{
  "id": 10585910,
  "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",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-29T01:22:47.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/sports/2026/09/29/batista-sacked-as-costa-rica-coach-after-6-months"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Costa Rican head coach Fernando Bocha Batista was sacked on Monday, following the team's poor performance in the CONCACAF Nations League. The decision came just six months after Batista took over the role. The team's first two matches resulted in losses against Curacao and Haiti. Batista, along with his coaching staff, was replaced on an interim basis by former Costa Rican player Bryan Ruiz. The Central American nation, which reached the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup, has struggled in recent years, failing to advance past the group stage in the subsequent two editions and missing out on the 2026 World Cup. Costa Rica suffered a notable upset defeat to Curacao, 4-3, despite leading 3-0 at halftime. Three days later, they were beaten 2-0 by Haiti.",
  "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",
        "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."
}