{
  "id": 10592494,
  "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",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-29T03:00:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/sports/football/2026/09/1543577/batista-sacked-costa-rica-coach-after-six-months"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "San Jose - Costa Rica's head coach Fernando Bocha Batista was sacked on Monday, following the country's poor performance in the CONCACAF Nations League. The football federation announced that Batista, along with his staff, was removed six months after taking the job. Batista 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. They failed to progress past the group stage in the following two tournaments and did not qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Costa Rica suffered a 4-3 home defeat to Curacao, despite leading 3-0 at halftime, and a 2-0 loss to Haiti three days later.",
  "summary": "SAN JOSE: Costa Rica’s head coach Fernando “Bocha” Batista was dismissed Monday following the team’s disastrous start to the CONCACAF Nations League, the country’s football federation announced.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "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"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}