After an early Italian goal, Tony Meola anchored the backline, even watching Gianluca Vialli smash a penalty against the post. The USA nearly equalized when Peter Vermes’ rebound shot off a Bruce Murray free kick rolled through the legs of Italian goalkeeper Walter Zenga, only to be cleared off the line in a narrow 1:0 loss.

• Heartbreak Against Austria: In a physical group finale at Stadio Comunale on 19 June, Austria was reduced to 10 men in the first half. Instead of capitalizing, the inexperienced USA was caught on the counter twice to fall behind 2:0 after tallies from Andreas Ogris and Gerhard Rodax before 34,857 spectators. Murray scored a late consolation goal, but the USA was sent home winless in group play for the first time ever.

Destiny 2: The Magical Rise of Costa Rica

While the USA struggled under the weight of their inexperience, Costa Rica engineered one of the greatest underdog stories in football history. Their tournament preparation was chaotic; just 90 days before kickoff, a federation dispute led to the firing of their manager Marvin Rodriguez. In stepped the legendary tactical mastermind Velibor "Bora" Milutinović, who used some Costa Rican players in other positions, such as German Chavarría, Héctor Marchena, and José Carlos Chaves as defenders, Ronald González as a midfielder and Roy Anthony Myers as a forward.

Drawn into Group C against global heavyweights Brazil, Scotland, and Sweden, the Ticos were widely expected to be a punching bag. Their destiny, however, was pure magic:

• The Stunner in Genoa: In their first-ever World Cup match on 11 June, Juan Arnoldo Cayasso scored a brilliant second-half goal to defeat Scotland 1:0 before 30,867 in attendance at Stadio Luigi Ferraris. Behind him, goalkeeper Luis Gabelo Conejo put on a masterclass of physics-defying saves to secure Central America's first-ever tournament victory.

• Defying the Brazilians: Facing a star-studded Brazil lineup featuring Branco, Careca, and Dunga, Costa Rica refused to flinch at Turin’s Stadio Delle Alpi on 16 June. Though Müller scored in the 33rd minute, Conejo and a highly disciplined defense frustrated the Brazilians, holding them to a highly respectable 1:0 scoreline before a crowd of 58,007. Despite the loss, Conejo was named player of the game.

• The Miracle of Sweden: Needing a result to advance, Costa Rica fell behind 1:0 to Sweden on a Johnny Ekström tally at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on 20 June. With 15 minutes left, captain Róger Flores headed home an equalizer, before substitute Hernán Medford broke free on an 87th-minute counterattack to score the dramatic winner to the delight of over 30,000 spectators. Against all odds, Costa Rica had reached the Round of 16.

The Final Twist: A Fairytale Interrupted

Costa Rica marched into the knockout round with an infectious, "nothing-to-lose" confidence. But ahead of their clash with Czechoslovakia in Bari’s Stadio San Nicola on 23 June, fate dealt them a cruel hand. The heroic Conejo was ruled out with an injury, forcing Milutinović to start backup keeper Hermidio Barrantes.

Despite tactical shifts to protect the reserve, the physical aerial dominance of the Czechs proved overwhelming. Skuhravý terrorized the penalty box, netting a hat-trick before a crowd of over 47,000. González scored a lone goal for the Central Americans, but the match ended in a 4:1 defeat.

Following Costa Rica’s departure from Italy, Czechoslovakia dropped a 1:0 decision to two-time world champion West Germany in the quarterfinals in Milan on 1 July. The West Germans eventually reached the World Cup Final and gained a sense of revenge as they defeated a Diego Maradona-led Argentinean side 1:0 before a crowd of 73,603 in Rome to secure their third title.

1990 World Cup

Costa Rica Roster

GK: Hermidio Barrantes (Municipal Puntarenas), Luis Gabelo Conejo (CS Cartaginés), Miguel Segura (Deportivo Saprissa);

DF: German Chavarría (CS Herediano), José Carlos Chaves (LD Alajuelense), Róger Flores (Deportivo Saprissa), Geovanny Jara (CS Herediano), Héctor Marchena (CS Cartaginés), Ronald Marín (CS Herediano), Mauricio Montero (LD Alajuelense), Marvin Obando (CS Herediano), Vladimir Quesada (Deportivo Saprissa);

MD: Alexandre Henrique Borges Guimarães (Deportivo Saprissa), Juan Arnoldo Cayasso (Deportivo Saprissa), Miguel Davis (LD Alajuelense), Róger "Policía" Gómez (CS Cartaginés), Rónald González (Deportivo Saprissa), Óscar "Macho" Ramírez (LD Alajuelense); 

AT: José Jaikel (Deportivo Saprissa), Claudio Miguel Jara (CS Herediano), Hernán Medford (Deportivo Saprissa), Roy Anthony Myers (Asociación Deportiva Limón).

TD: Velibor "Bora" Milutinović (YUG)

USA Roster

GK: Kasey Keller (Portland Timbers), Tony Meola (University of Virginia), David Vanole (Los Angeles Heat);

DF: Desmond Armstrong (Baltimore Blast), Marcelo Balboa (San Diego Nomads), Jimmy Banks (Milwaukee Wave), Brian Bliss (Albany Capitals), John Doyle (San Francisco Bay Blackhawks), Paul Krumpe (Real Santa Barbara), Steve Trittschuh (Tampa Bay Rowdies), Mike Windischmann (Albany Capitals);

MD: Paul Caligiuri (SV Meppen/GER), Neil Covone (Wake Forest University), John Harkes (Albany Capitals), Chris Henderson (UCLA), Tab Ramos (UE Figueres/ESP), John Stollmeyer (Washington Stars);

AT: Eric Eichmann (Fort Lauderdale Strikers), Bruce Murray (Washington Stars), Christopher Sullivan (Győri ETO FC/HUN), Peter Vermes (FC Volendam), Eric Wynalda (San Francisco Bay Blackhawks).

TD: Bob Gansler (HUN)

Editor’s Note: Acknowledgement to ANCCIF Member – Rodrigo Calvo (Costa Rica) for his assistance on this article