Puerto Rico national football team

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.

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]

Puerto Rico (in blue) playing Spain in 2012.

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 21st Central American and Caribbean Games in 2010 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.

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 19th 2023, just days before the Nations League, the Puerto Rican Football Federation announced Charlie Trout as the new head coach pf the national team.[14]

In the second season of the CONCACAF Nations League, Puerto Rico would again be apart 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]

Caretaker managers are listed in italics.

The following players were called up for the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup qualification matches in June 2023.[19]

Caps and goals correct as of 20 June 2023, after the match against Martinique.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
	1GK	Joel Serrano	(1999-05-17) May 17, 1999	11	0	Los Angeles Force
	1GK	Anthony Martínez	(2003-12-23) December 23, 2003	0	0	Memphis Tigers
	1GK	Sebastián Cutler	(2003-05-20) May 20, 2003	1	0	Charlotte 49ers
	2DF	Rodolfo Sulia	(2002-08-08) August 8, 2002	14	0	Fort Wayne
	2DF	Nicolás Cardona	(1999-02-11) February 11, 1999	14	0	Chattanooga Red Wolves
	2DF	Zarek Valentin	(1991-08-06) August 6, 1991	7	1	Minnesota United
	2DF	Sidney Paris	(2002-04-26) April 26, 2002	8	0	Wake Forest Demon Deacons
	2DF	Ian Silva	(2004-11-06) November 6, 2004	2	1	Orlando City B
	2DF	Adrian Rosario	(2007-04-12) April 12, 2007	0	0	Inter Miami Academy
	2DF	Colby Quiñones	(2003-04-14) 14 April 2003	0	0	New England Revolution
	2DF	Eitan Solomiany	(2006-12-08) December 8, 2006	0	0	Bayamon FC
	3MF	Juan O'Neill	(1998-07-12) July 12, 1998	14	0	CD Don Álvaro
	3MF	Gerald Díaz	(1999-03-23) March 23, 1999	20	9	Unattached
	3MF	Sebastián Otero	(2005-09-15) September 15, 2005	0	0	Inter Miami Academy
	3MF	Benjamin Donato	(1998-12-28) December 28, 1998	0	0	Inter Miami Academy
	3MF	Devin Vega	(1998-12-28) December 28, 1998	12	3	Unattached
	3MF	Isaac Angking	(2000-07-24) July 24, 2000	7	4	Santa Cruz FC
	3MF	Beto Ydrach	(2001-05-26) May 26, 2001	6	0	UCF Knights
	4FW	Noeh Hernández	(2004-12-09) December 9, 2004	0	0	DePaul Blue Demons
	4FW	Darren Ríos	(1995-10-14) October 14, 1995	16	1	Unattached
	4FW	Jaden Servania	(2001-07-16) July 16, 2001	8	1	North Carolina
	4FW	Wilfredo Rivera	(2003-10-14) October 14, 2003	8	0	Orlando City B
	4FW	Joel Burgos	(1999-10-29) October 29, 1999	2	2	Verdes
	4FW	Ricardo Rivera	(1997-04-17) April 17, 1997	23	13	Unattached
	4FW	Leandro Antonetti	(2003-01-01) January 1, 2003	6	1	CD Lugo
	4FW	Rubén Tapia	(2000-07-27) July 27, 2000	0	10	Unattached
	4FW	Cristian Ortiz	(2005-11-15) November 15, 2005	0	0	Inter Miami Academy

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	Aurie Echevarría	(2001-06-26) June 26, 2001	0	0	Fort Wayne	v.  Martinique, June 20, 2023 PRE
DF	Brian Flores	(2003-08-25) 25 August 2003	0	0	New York City FC II	v.  Bahamas, September 9, 2023 PRE
DF	Christopher Dilan	(1999-02-19) February 19, 1999	3	0	Nona	v.  Bahamas, September 9, 2023 PRE
DF	Giovanni Calderón	(2002-02-08) February 8, 2002	5	0	Ventura County Fusion	v.  Martinique, June 20, 2023 PRE
MF	Justin Blanco	(2007-02-19) February 19, 2007	0	10	Queensboro FC	v.  Bahamas, September 9, 2023 PRE
MF	José Luis López	(2002-02-25) February 25, 2002	0	0	Queensboro FC	v.  Bahamas, September 9, 2023 PRE
MF	Marco Cantalapiedra	(2008-08-08) August 8, 2008	0	0	Inter Miami Academy	v.  Bahamas, September 9, 2023 PRE
MF	Diego Rossi	(2005-05-19) May 19, 2005	0	0	Parma	v.  Suriname, June 17, 2023 PRE
FW	Daniel Cruz Jr.	(2005-05-14) 14 May 2005	0	0	Unattached	v.  Bahamas, September 9, 2023 PRE
FW	Alec Díaz	(2001-12-07) December 7, 2001	8	0	Toronto FC II	v.  Martinique, June 20, 2023 PRE
FW	Jeremy de León	(2004-03-18) March 18, 2004	0	0	Castellón	v.  Suriname, June 17, 2023 PRE
Notes INJ = Withdrew due to injury PRE = Preliminary squad / standby RET = Retired from the national team SUS = Serving suspension WD = Player withdrew from the squad due to non-injury issue.