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 1980s and 1990s were mainly against the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, and Martinique.[3]
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.[3] 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,[4] for whom he has since been capped over 50 times.[citation needed]
1995–2007
Between 1995 and 2007 Puerto Rico did not record a win, and had only four draws. During this time, the team dropped down in the FIFA Rankings to 202nd.[3]
Over the past few years, Puerto Rico has begun to emerge as a contender, like they were in the 1990s. In 2008, they won two games as visitors against Bermuda (1–0 and 2–0), drew 2–2 with Trinidad and Tobago. They also won for the first time since 1994 when they beat the Dominican Republic in the first round of the World Cupqualifiers. 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.[5] Most capped player Andres Cabrero is the only active player as of 2021 who participated in said 2010 World Cup qualifiers.
Puerto Rico was supposed to make their debut in the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games 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.[6]
On June 5, 2015, Puerto Rico played a friendly against Bermuda, their last friendly before the qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup ending in a 1–1 draw. After losing to Grenada 2–1 in the second round of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, 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, losing 2–1.
Carlos Avedissian took charge of the team in 2015 forming a roster mainly of players from the Puerto Rico local leagues. 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.[7] For discrepancies with the Federation, Avedissian was substituted by Jack Stefanowski for the second round on an interim basis. With this team mainly of local players, Puerto Rico 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 from reaching the CONCACAF Gold Cup for the first time. Stefanowski had to leave the technical director position because he was an assistant for Puerto Rico FC.[citation needed]
On September 3, 2016, Puerto Rico faced India for the first time in an international friendly match at the Mumbai Football Arena, but were defeated in the contest 1–4.[8]
After Stefanowski left the team to continue with Puerto Rico FC, Carlos Cantarero assumed as head coach of the national team with Jose Cukito Martinez (who had coached most of the local players in the Puerto Rico League) as assistant coach. The team played three friendlies, two against the Dominican Republic and one against India, prior to the third round matches against Antigua and Barbuda and Curaçao. Coach Cantarero couldn't coach in the friendlies due to visa problems. After the second friendly against the Dominican Republic Assistant Coach Martinez left the team prior to the trip to India and David Guillemat assumed the position. Regardless of the administrative debacle, and coaching changes, Puerto Rico lost the decisive match against Curaçao after being 2–0 up front for which Curaçao as head of group advanced to the Gold Cup.
Puerto Rico didn't play an international match until the summer of 2017 when they played to a scoreless draw against Indonesia.[9]
After the devastation of Hurricane Maria in September that left the entire island powerless. On October 7 it was reported MLS club, Orlando City SC announced a Fuerza Puerto Rico’ Friendly for November 4 with all the net proceeds from the match going towards the United for Puerto Rico initiative to raise funds and aid recovery efforts for the island. Reactivating the national team for a 3rd time this year.[10] The friendly marked Orlando City’s last game of 2017, as well team captain, Kaká with the lions.[11] Puerto Rico lost the exhibition match 6–1.[12]
Amado Guevara era
In May 2018, the Puerto Rican Football Federation announced that Carlos Cantarero would no longer continue as head coach of the national team, with former Honduran player Amado Guevara taking over as head coach.[13]
On March 19, 2023, just days before the Nations League, the Puerto Rican Football Federation announced Charlie Trout as the new head coach of the national team.[14]
2022–23 Nations League
In the second season of the CONCACAF Nations League, Puerto Rico would again be a part of the C-League. This time being inserted to Group D alongside the British Virgin Islands and the Cayman Islands. The team would go on to beat the British Islands 3–1[15] and then later beat the Cayman Islands 5–1. The team would go on to win the group stage, thus earning a Gold Cup prelims invitation and promotion into the B league for the next Nations league.
In the Gold Cup prelims, the team would draw against Suriname 0–0 and later winning in a penalty shootout 4–3.[16] In the second round of the prelims, Puerto Rico would face Martinique. The team would lose 2–0 and be eliminated from the tournament.[17]
↑ Yamaira Muñiz Pérez (August 28, 2019). "Se rejuvenece el Huracán Azul". El Vocero de Puerto Rico. Archived from the original on August 28, 2019. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
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(10 July 2025) [1] 
Cuba 1–1 Puerto Rico 
Puerto Rico 9–0 Saint Martin 
Netherlands Antilles 15–0 Puerto Rico 
