Costa Rica vs Honduras
A week is a long time in football and, just two days on from their last round of fixtures World Cup 2026: Costa Rica vs Honduras has taken on a totally different complexion.
These two nations had been standout performers in qualifying so far but, on Friday, they both crashed to damaging defeats, Costa Rica lost to Haiti while Honduras fell to a shock 2-0 defeat to Nicaragua and now there’s a real risk neither team will qualify.
Reinaldo Rueda’s Honduras top Group C on goal difference ahead of Haiti, while Costa Rica are two points behind on six points. If Honduras now fail to beat Miguel Herrera’s Costa Rica and Haiti beat Nicaragua, as expected, then Los Catrachos may head to the inter-continental play-offs…or out. And Los Ticos must win this game and hope that Nicaragua can spring another surprise when they meet Haiti.
It’s not an ideal situation for either team…but now they must make the best of it.
Talking Points
Ticos want to give Navas one more shot at glory
Costa Rica coasted through the second round with four wins from four but they have been hit and miss since; and now they need their big players, and some luck, to pull them through.
Captained by legendary keeper Keylor Navas, now 38 years of age and with 123 caps to his name, Los Ticos would love to give him one more World Cup finals. The former Real Madrid and PSG stopper was a star of the Costa Rica side which wowed fans at the 2014 World Cup and he has represented his nation at the 2018 and 2022 finals. With Los Blancos, Navas won three consecutive Champions League winners’ medals and he picked up another with the Parisians. Now playing his football in Mexico with Pumas UNAM, he still loves his football and will do all he can to help Costa Rica to another finals.
Another veteran, the 37 year old midfielder Celso Borges is a strong voice in the dressing room and on the pitch and, with 163 internationals, scoring 27 goals, the former Deportivo La Coruna star is Los Ticos’ most capped player.
Costa Rica will need all the experience and big game nerve they can muster and, up front, winger Joel Campbell can add to his 148 caps, and he can provide ammunition for New York City’s Alonso Martinez, while two 21 year olds, Josimar Alcocer and Warren Madrigal are both pushing for a start.
Not so long ago his team did well at the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup and Herrera hopes this blend of experience and youth will see Costa Rica through their next challenge.
Can Honduras pick themselves up?
Los Catrachos’ 2-0 loss to Nicaragua last week was a total disaster, there is no other way to describe it; the defeat blew open the group to allow Haiti and Costa Rica back into the game. After winning their second round group at a canter, with four wins from four, Honduras are still topping their third round group but only on goal difference, ahead of Haiti and two points clear of Costa Rica.
Honduras arrived in Nicaragua as clear favourite to win the game and qualify for the World Cup finals, meeting a side which had one solitary point from its four games and sat bottom of the group. But the underdogs stunned the favourites with a beauty of a strike from Bancy Hernandez in the 11th minute and it took a while for Los Catrachos to settle. They pushed and pushed for a leveller but the Nicaragua defence held firm and an 82nd minute goal from Jaime Moreno all but ended the game.
Levante’s midfield ace Kevin Arriaga and Sporting’s Carlos Pineda have the quality to steer Honduras over the line, but they desperately need a win and hope that this time they can hold their nerve.
History
The pre-match Costa Rica vs Honduras 2025 betting odds say we’re in for a cracker; and there have been some good tussles between these two nations since they first met way back in 1930. Los Ticos won that meeting 8-0 and lead the head to head Costa Rica vs Honduras 2025 results by 25 to 21. Last time out they drew 0-0 in Honduras when they met in October.
Costa Rica have been at the World Cup finals six times and were quarter-finalists in 2014 while Honduras are aiming to reach the finals for the fourth time; they were there in 2010 and 2014.
In terms of recent form Costa Rica have one win, one loss and four draws from their last six outings while Honduras have two wins, two draws and two defeats.
Betting Tip
Costa Rica are the clear SBOTOP favourites to win this game at 1.88 to pick up all three points, with the draw at 3.35 and Honduras at 3.90 to get their vital victory.
The World Cup qualifiers have thrown up some superb drama around the world and this clash has all the hallmarks of a potential classic. I believe both nations have a great chance to qualify…and then again they could both easily miss out. For a correct score-line, a 2-1 Ticos win is available at 8.00 while 2-1 to Honduras is priced at 12.50 and, with both teams in need of a win, an early goal could well open the gates for more.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT)
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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