{
  "id": 10583565,
  "title": "Batista sacked as Costa Rica coach after 6 months",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/batista-sacked-as-costa-rica-coach-after-6-months",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-29T01:22:47.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/sports/2026/09/29/batista-sacked-as-costa-rica-coach-after-6-months"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Costa Rica's head coach Fernando Bocha Batista was dismissed on Monday, marking the end of his six-month tenure with the national team. The decision came after the team's poor performance in the CONCACAF Nations League, where they lost their first two matches to Curacao and Haiti. Batista, an Argentine manager, was removed from his position along with his entire coaching staff. He will be succeeded on an interim basis by former Costa Rican player Bryan Ruiz. Despite reaching the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup, where they advanced from a group featuring Italy, England, and Uruguay, Costa Rica has struggled in recent years. They failed to progress past the group stage in the following two tournaments and ultimately did not qualify for the 2026 World Cup. A notable setback occurred last Thursday when Costa Rica lost 4-3 at home to Curacao, despite leading 3-0 at halftime, followed by a 2-0 defeat to Haiti three days later.",
  "summary": "Fernando 'Bocha' Batista was dismissed on Monday following the team's disastrous start to the CONCACAF Nations League, losing to Curacao and Haiti.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Batista sacked as Costa Rica coach after 6 months",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/batista-sacked-as-costa-rica-coach-after-6-months-10585910",
        "published": "2026-09-29T01:22:47.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Batista sacked as Costa Rica coach after six months",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/batista-sacked-as-costa-rica-coach-after-six-months",
        "published": "2026-09-29T03:00:01.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}