Waston finally gets kick at the Cup
Captain will join Costa Rica for Russia 2018 tournament next month after missing out in 2014
Kendall Waston put his country into the World Cup.
That was a pretty big deal. Now he’ll get to play a part in the big deal: His spot was confirmed in Costa Rica’s 23-man roster that will head to Russia next month for the World Cup.
This is the first time the Whitecaps captain will be at the Cup. He was named to Costa Rica’s provisional 30-man roster for Brazil 2014, but was in the final round of cuts.
“It’s a huge accomplishment. I feel very happy. Very proud,” he said Monday after practice at the University of B.C. “(I feel) a lot of emotions ... I remember four years ago it was a different feeling. Now I can enjoy this moment.”
Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson got to tell Waston the news in front of his teammates (who celebrated by spraying him with water). The club also invited his wife Priscilla and son Keysaack to Monday’s practice.
“It was a great surprise, I didn’t expect my family here. I’m really thankful to the club, they always do special things for the players. Without my family, without my teammates, my coaches, I think this wouldn’t be possible,” Waston said.
After Robinson announced the news and Waston gave his wife and son a kiss, he gave a heartfelt speech to his teammates.
“I love coming here (to train),” he said. “In my heart, you guys are always going to be.”
Waston has won 25 caps for his country and scored three times, including the dramatic header against Honduras on the final day of qualification that put his country back into the Cup.
Los Ticos kick off their Group E campaign June 17 against Serbia. They then face Brazil June 22 and Switzerland June 27. They’ve also got warm-up friendlies against Northern Ireland (June 3), England (June 7) and Belgium (June 11).
Waston, 30, will join Costa Rica after the Whitecaps’ home match May 26 against the New England Revolution. MLS is taking a nineday break from June 14, the day the World Cup tournament officially opens, and June 22. That means MLS action will resume before the group stage is over. As it stands, Waston will miss games June 1 in Colorado, June 9 at home against Orlando and June 23 in Philadelphia.
Costa Rica and the other Cup teams were required to name a 35-man provisional team Monday, but Ticos coach Óscar Ramírez opted to skip right to his final squad. Six Costa Ricans playing in MLS were selected by Ramirez. Ex-Cap Christian Bolanos was also chosen.
(Teams can make injury replacements to their squads up until 24 hours before their first match in Russia.)
Waston has appeared in 99 MLS regular-season matches and scored 12 times since joining the Whitecaps midway through 2014.