Toca FC in Costa Rica with Propella Tours: Competition, Exposure & Purpose
Last January, Toca FC traveled to Costa Rica with a clear objective: compete in a meaningful environment, gain real recruiting exposure, and experience the country within a professionally structured international program.
The visit was built around participation in the Propella Showcase 2026, hosted at the Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica. More than a traditional tournament, the Showcase is designed as a competitive platform where matches are played with intent and visibility. International academies such as Highlights Academy (Dominican Republic) and Atletis (Puerto Rico), along with select independent players from across Central America, competed in an environment attended by college and international recruiting programs evaluating talent live.
Among the programs present were Lincoln University, UCF, FIU, Lipscomb University, Graceland University, as well as European institutions such as Rome City Institute and MSM Academy. For Toca FC, this meant stepping onto the field knowing performance mattered — not only in terms of results, but in exposure.
Beyond the Showcase, the team faced the U19 squad of Club Sport Herediano, one of Costa Rica’s most established first division clubs. The match, played at Estadio Carlos Alvarado, provided direct exposure to a professional academy environment. The 3–3 result reflected the level of intensity and quality on both sides, offering players a strong competitive benchmark within Costa Rica’s development system.
Beyond Competition: Context Matters
At Propella Tours, international soccer programs are designed to integrate competition with cultural and social context. The objective is not to separate performance from experience, but to connect them.
During their stay, Toca FC visited La Paz Waterfall Gardens, experiencing firsthand the biodiversity that defines Costa Rica’s global identity. Exposure to the country’s environmental leadership and conservation efforts adds depth to the international experience.
Equally important was the team’s activity with Fundación Fútbol x Mi País, an organization that works with youth from underserved communities through soccer-based mentorship and development. The players shared time on the field with local youth, reinforcing how soccer can serve as a bridge between competition and community impact.
For many academies, this component is not secondary — it is essential. Structured community engagement reinforces leadership, perspective, and responsibility, aligning athletic development with personal growth.
A Balanced International Model
What distinguished the experience was the integration of all elements: competitive matches in professional venues, recruiting visibility, environmental exposure, and social engagement — executed within a coordinated operational structure.
Matt Gow, Associate Executive Director of Toca FC, summarized it best:
“I've been exposed to different international trips, and I can tell you right now, working with Propella just from the very beginning to the end, just the professionalism, the balance between experience, the culture of Costa Rica, but also being in an environment like the showcase where you're playing top-level games that mean something with college coaches there, you don't get that hybrid in that sense, just the perfect mix of what that looks like with competition and tourism. A lot of times, sometimes, they'll be heavy on one or the other, but the way that this has come together and be both, it's very, very well done.”
His reflection captures what international programs often seek: a true balance between structured competition, recruiting exposure, and meaningful experience.
Why Costa Rica as a Soccer Development Platform?
Costa Rica offers a unique environment for international academies:
• A professional academy ecosystem connected to first division clubs
• Competitive depth within a geographically compact country
• Modern facilities, including national-level venues
• A strong culture of community and environmental leadership
• Safe and organized travel logistics
When structured correctly, an international soccer tour becomes more than a trip — it becomes a developmental milestone.
Watch the full Toca FC experience in Costa Rica here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSHoPgJ0m2A&feature=youtu.be
Planning Your International Soccer Experience
Propella Tours designs customized soccer programs in Costa Rica for academies and development organizations seeking meaningful competition, structured recruiting exposure, and authentic cultural integration.
If your organization is exploring an international soccer experience that combines performance, visibility, and context within a professionally executed framework, Costa Rica offers a strong platform — and Propella Tours provides the structure to deliver it.