Brandon Aguilera will never forget the feeling. It was 20 June 2014. Six days after stunning Uruguay 3-1 in their opening match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™, Costa Rica were going toe-to-toe with four-time world champions Italy when, in the 43rd minute, Bryan Ruiz smacked a header that barely crossed the line for a goal.

It was pandemonium in the Aguilera household. “Absolute craziness”. An hour later the final whistle blew to give the Central American nation a triumph for the ages and a memory young Brandon would never forget.

Less than nine years later, the then 19-year-old Aguilera found himself on the same team as his hero Ruiz, at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. For the veteran winger, it was the final chapter of a storied career. But for Aguilera, it was just the start of his journey to follow in the footsteps of his footballing idol.

With qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 26™ set to resume in the Concacaf region in June, Aguilera tells FIFA that he and a fellow crop of young Costa Rican players are poised to emulate the heroes of Brazil 2014 and lead the Ticos on another epic World Cup run.

FIFA: What are your expectations for Costa Rica in this crucial 2025?
It is a very important year for us. We have the Gold Cup qualifier in March and then World Cup qualifying in June. We have some really important matches ahead to reach our objectives.

Brandon Aguilera: Costa Rica face Bahamas and Trinidad and Tobago when qualifying resumes. What are your thoughts on those two matches?
Caribbean opponents have grown a lot throughout the years. Playing at Bahamas is going to be difficult and I think playing Trinidad and Tobago at home will be important for us to maintain our hold on first place.

You made your senior team debut in a must-win World Cup qualifier against USA in March 2022. What was that like?
It was a wonderful moment for me and my family. I had been working hard not knowing when the moment would come, and thank God the opportunity came for me. I really enjoyed that day. The fans were so important for us because there were a lot of us young players on the pitch. It went great for us, beating USA in front of a full stadium, hearing the national anthem, listening to the entire stadium, it’s an experience I’ll always keep in my heart.

What did you learn from Costa Rica’s experienced players like Celso Borges, Bryan Ruiz, Keylor Navas and Joel Campbell?
We grew up watching those players, that generation from the 2014 World Cup. They made a big impact on us. As captains, they always raised their hand when the team needed them, so a lot was learned from them. Bryan, for me, in particular. He was a player I always loved to follow. I always watched how he acted on and off the field, always being a leader. Bryan for me is very important because in the most difficult moments, he was always there, he always raised his hand.

Assuming Costa Rica reach the next round, what are the keys to you all qualifying for the World Cup?
We have to approach the matches with total responsibility and seriousness. Caribbean and Central American opponents have grown a lot throughout the years and are teams that can make things tough for you. We must continue with the same firm approach like we’ve had in previous matches, with full concentration, and prepare ourselves as best we can.

What are your thought on Miguel Herrera as new national team head coach?
He’s a coach with a great track record. He is a very experienced coach who is going to contribute a lot to Costa Rican football. We haven’t spoken yet, but I’m sure we are going to be talking and getting to know each other.

What would you highlight from playing at Qatar 2022?
I think perhaps young players like myself didn’t fully grasp the magnitude of what is a World Cup and the opportunity of being in such a big event. As time goes on one always understands things better and we try to learn from all of it. We came up against high level opponents who demanded the maximum from us, so I think we need to demand the same from ourselves to first qualify for a World Cup and then have a good performance in the next World Cup.

You’re currently playing for Rio Ave. How is life in Portugal?
I arrived here last July after the Copa America and the truth is that I’ve been surprised by the quality of the people I’ve found in the dressing room, how the club is and the way they have treated me. I didn’t play as much at the start as I would have liked, but now I’m having those opportunities. It is a league that has a lot of visibility here in Europe and I think if you do things well here, focus on the day to day, match to match, you can aspire for more.

What are some of the positive things you took from your time in England at Nottingham Forest and Bristol Rovers?
When I arrived to England it was like experiencing what I experienced in the World Cup, just in the day-to-day at the team’s training centre, all of the stadiums, the atmospheres, the quality of players. Training and competing against very good players makes you grow a lot. At first the language was the toughest part, but I was able to adapt. Also, the weather was tough. England has some difficult things about it, but if you know how to make the most of it, you can learn from those experiences.

Do you sometimes think about how quickly your life changed, like going from playing in Costa Rica to the Premier League?
I was actually just talking about that with a friend who played with me when I was little. Playing in Costa Rica is a different reality from what I had once I left the country. You learn new cultures, new things, new languages, you have to survive on your own. It makes you grow a lot as a person and mature quickly.

How have you improved as a football since arriving to Europe?
I think when you see the preparation that the teams have here with young players, they are so good with their control, how they pass the ball, where they position themselves on the field, and physically there is a big difference, so I’ve had to grow to be at that same level. The diet is another important point, too. I think it has helped me a lot.