Costa Rica faces Nicaragua in a pivotal World Cup qualifier on Tuesday at Estadio Nacional. This match is essential for both teams as they aim for their first win in the third round of CONCACAF qualifiers. The pressure is mounting for Costa Rica, known as Los Ticos, to leverage their home advantage and historical success against Nicaragua. The game is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. local time.
Cup Qualifying Context
In Group C, Costa Rica currently holds the third position with three points from three draws. The standings are as follows:
- Haiti: 5 points
- Honduras: 5 points
- Costa Rica: 3 points
- Nicaragua: 1 point
A victory for Costa Rica would bring them closer to a top position that secures direct entry into the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Additionally, the two best second-place teams from the groups will earn a shot at inter-confederation playoffs.
Recent Performance
Costa Rica’s journey so far has been marked by three draws: a 1-1 tie away at Nicaragua in September, a thrilling 3-3 home draw against Haiti, and a 0-0 draw against Honduras last week. While they have displayed resilience, converting draws into wins is crucial for progression.
Nicaragua, making their debut in this qualifying stage, began with a draw against Costa Rica but suffered defeats against Honduras and Haiti. Their goal differential is concerning, having conceded six goals and scored only once.
Historical Record
The rivalry between the two teams favors Costa Rica, who remains unbeaten in their last 15 encounters with Nicaragua, recording 13 wins. In their last clash in September, a late penalty by Nicaragua equalized Costa Rica’s lead. Prior to that, Costa Rica had maintained clean sheets in six consecutive matches against Nicaragua.
At Estadio Nacional, Costa Rica has triumphed in eight out of their last ten international matches, with just one loss. This strong home performance boosts confidence ahead of the match.
Team News and Lineups
Coach Gustavo Alfaro faces some challenges in the squad. Defensive midfielder Orlando Galo will miss the match due to suspension. Midfielder Celso Borges is still assessing his fitness and may not play, while goalkeeper Keylor Navas is nursing an ankle injury but is expected to participate due to his leadership qualities.
Forward Warren Madrigal returns from injury, providing additional attacking options. Notably, defenders Jeyland Mitchell and Alexis Gamboa, along with attacker Carlos Mora, have yellow card restrictions.
Predicted Lineups
Costa Rica is likely to adopt a 4-3-3 formation:
- Goalkeeper: Keylor Navas (or Patrick Sequeira)
- Defense: Alexis Gamboa, Kendall Waston, Francisco Calvo, Jeyland Mitchell
- Midfield: Allan Cruz, Josimar Alcócer, Aarón Murillo
- Attack: Alonso Martínez, Manfred Ugalde, Joel Campbell
Nicaragua may deploy a compact 5-4-1 formation:
- Goalkeeper: Miguel Rodríguez
- Defense: Josué Quijano, Justing Cano, Christian Reyes, Óscar Acevedo, Henry Niño
- Midfield: Byron Bonilla, Matias Moldskred, Juan Barrera, Bancy Hernández
- Attack: Ariagner Smith
Match Predictions
Analysts favor Costa Rica due to their robust historical record against Nicaragua and their strong performance at home. The expectation is for Costa Rica to dominate possession and create scoring chances for Manfred Ugalde and his teammates. In contrast, Nicaragua will seek to execute counterattacks while defending compactly.
A projected scoreline is a 2-0 win for Costa Rica, likely through set pieces or quick counterattacks. If successful, this result would elevate Costa Rica to five points and position them favorably in the group, while Nicaragua would face a daunting challenge to disrupt their opponents.
