In Costa Rica’s camp, a familiar figure is returning at a difficult moment. Keylor Navas has been called back into the national squad by interim coach Bryan Ruiz after Fernando Bautista left his post following a troubled start to the CONCACAF Nations League.
The news from the club
Costa Rica began the competition with defeats against Curaçao and Haiti, results that brought Bautista’s tenure to an end. Ruiz has taken charge on an interim basis and has moved quickly to bring Navas into the group.
The Pumas goalkeeper will join the squad for upcoming matches against Nicaragua and Haiti. His inclusion comes after he was absent at the beginning of the current international window, amid a public disagreement involving the former coach.
Bautista said at a press conference that he had attempted to contact Navas about a possible call-up, but received no response to his message. Navas then posted an Instagram poll that appeared to answer the claim, asking: “If you have something important to say, do you call or send a message?”
Ruiz has now placed his faith in the 39-year-old, who remains one of the stronger performers at Pumas despite the Mexican club’s uneven run of results. The goalkeeper’s return gives Costa Rica considerable experience as it tries to recover its footing in the Nations League.
A return after the Honduras draw
Navas last represented Costa Rica on 18 November 2025, when the side drew 0-0 with Honduras in CONCACAF qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
His renewed involvement offers Costa Rica a senior presence for the meetings with Nicaragua and Haiti, with the latter carrying added importance after the earlier defeat. Ruiz’s temporary spell begins with a need to steady the side, and the return of the country’s most accomplished goalkeeper is part of that response.
