Costa Rica's national soccer team traveled to the United States this Monday to face Mauricio Pochettino's U.S. Men's National Team in a friendly match that marks the debut of Miguel "Piojo" Herrera as head coach of the "ticos."

Preparation and a Young Squad

The Costa Rican squad, composed of 24 players from the local league, left for Orlando, Florida, without any injuries. The game will take place on Wednesday at the Inter & Co Stadium, a venue familiar to fans of Inter Miami. According to the Costa Rican Football Federation (FCRF), after their arrival in Orlando, the team will have a recovery session on Monday and a field walkthrough on Tuesday.

Herrera, who was officially presented as the national team coach on January 10, has been training with the team since last Thursday. The roster he selected has an average age of 24 years, with Esteban Alvarado, a 35-year-old goalkeeper, being the most experienced player. On the other end of the spectrum, young talents such as 19-year-old forward Andy Rojas and 18-year-old right-back Kenay Myrie are making their mark.

Challenging Context

The friendly match is set for 7:00 PM (local time) on Wednesday (00:00 GMT on January 23). Because it is not an official FIFA match date, clubs are not required to release their players, which limited Herrera's selection to domestic league players through agreements with their respective teams.

United States in Strong Form

Mauricio Pochettino's U.S. Men's National Team arrives at this game after a convincing 3-1 victory against Venezuela last Saturday in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The match against Costa Rica will give the Argentine coach another opportunity to assess his squad as he prepares for future competitions.

For Herrera, this debut represents not just a friendly but a chance to begin building his project and showcasing his vision for the Costa Rican national team. Facing a well-prepared U.S. side will undoubtedly be a test of character and strategy for the Mexican coach and his young squad.