Sub-confederation CFU (Caribbean) FIFA code PUR Head coach Carlos García Cantarero Confederation CONCACAF (North America) | Top scorer Héctor Ramos (18) Founded 1940 Captain Emmanuel D'Andrea | |
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Nickname(s) El Huracán Azul
(The Blue Hurricane) Most caps Andrés Cabrero, Héctor Ramos (32) Home stadium Estadio Juan Ramón Loubriel Association Puerto Rican Football Federation (FPF) Ground Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium Managers Garabet Avedissian, José Cukito Martinez | ||
The Puerto Rico national football team (Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Puerto Rico) is the national team of Puerto Rico and is controlled by the Federación Puertorriqueña de Fútbol (FPF). Puerto Rico's national football team is a member of the Caribbean Football Union, part of CONCACAF.
Contents
1940–1990
Puerto Rico's first international match was against Cuba in 1940 in which they drew 1–1. They did not record a win until a 3–0 result in 1970 against the Bahamas. In 1972 Puerto Rico recorded a 1–0 win against Panama in a friendly. Wins between the '80s and '90s were mainly against the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, and Martinique.
Chris Armas Years (1993–1994)
Chris Armas played for Puerto Rico in the 1993 Caribbean Cup. In the tournament Puerto Rico established a 4-game win streak without conceding a goal. The competition was not then recognized by FIFA and so his five matches were considered friendlies. As a result, he was later allowed to switch his allegiance to the United States of America, for whom he has since been capped over fifty times.
1995–2007
Puerto Rico did not record a win, and had only 4 draws. During this time the team dropped down in the FIFA Rankings to 202nd.
2008–2015
Over the past few years Puerto Rico has begun to emerge as a contender, like they were in the 1990s. In 2008, they drew with Trinidad and Tobago. They also won for the first time since 1994 when they beat the Dominican Republic in the first round of World Cup qualifiers. Although they lost the first leg 4–0 to Honduras, they fought a 2–2 tie in the home leg in the second round. The Puerto Rican Football Federation has announced plans that would allow them to participate in the next editions of the Caribbean Cup and Gold Cup.
Puerto Rico were supposed to make their debut in the 21st Central American and Caribbean Games in 2010 on home soil in Mayagüez, but due to the controversy of CONCACAF not approving the stadiums, the team couldn't compete in the football event. The team was supposed to play in Venezuela instead but due to the lack of teams, the male event was canceled.
Puerto Rico faced World and European champion Spain in a friendly on August 15, 2012, losing 2–1 in the Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. On June 5, 2015, Puerto Rico played a friendly against Bermuda their last friendly before the World Cup qualifiers for the 2018 FIFA World Cup ending in a 1–1 draw. After losing to Grenada 2–1 in the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers round 2 Puerto Rico's Interim coach Jose 'Cukito' Martinez resigned and a few days later the Uruguayan Carlos Avedissian solved his visa problems and could finally arrive as the head coach of the national team. On December 11, 2015, Puerto Rico played a friendly against MLS team New York City FC losing 2–1.
2016–present
On May 22, 2016, Puerto Rico played a friendly match against the United States for the first time ever ending in a 3–1 loss. They advanced for the first time to the third round of the 2017 Caribbean Cup qualification when they defeated Grenada and Antigua and Barbuda in the second round, only two games away for reaching the CONCACAF Gold Cup for the first time. The team played three friendlies, two against Dominican Republic and one against India, prior to the third round matches against Antigua and Barbuda and Curacao. Puerto Rico lost the decisive match against Curacao after being 2-0 up front for which Curacao as head of group advanced to the Gold Cup.
On March 3, 2017; the National team had to cancel their friendly match against Nicaragua next Thursday on March 16, due to logistical difficulties in the call for players.
Caribbean Cup
Gold Cup
Pan American Games
World Cup
Current squad
The following players were called up for 2017 Caribbean Cup qualification against Antigua and Barbuda and Curaçao in October 2016
Caps and goals updated as of October 11, 2016 after the match against Curaçao.
Recent call-ups
The following players have been called up within the last 12 months.
Results and fixtures
Win Draw Loss Upcoming fixture