Thousands take to the streets in celebration as Costa Rica lands spot in World Cup

Costa Ricans celebrate the classification of Costa Rica to the FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014, in San Jose, Costa Rica, on September 10, 2013. AFP PHOTO/EZEQUIEL BECERRA

September 11, 2013 (AFP & InsideCostaRica.com) Thousands of euphoric fans took to the streets of the capital and other cities of Costa Rica on Tuesday to celebrate the Ticos clenching a bid in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil after a 1-1 draw against Jamaica.

In San Jose, fans packed parks and roads in the center of the capital, waving flags, sounding horns while jumping and shouting “oeoeoeoeee, Ticos, Ticos”.

Traffic in several parts of the capital came to a virtual standstill due to the long caravan of vehicles that were formed.

Many fans carried flags of Honduras, whose 2-2 draw with Panama on Tuesday made possible the direct qualification of Costa Rica and the United States to the World Cup finals tournament.

Before the match, the government had announced that public employees would receive a day off if Costa Rica won a World Cup bid.  As a result the celebrations are expected to continue today.

Local television broadcast images of the Costa Rica national team in their dressing room at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica, which after winning its match against Jamaica had to wait 45 minutes before knowing the outcome of the match between Panama and Honduras.

Jubilation broke out in the Tico’s dressing room in Kingston when the final whistle was blown 1,200 km away in the Honduran capital.

Costa Rica’s coach, Colombian Luis Pinto, could not hold back tears as he spoke to the Costa Rican press.

“It is the dream of my life, I’ve worked and fought with honor and dedication for many years,” Pinto said, who took the helm of the Costa Rican team two years ago.

This is the fourth time Costa Rica has qualified for the World Cup, the last being the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Editor’s Note: Costa Rica’s Communications Minister, Carlos Roverssi, has announced that public employees will NOT receive the day off today despite previous reports.