With international matches played in Guanacaste, San Jose and Alajuela on Saturday and Sunday, Costa Rica has thus far proven to be a worthy and gracious host of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. Football fans around the world are enjoying the exciting matches and locals are finding out that great football is not limited to First Division and Men’s National Team play.

“These girls can really play”

The above has been the assessment of many football fans and even veteran game broadcasters in Costa Rica who had never before provided play-by-play or color commentary with women on the pitch, let alone girls under 17 years of age.

On a national radio broadcast of the match between Costa Rica and Venezuela, a sideline reporter commented:

“This is good football; I should have encouraged my daughters to play, but they have their own families now -well, I still have my granddaughters!”

There were doubters and, of course, haters who insisted that Costa Rica -let alone Guanacaste- would not be capable of hosting a World Cup. They have been proven wrong by the local organizing committee appointed by the National Football Federation (Spanish acronym: FEDEFUTBOL) and accepted by FIFA. With the exception of stadium workers in Guanacaste rushing to finish some last-minute finishing touches on the brightest sporting facility in Costa Rica, the World Cup has unfolded smoothly.

Matchday 1

Official report by FIFA: A goal in each half lifted a resilient Ghana to a 2-0 win over 2012 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup finalists Korea DPR for a bright start to their Group B campaign in Liberia, Guanacaste.

Official report by FIFA: Italy scored either side of the half-time break for a 2-0 win over Zambia in a match featuring two FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup debutants in San Jose.

Report by the Costa Rica Star: There were fireworks, music, festivities, and heartbreak. After a rousing introductory speech by President Laura Chinchilla, the sold-out crowd at the Chinese-donated National Stadium at La Sabana Metropolitan Park wildly cheered for the talented Ticas; alas, our players looked petite and diminutive against the Venezuelan team, who are the reigning South American champions. Costa Rica was routed 0-3. There were tears, but fans were left ecstatic with the quality of football that many were simply not expecting. Of special note: 14-year old Gloriana Villalobos, whose finesse, speed and control were simply dazzling.

Official report by FIFA: Germany fought back from a two-goal half-time deficit to earn a 2-2 draw against Canada in a high-quality Group B opening contest in Liberia.

Matchday 2

Preliminary reports by FIFA. Results and scores were not available at the time this report was filed – 14:00 local time in Costa Rica:

Spain-Japan, Tibas (Ricardo Saprissa Stadium), 16 March 2014, 14.00

Group C is set to kick off in style as two genuine candidates for the global title go head to head.

Also in Group C, tournament regulars New Zealand will take on Paraguay, who are back on the world stage after their unconvincing debut performance at the inaugural edition in 2008.

In Group D, the race for qualification begins with a meeting between Mexico and Colombia, neither of whom have graced the knockout phase despite two previous finals tilts apiece.

Sunday Matchday 2 full schedule:

• New Zealand-Paraguay (Tibas, Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Ayma, 11.00)
• Spain-Japan (Tibas, Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Ayma, 14.00)
• Mexico-Colombia (Alajuela, Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto Scotiabank, 14.00)
• China PR-Nigeria (Alajuela, Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto Scotiabank, 17.00)