The University of Costa Rica (UCR) and the Costa Rican Football Federation have signed a framework agreement on research, teaching and outreach related to sport. It was signed at Proyecto Goal in San Rafael de Alajuela, and the work will be led by the Human Movement Sciences Research Centre (Cimohu) and the School of Physical Education and Sports.
The first phase is a pilot with the men’s under-20 team, which will play at the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan. Players will undergo DEXA scans measuring fat, lean mass and bone density, bioimpedance tests and assessments on an isokinetic dynamometer, which compares the strength of each leg to spot imbalances that raise injury risk.
Each athlete will receive an individual physical profile shared with the coaching staff to guide training and nutrition, and UCR students will gain training and internships. The project will expand in stages to other age groups and sports, with the aim of benefiting all national teams, men’s and women’s.
