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Puerto Rico national football team facts for kids

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This page is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Puerto Rico women's national football team.
Quick facts for kids
Puerto Rico
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s) El Huracán Azul
(The Blue Hurricane)
Los Boricuas
(The Boricuas)
Association Federación Puertorriqueña de Fútbol (FPF)
Confederation CONCACAF (North America)
Sub-confederation CFU (Caribbean)
Head coach Charlie Trout
Captain Nicolás Cardona
Most caps Héctor Ramos (36)
Top scorer Ricardo Rivera (19)
Home stadium Estadio Juan Ramón Loubriel
Estadio Centroamericano
FIFA code PUR
First colors
Second colors
FIFA ranking
Current 179 Steady (7 February 2019)
Highest 97 (March 1994)
Lowest 202 (November 2004)
Elo ranking
Current 189 Decrease 2 (3 March 2019)
Highest 171 (21–25 May 1993)
Lowest 201 (3 February 2001; 21 July 2002)
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)

The Puerto Rico national football team (also called Selección de fútbol de Puerto Rico in Spanish) plays for Puerto Rico in international football games. The team is managed by the Federación Puertorriqueña de Fútbol (Puerto Rican Football Federation). Their nickname is El Huracán Azul, which means The Blue Hurricane. They are part of the Caribbean Football Union and CONCACAF. The team has never played in the FIFA World Cup or the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Team History

Early Years: 1940–1990

Puerto Rico's first international match was against Cuba in 1940. They tied that game 1–1. Their first win came in 1970, a 3–0 victory against the Bahamas. In 1972, Puerto Rico won 1–0 against Panama in a friendly game. During the 1980s and 1990s, most of their wins were against teams like the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, and Martinique.

Chris Armas and the 1990s

Chris Armas played for Puerto Rico in the 1993 Caribbean Cup. During this tournament, Puerto Rico won four games in a row without letting the other team score. However, FIFA did not officially recognize these games. Because of this, Chris Armas was later able to play for the United States. He played over 50 games for the U.S. team.

Tough Times: 1995–2007

Between 1995 and 2007, Puerto Rico did not win any games. They only had four ties. During this period, their ranking in the FIFA Rankings dropped to 202nd place.

A New Start: 2008–2015

PUR vs Spain
Puerto Rico (in blue) playing Spain in 2012.

In recent years, Puerto Rico started to play better, much like they did in the 1990s. In 2008, they won two away games against Bermuda (1–0 and 2–0). They also tied 2–2 with Trinidad and Tobago. They got their first win since 1994 when they beat the Dominican Republic in the first round of World Cup qualifiers.

Even though they lost the first game 4–0 to Honduras, they tied the home game 2–2 in the second round. The Puerto Rican Football Federation planned for the team to play in future Caribbean Cup and Gold Cup tournaments. Andres Cabrero, who has played the most games for Puerto Rico, was the only active player from the 2010 World Cup qualifiers as of 2021.

Puerto Rico was supposed to play in the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games at home in Mayagüez. But due to problems with the stadiums, the team could not compete.

On August 15, 2012, Puerto Rico played a friendly game against Spain, who were then the World and European champions. Puerto Rico lost 2–1 in Bayamón, Puerto Rico.

On June 5, 2015, Puerto Rico played a friendly against Bermuda. This was their last friendly before the qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup. The game ended in a 1–1 tie. After losing to Grenada 2–1 in the qualifiers, coach Jose 'Cukito' Martinez left. Carlos Avedissian from Uruguay then became the head coach. On December 11, 2015, Puerto Rico played a friendly against the MLS team New York City, losing 2–1.

Recent Years: 2016–Present

Coaching Changes

Carlos Avedissian coached the team in 2015, mostly using players from Puerto Rico's local leagues. On May 22, 2016, Puerto Rico played against the United States for the first time, losing 3–1. Avedissian was replaced by Jack Stefanowski for a short time. With mostly local players, Puerto Rico reached the third round of the 2017 Caribbean Cup qualification for the first time. They beat Grenada and Antigua and Barbuda. This meant they were only two games away from reaching the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Stefanowski had to leave his coaching role.

On September 3, 2016, Puerto Rico played India for the first time in a friendly game in Mumbai, but they lost 1–4.

After Stefanowski left, Carlos Cantarero became the head coach. The team played three friendly games before important matches against Antigua and Barbuda and Curaçao. Coach Cantarero could not be there for the friendly games. Puerto Rico lost a key match against Curaçao, even after being ahead 2–0. This loss meant Curaçao advanced to the Gold Cup.

Puerto Rico did not play another international match until the summer of 2017, when they tied 0–0 against Indonesia.

After Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico in September 2017, leaving the island without power, the MLS club Orlando City SC announced a "Fuerza Puerto Rico’ Friendly" game for November 4. All money raised from this game went to help the island recover. Puerto Rico lost this game 6–1.

In May 2018, Amado Guevara, a former player from Honduras, became the new head coach.

2020s and Nations League Success

Zarek Valentin Timbers (cropped)
Zarek Valentin played his first game for Puerto Rico in 2021.

On March 19, 2023, Charlie Trout was announced as the new head coach.

In the CONCACAF Nations League, Puerto Rico played in League C. They were in Group D with the British Virgin Islands and the Cayman Islands. The team beat the British Virgin Islands 3–1 and the Cayman Islands 5–1. They won their group, which meant they were invited to the Gold Cup prelims and moved up to League B for the next Nations League.

In the Gold Cup prelims, Puerto Rico tied Suriname 0–0 and then won in a penalty shootout 4–3. In the next round, they played Martinique. Puerto Rico lost 2–0 and was out of the tournament.

Team Look

Kit Sponsors

Kit supplier Period
Spain Joma 2018–2024
Denmark Hummel 2024–

Game Results and Upcoming Matches

Main article: Puerto Rico national football team results

Here are the results from the last 12 months and any games planned for the future.

6 June 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification El Salvador  0–0  Puerto Rico San Salvador, El Salvador
20:30 UTC−6 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
  • de León Goal 20' (pen.) Goal 51'
  • Ydrach Goal 31'
  • W. Rivera Goal 48' Goal 65'
  • L. Antonetti Goal 59'
  • Ríos Goal 71'
  • Cardona Goal 90+1'
 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
  • G. Díaz Goal 28'
  • Jean Jacques Goal 50'
  • Pierrot Goal 59'
  • Louicius Goal 76'
  • Nazon Goal 83'
 Stadium: Estadio Centroamericano de Mayagüez
Referee: Filip Dujic (Canada)
9 September 2024 2024–25 CONCACAF Nations League Aruba  0–1  Puerto Rico Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
20:00 UTC−4
  • Antonetti Goal 73'
 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
  • Amatkarijo Goal 44', 85' (pen.)
  • Kort Goal 49'
  • Sulia Goal 2'
  • A. Díaz Goal 90+5'
 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
  • G. Díaz Goal 45'
  • R. Rivera Goal 83' (pen.)
  • Christina Goal 54'
 Stadium: Trinidad Stadium
Referee: Moeth Gaymes (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)
2024–25 CONCACAF Nations League Puerto Rico  5–1  Aruba Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
19:00 UTC−4
  • R. Rivera Goal 7'
  • N. Hernandez Goal 23'
  • D. Ríos Goal 55'
  • J. Servenia Goal 62'
  • A. Díaz Goal 81'
    • J. Jiménez Goal 21'
 Stadium: Estadio Centroamericano de Mayagüez
Referee: Fernando Morón (Panama)
18 November 2024–25 CONCACAF Nations League Haiti  3–0  Puerto Rico Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
  • Attys Goal 29'
  • Louicius Goal 53'
  • Pierrot Goal 70'
 Stadium: Estadio Centroamericano de Mayagüez
Referee: Rubiel Vázquez (United States)
21 March Friendly Puerto Rico  2-2  Dominican Republic Bayamon, Puerto Rico
20:00 UTC−4
  • Rivera Goal 21'
  • Sulia Goal 90+3'
  • Dollenmayer Goal 45+3'
  • Vásquez Goal 58'
 Stadium: Estadio Juan Ramón Loubriel
25 March Friendly Dominican Republic  2–0  Puerto Rico Santiago, Dominican Republic
Stadium: Estadio Cibao FC
1 June Friendly Puerto Rico  1–1  Nicaragua Pawtucket, United States
  • Ríos Goal 10'
  • Hernández Goal 60'
 Stadium: Centreville Bank Stadium
6 June 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Suriname  1-0  Puerto Rico Paramaribo, Suriname
19:00 UTC−3
  • Montnor Goal 79'
 Stadium: Dr. Franklin Essed Stadium
Attendance: 3,300
Referee: Nelson Salgado (Honduras)
10 June 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Puerto Rico  2–1  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
21:00 UTC−4
  • Antonetti Goal 11'
  • Echevarria Goal 77'
  • Anderson Goal 47'
 Stadium: Mayagüez Athletics Stadium
Referee: Randy Solano (Dominican Republic)

Coaching Staff

Role Name Since
Sporting director England Steve McCullogh 14 January 2022
Head coach England Charlie Trout 19 March 2023
Assistant coach England Adekunle Adeleye 19 March 2023
Goalkeeping coach England Ritchie Marshall 19 March 2023

Coaching History

Here is a list of past coaches for the Puerto Rico national football team.

  • Puerto Rico Eduardo Ordóñez Munguira (1959)
  • Puerto Rico Raúl Marchant González (1966)
  • Puerto Rico Egberto Morales Carrasco (1972)
  • Spain/Puerto Rico Luis Villarejo (1974–1975)
  • Argentina Carlos Martinolli (1978–1979)
  • Puerto Rico Joe Serralta (1979–1982)
  • Puerto Rico Juan "Saso" Tullier (1982–1984)
  • Argentina Ricardo "Richie" Romano (1985–1990)
  • Brazil Víctor Hugo Barros (1990–1991)
  • United States Arnie Ramirez (1992)
  • Puerto Rico Oscar Rosa (1992)
  • Puerto Rico Cristóbal Vaccaro (1996)
  • Spain José Luis "Majo" Rodríguez (1999)
  • Brazil Raimundo Gatinho (2000)
  • Costa Rica Toribio Rojas (2002–2003)
  • Brazil Víctor Hugo Barros (2004)
  • Northern Ireland Colin Clarke (2007–2011)
  • United States Jack Stefanowski (2011)
  • England Adrian Whitbread (2011)
  • Costa Rica Jeaustin Campos (2011–2013)
  • Brazil Víctor Hugo Barros (2013–2014)
  • Puerto Rico José "Cukito" Martinez (2015)
  • Uruguay Carlos Avedissian (2015–2016)
  • United States Jack Stefanowski (2016)
  • Spain Carlos García Cantarero (2016–2018)
  • Honduras Amado Guevara (2018–2019)
  • Costa Rica Elgy Morales (2019–2021)
  • United States Dave Sarachan (2021–2022)
  • England Charlie Trout (2023–present)

Players

Current Squad

The players listed below were called to play in the friendly game against Nicaragua on June 1, 2025.

Caps (games played) and goals are correct as of March 26, 2025, after the match against Dominican Republic.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Joel Serrano (1999-05-17) May 17, 1999 (age 26) 22 0 United States Naples
1GK Sebastián Cutler (2003-05-20) May 20, 2003 (age 22) 5 0 United States Villanova University
1GK Jean Luc Fontana (2005-10-12) 12 October 2005 (age 19) 0 0 Spain Granada
2DF Nicolás Cardona (1998-02-14) February 14, 1998 (age 27) 23 1 United States Miami
2DF Rodolfo Sulia (2002-08-08) August 8, 2002 (age 22) 22 3 United States Naples
2DF Beto Ydrach (2002-11-20) November 20, 2002 (age 22) 13 1 United States Pittsburgh Riverhounds
2DF Giovanni Calderón (2000-09-15) September 15, 2000 (age 24) 11 0 United States Real Monarchs
2DF Colby Quiñones (2003-04-14) April 14, 2003 (age 22) 11 0 United States Portland Hearts of Pine
2DF Orion McHugh (2001-07-06) July 6, 2001 (age 24) 4 0 United States Jacksonville Dolphins
3MF Gerald Díaz (1999-03-23) March 23, 1999 (age 26) 35 12 United States Miami
3MF Juan O'Neill (1998-07-12) 12 July 1998 (age 27) 21 0 Puerto Rico Academia Quintana
3MF Sidney Paris (2002-03-10) March 10, 2002 (age 23) 11 0 Spain Sigüeiro
3MF Adrián Biaggi (2005-04-13) April 13, 2005 (age 20) 7 0 United States River Light
3MF Benjamín Donato (2005-07-05) July 5, 2005 (age 20) 7 0 United States Stetson University
3MF Steven Echevarria (2000-08-19) August 19, 2000 (age 24) 5 0 United States Colorado Springs Switchbacks
3MF Nacho Antonetti (2008-02-02) 2 February 2008 (age 17) 3 0 Spain Compostela
4FW Ricardo Rivera (1997-04-17) April 17, 1997 (age 28) 34 19 United States Miami
4FW Darren Ríos (1995-10-14) October 14, 1995 (age 29) 34 6 Germany SV Wilhelmshaven
4FW Wilfredo Rivera (2003-10-14) October 14, 2003 (age 21) 22 5 Puerto Rico Academia Quintana
4FW Jaden Servania (2001-07-16) July 16, 2001 (age 24) 22 2 United States North Carolina
4FW Leandro Antonetti (2003-01-01) January 1, 2003 (age 22) 15 4 Spain Sevilla
4FW Noeh Hernández (2004-12-09) December 9, 2004 (age 20) 12 1 United States DePaul University
4FW Alec Díaz (2001-12-07) December 7, 2001 (age 23) 11 2 Free agent

Recent Call-ups

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
DF Ryan Basabe (2003-06-22) June 22, 2003 (age 22) 3 0 United States Orlando City U18
FW Eddiel Márquez (2003-05-25) May 25, 2003 (age 22) 5 0 Spain CFA Quart de les Valls U19
FW Enrique Nieves IV (2003-10-23) October 23, 2003 (age 21) 4 0 Free agent
FW Jeremy de León (2004-09-30) September 30, 2004 (age 20) 3 0 Spain Real Madrid Castilla

Records

Players in bold are still active with Puerto Rico.

Most Games Played

Hector ramos vs Spain
Héctor Ramos (right) has played the most games for Puerto Rico (36 games).
Rank Name Caps Goals Career
1 Héctor Ramos 36 18 2010–2019
2 Andrés Cabrero 35 4 2008–2018
Gerald Díaz 35 13 2017–present
Ricardo Rivera 35 19 2016–present
5 Darren Ríos 34 6 2016–present
6 Jackie Marrero 32 6 2011–2019
7 Alexis Rivera 31 0 2004–2016
8 Nicolás Cardona 24 1 2021–present
9 Cristian Arrieta 22 5 2010–2015
Noah Delgado 22 3 2008–2012
Juan O'Neill 22 0 2017–present
Wilfredo Rivera 22 5 2021–present
Joel Serrano 22 0 2021–present

Top Goal Scorers

Rank Name Goals Caps Ratio Career
1 Ricardo Rivera 19 35 0.54 2016–present
2 Héctor Ramos 18 36 0.5 2010–2019
3 Gerald Díaz 13 35 0.37 2017–present
4 Chris Megaloudis 6 20 0.3 2008–2012
Jackie Marrero 6 32 0.19 2011–2019
Darren Ríos 6 34 0.18 2016–present
7 Marcos Lugris 5 20 0.25 1983–1998
Cristian Arrieta 5 22 0.23 2010–2015
Wilfredo Rivera 5 22 0.23 2021–present
10 Danny Mueller 4 6 0.67 1992–1993
Joel Burgos 4 8 0.5 2023–present
Raphael Ortiz 4 12 0.33 2000–2010
Leandro Antonetti 4 15 0.27 2022–present
Isaac Angking 4 15 0.27 2021–present
Andrés Cabrero 4 35 0.11 2008–2018

Tournament History

FIFA World Cup

Puerto Rico has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup. They first tried to qualify for the 1974 World Cup.

CONCACAF Gold Cup

The team has never qualified for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. They started trying to qualify for this tournament in 1991.

CONCACAF Nations League

Puerto Rico has played in the CONCACAF Nations League. In the 2022–23 season, they won their group in League C and were promoted to League B. They have stayed in League B for the 2023–24 and 2024–25 seasons.

CFU Caribbean Cup

Puerto Rico's best result in the Caribbean Cup was finishing fourth in 1981, when they hosted the tournament. They have not qualified for the finals of this competition since then.

Pan American Games

Puerto Rico has participated in the Pan American Games football tournament. Their best finish was in 1979, where they reached the second round and placed 5th overall.

More Football Information

  • Puerto Rico national under-20 football team
  • Puerto Rico national under-17 football team
  • Football in Puerto Rico

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Puerto Rico para niños

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