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Men's association football team From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Puerto Rico national football team (Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Puerto Rico) represents Puerto Rico in men's international football, and are governed by the Federación Puertorriqueña de Fútbol (FPF). The team's nickname is El Huracán Azul meaning The Blue Hurricane.[2] They are members of the Caribbean Football Union, and part of CONCACAF. The team has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup or the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Nickname(s) | El Huracán Azul (The Blue Hurricane) Los Boricuas (The Boricuas) | ||
---|---|---|---|
Association | Federación Puertorriqueña de Fútbol | ||
Confederation | CONCACAF (North America) | ||
Sub-confederation | CFU (Caribbean) | ||
Head coach | Charlie Trout | ||
Captain | Zarek Valentin | ||
Most caps | Héctor Ramos (36) | ||
Top scorer | Héctor Ramos & Ricardo Rivera (18) | ||
Home stadium | Estadio Juan Ramón Loubriel Estadio Centroamericano | ||
FIFA code | PUR | ||
| |||
FIFA ranking | |||
Current | 157 (19 December 2024)[1] | ||
Highest | 97 (March 1994) | ||
Lowest | 202 (November 2004) | ||
First international | |||
Cuba 1–1 Puerto Rico (Havana, Cuba; 12 November 1940) | |||
Biggest win | |||
Puerto Rico 9–0 Saint Martin (Port-au-Prince, Haiti; 9 September 2012) | |||
Biggest defeat | |||
Netherlands Antilles 15–0 Puerto Rico (Caracas, Venezuela; 15 January 1959) |
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 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]
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 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.[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]
Puerto Rico faced World and European champion Spain in a friendly on 15 August 2012, losing 2–1 in the Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium in Bayamón, Puerto Rico.
On 5 June 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 11 December 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 22 May 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 3 September 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 7 October it was reported MLS club, Orlando City SC announced a Fuerza Puerto Rico’ Friendly for 4 November 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]
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]
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]
The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
Win Draw Loss Fixture
21 March Friendly | Belize | 1–1 | Puerto Rico | Belmopan, Belize |
19:30 UTC−6 | Stadium: FFB Stadium |
24 March Friendly | Belize | 3–0 | Puerto Rico | Belmopan, Belize |
18:00 UTC−6 | Stadium: FFB Stadium |
6 June 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification | El Salvador | 0–0 | Puerto Rico | San Salvador, El Salvador |
20:30 UTC−6 | Report | Stadium: Estadio Cuscatlán Referee: Saíd Martínez (Honduras) |
11 June 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification | Puerto Rico | 8–0 | Anguilla | Bayamón, Puerto Rico |
20:00 UTC−6 | Report | Stadium: Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium Referee: Oshane Nation (Jamaica) |
6 September 2024–25 Nations League | Puerto Rico | 1–4 | Haiti | Mayagüez, Puerto Rico |
20:00 UTC−4 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Estadio Centroamericano de Mayagüez Referee: Filip Dujić (Canada) |
9 September 2024 2024–25 CONCACAF Nations League | Aruba | 0–1 | Puerto Rico | Mayagüez, Puerto Rico |
20:00 UTC−4 | Report |
|
Stadium: Estadio Centroamericano de Mayagüez Referee: Kimbell Ward (St. Kitts and Nevis) |
11 October 2024–25 CONCACAF Nations League | Sint Maarten | 3–2 | Puerto Rico | Oranjestad, Aruba |
16:00 UTC−4 |
|
Report | Stadium: Trinidad Stadium Attendance: 19 Referee: Benjamin Pineda (Costa Rica) |
14 October 2024–25 CONCACAF Nations League | Puerto Rico | 2–1 | Sint Maarten | Oranjestad, Aruba |
16:00 UTC−4 | Report |
|
Stadium: Trinidad Stadium Referee: Moeth Gaymes (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) |
{{footballbox collapsible |round = 2024–25 CONCACAF Nations League |date = 15 November |time = 19:00 UTC−4 |team1 = Puerto Rico |score = 5-1 |team2 = Aruba |report = |goals1 =
|goals2 =
|location = Haiti |stadium = TBD |attendance = |referee = |result = W }}
18 November 2024–25 CONCACAF Nations League | Haiti | v | Puerto Rico | Haiti |
Stadium: TBD |
6 June 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification | Suriname | v | Puerto Rico | Suriname |
Stadium: TBD |
10 June 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification | Puerto Rico | v | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Puerto Rico |
Stadium: TBD |
Role | Name | Since |
---|---|---|
Sporting director | Steve McCullogh | 14 January 2022 |
Head coach | Charlie Trout | 19 March 2023 |
Assistant coach | Adekunle Adeleye | 19 March 2023 |
Goalkeeping coach | Ritchie Marshall | 19 March 2023 |
The following players were called up for two 2024–25 CONCACAF Nations League B matches on 11 and 14 October 2024 against Sint Maarten.[19]
Caps and goals correct as of 14 October 2024, after the second match against Sint Maarten.
No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GK | Joel Serrano | May 17, 1999 | 20 | 0 | Academia Quintana | |
GK | Jean-Luc Fontana | October 12, 2005 | 0 | 0 | Granada | |
DF | Nicolás Cardona | February 11, 1999 | 21 | 1 | Miami FC | |
DF | Rodolfo Sulia | August 8, 2002 | 19 | 2 | Academia Quintana | |
DF | Colby Quiñones | 14 April 2003 | 9 | 0 | New England Revolution II | |
DF | Adrian Rosario | April 12, 2007 | 3 | 0 | Inter Miami Academy | |
DF | Marcos Villanueva | March 29, 2006 | 2 | 0 | UAlbany Great Danes men's soccer | |
MF | Gerald Díaz | March 23, 1999 | 31 | 13 | Academia Quintana | |
MF | Jaden Servania | July 16, 2001 | 18 | 1 | North Carolina FC | |
MF | Roberto Ydrach | May 26, 2001 | 12 | 1 | University of Akron | |
MF | Noeh Hernández | December 9, 2004 | 9 | 0 | DePaul University | |
MF | Steven Echevarria | April 9, 1996 | 4 | 0 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC | |
MF | Sebastián Otero | September 15, 2005 | 4 | 0 | Inter Miami CF II | |
MF | Ignacio Antonetti | February 2, 2008 | 3 | 0 | SD Compostela Youth | |
MF | Jeymer Díaz | 21 June 2005 | 2 | 0 | Unattached | |
FW | Ricardo Rivera | April 17, 1997 | 31 | 17 | O&M | |
FW | Darren Ríos | October 14, 1995 | 30 | 5 | Naples United FC | |
FW | Wilfredo Rivera | October 14, 2003 | 21 | 5 | Orlando City B | |
FW | Alec Díaz | December 7, 2001 | 10 | 1 | Colorado Rapids 2 | |
FW | Cristian Ortiz | November 15, 2005 | 7 | 0 | Inter Miami CF II | |
FW | Enrique Nieves | October 23, 2003 | 4 | 0 | Minnesota United 2 |
The following players have been called up within the last 12 months.
Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GK | Sebastián Cutler | May 20, 2003 | 3 | 0 | Villanova University | v. Aruba, September 9, 2024 |
GK | Anthony Martínez | December 23, 2003 | 0 | 0 | Stony Brook Seawolves | v. Bahamas, November 21, 2023 PRE |
DF | Zarek Valentin | August 6, 1991 | 9 | 1 | Minnesota United | v. Aruba, September 9, 2024 |
DF | Sidney Paris | April 26, 2002 | 9 | 0 | Wake Forest University | v. Anguilla, 11 June 2024 PRE |
DF | Ian Silva | November 6, 2004 | 10 | 1 | Gonzaga University | v. Anguilla, 11 June 2024 PRE |
DF | Giovanni Calderón | February 8, 2002 | 10 | 0 | New England Revolution II | v. Anguilla, 11 June 2024 PRE |
DF | Eitan Solomiany | December 8, 2006 | 0 | 0 | Bayamon FC | v. Bahamas, November 21, 2023 PRE |
MF | Adrián Biaggi | April 13, 2005 | 5 | 0 | Dayton University | v. Aruba, September 9, 2024 |
MF | Benjamin Donato | 5 July 2005 | 5 | 0 | Stetson University | v. Aruba, September 9, 2024 |
MF | Isaac Angking | July 24, 2000 | 15 | 4 | Rhode Island FC | v. Anguilla, 11 June 2024 |
MF | Juan O'Neill | July 12, 1998 | 21 | 0 | Black Rock FC | v. Anguilla, 11 June 2024 PRE |
FW | Leandro Antonetti | January 1, 2003 | 12 | 4 | Sevilla Atlético | v. Aruba, September 9, 2024 |
FW | Cesar Velasquez | 4 March 2005 | 0 | 0 | Tours FC | v. Anguilla, 11 June 2024 |
FW | Jeremy de León | January 1, 2003 | 2 | 2 | Real Madrid Castilla | v. Anguilla, 11 June 2024 PRE |
|
Rank | Name | Caps | Goals | Career |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Héctor Ramos | 36 | 18 | 2010–2019 |
2 | Andrés Cabrero | 35 | 4 | 2008–2018 |
3 | Jackie Marrero | 32 | 6 | 2011–2019 |
4 | Alexis Rivera | 31 | 0 | 2004–2016 |
5 | Gerald Díaz | 29 | 12 | 2017–present |
Ricardo Rivera | 29 | 16 | 2016–present | |
7 | Darren Ríos | 28 | 5 | 2016–present |
8 | Cristian Arrieta | 22 | 5 | 2010–2015 |
Noah Delgado | 22 | 3 | 2008–2012 | |
Juan O'Neill | 22 | 0 | 2017–present | |
Rank | Name | Goals | Caps | Ratio | Career |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Héctor Ramos | 18 | 36 | 0.5 | 2010–2019 |
2 | Ricardo Rivera | 16 | 29 | 0.55 | 2016–present |
3 | Gerald Díaz | 12 | 29 | 0.41 | 2017–present |
4 | Chris Megaloudis | 6 | 20 | 0.3 | 2008–2012 |
Jackie Marrero | 6 | 32 | 0.19 | 2011–2019 | |
6 | Wilfredo Rivera | 5 | 19 | 0.26 | 2021–present |
Marcos Lugris | 5 | 20 | 0.25 | 1983–1998 | |
Cristian Arrieta | 5 | 22 | 0.23 | 2010–2015 | |
Darren Ríos | 5 | 28 | 0.18 | 2016–present | |
10 | Brian Conlon | 4 | 6 | 0.67 | 1988–1993 |
Danny Mueller | 4 | 6 | 0.67 | 1992–1993 | |
Raphael Ortiz | 4 | 12 | 0.33 | 2000–2010 | |
Leandro Antonetti | 4 | 12 | 0.33 | 2022–present | |
Isaac Angking | 4 | 15 | 0.27 | 2021–present | |
Andrés Cabrero | 4 | 35 | 0.11 | 2008–2018 | |
FIFA World Cup | Qualification | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | |
1930 to 1958 | Not a FIFA member | Not a FIFA member | |||||||||||||
1962 | Did not enter | Did not enter | |||||||||||||
1966 | |||||||||||||||
1970 | |||||||||||||||
1974 | Did not qualify | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 12 | ||||||||
1978 | Did not enter | Did not enter | |||||||||||||
1982 | |||||||||||||||
1986 | Did not qualify | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | ||||||||
1990 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | |||||||||
1994 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | |||||||||
1998 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 9 | |||||||||
2002 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | |||||||||
2006 | Did not enter | Did not enter | |||||||||||||
2010 | Did not qualify | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 | ||||||||
2014 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 4 | |||||||||
2018 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||||||||
2022 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 2 | |||||||||
2026 | To be determined | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | ||||||||
2030 | To be determined | ||||||||||||||
2034 | |||||||||||||||
Total | 0/16 | 31 | 8 | 8 | 15 | 40 | 57 |
CONCACAF Nations League record | |||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
League | Finals | ||||||||||||||||||
Season | Division | Group | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | P/R | Finals | Result | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Squad | |
2019–20 | C | C | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 12 | 2021 | Ineligible | |||||||||
2022–23 | C | D | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 2 | 2023 | ||||||||||
2023–24 | B | D | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 22 | 10 | 2024 | ||||||||||
2024–25 | B | C | To be determined | 2025 | |||||||||||||||
Total | — | — | 14 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 45 | 24 | — | Total | 0 Titles | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
CONCACAF Nations League history | |
---|---|
First match | Puerto Rico 0–5 Guatemala (10 September 2019; Mayagüez, Puerto Rico) |
Biggest win | Puerto Rico 6–0 British Virgin Islands (12 June 2022; Mayagüez, Puerto Rico) |
Biggest defeat | Puerto Rico 0–5 Guatemala (10 September 2019; Mayagüez, Puerto Rico) Guatemala 5–0 Puerto Rico (16 November 2019; Guatemala City, Guatemala) |
Best result | — |
Worst result | — |
CFU Championship & Caribbean Cup record | Qualification record | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | |
1978 | Did not qualify | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||
1979 | Did not enter | Did not enter | |||||||||||||
1981 | Fourth place | 4th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 9 | Qualified as host | ||||||
1983 | Did not enter | Did not enter | |||||||||||||
1985 | |||||||||||||||
1988 | |||||||||||||||
1989 | |||||||||||||||
1990 | |||||||||||||||
1991 | Did not qualify | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | ||||||||
1992 | Did not enter | Did not enter | |||||||||||||
1993 | Group stage | 6th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
1994 | Did not qualify | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||
1995 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 14 | |||||||||
1996 | Did not enter | Did not enter | |||||||||||||
1997 | Withdrew | Withdrew | |||||||||||||
1998 | Did not qualify | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 | ||||||||
1999 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 | |||||||||
2001 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||||||||
2005 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 11 | |||||||||
2007 | Did not enter | Did not enter | |||||||||||||
2008 | |||||||||||||||
2010 | Did not qualify | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 8 | ||||||||
2012 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 15 | 12 | |||||||||
2014 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6 | |||||||||
2017 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 11 | |||||||||
Total | Fourth place | 2/25 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 23 | 43 | 10 | 8 | 25 | 61 | 80 |
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