Costa Rican football clubs in international competitions

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This is a list of Costa Rican football clubs in international competitions. Costa Rican clubs have participated in competitive international soccer competitions since at least 1962 for the first CONCACAF Champions' Cup.

Contents

Costa Rican teams have traditionally been one of the more successful group of teams in the CONCACAF Champions League, winning the title six times and having five runners-up.

Who qualifies for CONCACAF competitions

Since 2019, Costa Rican teams do not directly qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League. The top three finishers of the Liga FPD, the top tier of football in Costa Rica, qualify for the CONCACAF League, which is a secondary tournament. If a Costa Rican team finishes in the top six, they earn a berth into the CONCACAF Champions League.

Results by competition

FIFA Club World Cup

YearTeamProgressScoreOpponent
2005 Saprissa Third place3–2 Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Al-Ittihad

CONCACAF Champions' Cup / Champions League

YearTeamProgressAggregateOpponentsResults
1962 Alajuelense Second round4–5 Flag of Guatemala.svg Comunicaciones 3–2 home, 1–3 away
Herediano First round0–5 Flag of Mexico.svg Guadalajara 0–3 home, 0–2 away
1963 Saprissa Semi-finals0–3 Flag of Mexico.svg Guadalajara 0–1 home, 0–2 away
1967 none entered
1968 Alajuelense First round1–2 Flag of Guatemala.svg Aurora 0–2 home, 1–0 away
1969 Saprissa Semi-finals3–4 Flag of Mexico.svg Cruz Azul 2–2 home, 1–2 away
1970 Saprissa Semi-finalsw/o Flag of Mexico.svg Cruz Azul withdrew
1971 Alajuelense Final1–5 Flag of Mexico.svg Cruz Azul
Saprissa Second round4–5 Flag of Costa Rica.svg Alajuelense 1–5 home, 3–0 away
1972 none entered
1973 Alajuelense Semi-finalsw/o Flag of Suriname.svg Transvaal withdrew
Saprissa Semi-finalsw/o Flag of Suriname.svg Transvaal withdrew
1974 Cartaginés First round0–3 Flag of Honduras.svg Motagua 0–2 home, 0–1 away
Saprissa First round3–3 (4–5 p) Flag of Guatemala.svg Aurora 2–1 home, 1–2 away
1975 Herediano Quarter-finals2–3 Flag of Costa Rica.svg Saprissa 2–1 home, 0–2 away
Saprissa Semi-finals2–4 Flag of Mexico.svg Atlético Español 1–2 home, 1–2 away
1976 none entered
1977 Saprissa Semi-finalsw/o Flag of Mexico.svg América withdrew
1978 Cartaginés First round1–3 Flag of El Salvador.svg FAS 1–1 home, 0–2 away
Saprissa Semi-finals0–3 Flag of Guatemala.svg Comunicaciones 0–1 home, 0–2 away
1979 Cartaginés Quarter-finals0–3 Flag of El Salvador.svg FAS 0–1 home, 0–2 away
1980 Herediano First round3–4 Flag of Honduras.svg Marathón 3–1 home, 0–3 away
1981 none entered
1982
1983 Puntarenas First roundw/o Flag of El Salvador.svg Atlético Marte withdrew
Saprissa First round2–3 Flag of Guatemala.svg Suchitepéquez 2–2 home, 0–1 away
1984 Sagrada Familia Second roundw/o Flag of Guatemala.svg Comunicaciones withdrew
1985 none entered
1986 Alajuelense Winners4–2 Flag of Suriname.svg Transvaal 2–1 home, 2–1 away
Saprissa First round2–3 Flag of Guatemala.svg Comunicaciones 0–3 home, 2–0 away
1987 Herediano Group C3rd place Flag of Honduras.svg Olimpia, Flag of Honduras.svg Real España, Flag of Costa Rica.svg Saprissa
Saprissa Quarter-finals3–4 Flag of Mexico.svg América 2–2 home, 1–2 away
1988 Alajuelense Semi-finals1–2 Flag of Honduras.svg Olimpia 1–1 home, 0–1 away
Puntarenas Group B4th place Flag of Guatemala.svg Aurora, Flag of El Salvador.svg FAS, Flag of Honduras.svg Olimpia
1989 Cartaginés Group C4th place Flag of Costa Rica.svg Herediano, Flag of Honduras.svg Olimpia, Flag of Honduras.svg Real España
Herediano Semi-finals2–6 Flag of Mexico.svg UNAM 1–1 home, 1–5 away
1990 none entered
1991 Alajuelense Third round0–3 Flag of Honduras.svg Real España 0–2 home, 0–1 away
Saprissa Quarter-finals1–4 Flag of Honduras.svg Real España 1–2 home, 0–2 away
1992 Alajuelense Final0–1 Flag of Mexico.svg América 0–1 neutral
Saprissa First round2–4 Flag of Mexico.svg América 0–0 home, 2–4 away
1993 Alajuelense Second round1–2 Flag of Mexico.svg León 0–0 home,1–2 away
Saprissa Winners1st place Flag of Mexico.svg León, Flag of Guatemala.svg Municipal, Flag of Suriname.svg Robinhood
1994 Cartaginés Winners3–2 Flag of Mexico.svg Atlante 3–2 neutral
Herediano Second round4–6 Flag of Mexico.svg Atlante 3–3 home,1–3 away
1995 Alajuelense Third place9–1 Flag of Guadeloupe (local).svg Moulien 9–1 neutral
Saprissa Winners1–0 Flag of Guatemala.svg Municipal 1–0 home
1996 Alajuelense Second round2–5 Flag of Mexico.svg Cruz Azul 0–2 home, 2–3 away
Saprissa Quarter-finals3–4 Flag of Mexico.svg Necaxa 2–2 home, 1–2 away
1997 Alajuelense Second round1–2 Flag of Costa Rica.svg Cartaginés 0–0 home, 1–2 away
Cartaginés Quarter-finals0–1 Flag of Mexico.svg Guadalajara 0–1 neutral
1998 Alajuelense Quarter-finals0–2 Flag of Mexico.svg Toluca 0–2 neutral
Saprissa Third place2–0 Flag of Mexico.svg León 2–0 neutral
1999 Alajuelense Final1–2 Flag of Mexico.svg Necaxa 1–2 neutral
Saprissa Quarter-finals2–3 Flag of Mexico.svg Necaxa 2–3 neutral
2000 Alajuelense Quarter-finals1–2 Flag of the United States.svg D.C. United 1–2 neutral
2002 Alajuelense Semi-finals2–3 Flag of Mexico.svg Pachuca 2–1 home, 0–2 away
Saprissa First round1–3 Flag of Mexico.svg Morelia 1–1 home, 0–2 away
2003 Alajuelense Quarter-finals3–5 Flag of Mexico.svg América 3–1 home, 0–4 away
2004 Alajuelense Winners5–1 Flag of Costa Rica.svg Saprissa 4–0 home, 1–1 away
Saprissa Final1–5 Flag of Costa Rica.svg Alajuelense 1–1 home, 0–4 away
2005 Saprissa Winners3–2 Flag of Mexico.svg UNAM 2–0 home, 1–2 away
2006 Alajuelense Semi-finals1–2 Flag of Mexico.svg América 1–2 home, 0–0 away
Saprissa Semi-finals3–4 Flag of Mexico.svg Toluca 3–2 home, 0–2 away
2007 Puntarenas Quarter-finals1–2 Flag of the United States.svg Houston Dynamo 1–0 home, 0–2 away
2008 Saprissa Final2–3 Flag of Mexico.svg Pachuca 1–1 home, 1–2 away
2008–09 Alajuelense Preliminary round2–3 Flag of Puerto Rico.svg Puerto Rico Islanders 1–1 home, 1–2 away
Saprissa Group stage3rd Flag of Mexico.svg Cruz Azul, Flag of the United States.svg D.C. United, Flag of Honduras.svg Marathón
2009–10 Herediano Preliminary round2–6 Flag of Mexico.svg Cruz Azul 2–6 home, 0–0 away
Liberia Preliminary round3–6 Flag of Honduras.svg Real España 3–0 home, 0–6 away
Saprissa Group stage3rd Flag of the United States.svg Columbus Crew, Flag of Mexico.svg Cruz Azul, Flag of Puerto Rico.svg Puerto Rico Islanders
2010–11 Brujas Preliminary round4–6 Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg Joe Public 2–2 home, 2–4 away
Saprissa Semi-finals2–3 Flag of the United States.svg Real Salt Lake 2–1 home, 0–2 away
2011–12 Alajuelense Group stage3rd Flag of the United States.svg LA Galaxy, Flag of Mexico.svg Morelia, Flag of Honduras.svg Motagua
Herediano Group stage4th Flag of Guatemala.svg Comunicaciones, Flag of Mexico.svg Monterrey, Flag of the United States.svg Seattle Sounders
2012–13 Alajuelense Group stage2nd Flag of Nicaragua.svg Real Estelí, Flag of Mexico.svg UANL
Herediano Quarter-finals1–4 Flag of the United States.svg LA Galaxy 0–0 home, 1–4 away
2013–14 Alajuelense Semi-finals0–3 Flag of Mexico.svg Toluca 0–1 home, 0–2 away
Cartaginés Group stage2nd Flag of the United States.svg LA Galaxy, Flag of El Salvador.svg Metapán
Herediano Group stage2nd Flag of Mexico.svg América, Flag of Panama.svg Sporting San Miguelito
2014–15 Alajuelense Semi-finals4–4 (a) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Montreal Impact 4–2 home, 0–2 away
Herediano Semi-finals3–6 Flag of Mexico.svg América 3–0 home, 0–6 away
Saprissa Quarter-finals0–5 Flag of Mexico.svg América 0–3 home, 0–2 away
2015–16 Herediano Group stage2nd Flag of El Salvador.svg Metapán, Flag of Mexico.svg UANL
Saprissa Group stage2nd Flag of Mexico.svg Santos Laguna, Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg W Connection
2016–17 Herediano Group stage2nd Flag of Panama.svg Plaza Amador, Flag of Mexico.svg UANL
Saprissa Quarter-finals0–4 Flag of Mexico.svg Pachuca 0–0 home, 0–4 away
2018 Herediano Round of 163–5 Flag of Mexico.svg UANL 2–2 home, 1–3 away
Saprissa Round of 162–6 Flag of Mexico.svg América 1–5 home, 1–1 away
2019 Herediano Round of 162–5 Flag of the United States.svg Atlanta United 3–1 home, 0–4 away
Saprissa Round of 163–5 Flag of Mexico.svg UANL 1–0 home, 1–5 away
2020 San Carlos Round of 163–6 Flag of the United States.svg New York City FC 3–5 home, 0–1 away
Saprissa Round of 162–2 (a) Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Montreal Impact 2–2 home, 0–0 away
2021 Alajuelense Round of 160–2 Flag of the United States.svg Atlanta United 0–1 home, 0–1 away
Saprissa Round of 160–5 Flag of the United States.svg Philadelphia Union 0–1 home, 0–4 away
2022 Santos de Guápiles Round of 160–6 Flag of the United States.svg New York City FC 0–2 home, 0–4 away
Saprissa Round of 163–6 Flag of Mexico.svg UNAM 2–2 home, 1–4 away
2023 Alajuelense Round of 162–4 Flag of the United States.svg Los Angeles FC 0–3 home, 2–1 away

UNCAF Interclub Cup / CONCACAF Central American Cup

Interclub Cup Era (1971–1973)
YearTeamProgressAggregateOpponentsResults
1971 Herediano Final round3rd Flag of El Salvador.svg Alianza, Flag of El Salvador.svg Atlético Marte, Flag of Guatemala.svg Cementos, Flag of Guatemala.svg Comunicaciones, Flag of Costa Rica.svg Saprissa
Saprissa Final round2nd Flag of El Salvador.svg Alianza, Flag of El Salvador.svg Atlético Marte, Flag of Guatemala.svg Cementos, Flag of Guatemala.svg Comunicaciones, Flag of Costa Rica.svg Herediano
1972 Alajuelense Group B3rd Flag of Guatemala.svg Aurora, Flag of El Salvador.svg Alianza, Flag of Guatemala.svg Municipal, Flag of Costa Rica.svg Puntarenas, Flag of El Salvador.svg Universidad
Herediano Group A2nd Flag of El Salvador.svg Atlético Marte, Flag of Guatemala.svg Cementos, Flag of Guatemala.svg Comunicaciones, Flag of El Salvador.svg Olímpica, Flag of Costa Rica.svg Saprissa
Puntarenas Group B6th Flag of Guatemala.svg Aurora, Flag of Costa Rica.svg Alajuelense, Flag of El Salvador.svg Alianza, Flag of Guatemala.svg Municipal, Flag of El Salvador.svg Universidad
Saprissa Winners2–1 Flag of Guatemala.svg Aurora 1–0 home, 1–1 away
1973 Alajuelense Final round3rd Flag of El Salvador.svg Aguila, Flag of Guatemala.svg Comunicaciones, Flag of El Salvador.svg Olímpica, Flag of Guatemala.svg Municipal, Flag of Costa Rica.svg Saprissa
Saprissa Winners5–4 Flag of El Salvador.svg Aguila 5–2 home, 0–2 away
Central American Cup Era (2023–)
YearTeamProgressAggregateOpponentsResults
2023 Alajuelense Group DIn progress Flag of Honduras.svg Motagua, Flag of Honduras.svg Olancho, Flag of Panama.svg Sporting San Miguelito, Flag of Belize.svg Verdes
Cartaginés Group AIn progress Flag of Guatemala.svg Cobán Imperial, Flag of El Salvador.svg Jocoro, Flag of Costa Rica.svg Saprissa, Flag of Panama.svg Universitario
Herediano Group CIn progress Flag of El Salvador.svg Águila, Flag of Guatemala.svg Comunicaciones, Flag of Nicaragua.svg Diriangén, Flag of Honduras.svg Real España
Saprissa Group AIn progress Flag of Costa Rica.svg Cartaginés, Flag of Guatemala.svg Cobán Imperial, Flag of El Salvador.svg Jocoro, Flag of Panama.svg Universitario

CONCACAF League (defunct)

YearTeamProgressAggregateOpponentsResults
2017 Alajuelense Round of 16 0–3 Flag of Honduras.svg Olimpia 0–1 home, 0–2 away
Santos de Guápiles Final 1–1 (1–4 p) Flag of Honduras.svg Olimpia 1–0 home, 0–1 away
2018 Herediano Winners 3–2 Flag of Honduras.svg Motagua 2–0 home, 1–2 away
Pérez Zeledón Round of 16 2–3 Flag of El Salvador.svg FAS 1–1 home, 1–2 away
Santos de Guápiles Round of 16 3–3 (6–7 p) Flag of Jamaica.svg Portmore United 1–2 home, 2–1 away
2019 Herediano Round of 16 3–3 (6–7 p) Flag of Jamaica.svg Waterhouse 1–2 home, 2–1 away
San Carlos Quarter-finals 1–2 Flag of El Salvador.svg Alianza 1–0 home, 0–2 away
Saprissa Winners 1–0 Flag of Honduras.svg Motagua 1–0 home, 0–0 away
2020 Alajuelense Winners 3–2 Flag of Costa Rica.svg Saprissa 3–2 home
Herediano Round of 16 0–1 Flag of Nicaragua.svg Real Estelí 0–1 home
Saprissa Final 2–3 Flag of Costa Rica.svg Alajuelense 2–3 away
2021 Alajuelense Round of 16 3–3 (a) Flag of Guatemala.svg Guastatoya 2–2 home, 1–1 away
Santos de Guápiles Quarter-finals 3–4 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Forge FC 3–1 home, 0–3 away
Saprissa Quarter-finals 5–5 (a) Flag of Guatemala.svg Comunicaciones 4–3 home, 1–2 away
2022 Alajuelense Final 4–5 Flag of Honduras.svg Olimpia 2–2 home, 2–3 away
Cartaginés Round of 16 0–4 Flag of Honduras.svg Real España 0–2 home, 0–2 away
Herediano Quarter-finals 2–4 Flag of Honduras.svg Real España 1–1 home, 1–3 away

CONCACAF Cup Winners Cup / Giants Cup (defunct)

Copa Interamericana (defunct)

YearTeamProgressAggregateOpponentResults
1987 Alajuelense Runners-up0–3 Flag of Argentina.svg River Plate 0–0 home, 0–3 away
1994 Saprissa Runners-up4–6 ( a.e.t. ) Flag of Chile.svg Universidad Católica 3–1 home, 1–5 away
1996 Cartaginés Runners-up0–2 Flag of Argentina.svg Vélez Sársfield 0–0 home, 0–2 away
1997 Saprissa Runners-up2–3 Flag of Colombia.svg Atlético Nacional 2–3 home, 0–0 away

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