Our prediction for this World Cup 2026 match:
Costa Rica
Match Time & Date:
08/09/2021
08:00 PM
Prediction: 2-1
Jamaica
Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica will host Thursday’s World Cup qualifier between Costa Rica and Jamaica. Los Ticos aim to bounce back from a 1-0 loss to Mexico, and they will surely give 100% to open their goal-scoring account. Joel Campbell is widely expected to return to the starting XI, and we predict that the former Arsenal forward will pose a big threat to the opposition defenders. Veteran midfielder Bryan Ruiz should keep his place in the starting line-up.
The Reggae Boyz, on the other hand, experienced all sorts of problems at the back in back-to-back defeats to Mexico (1-2) and Panama (0-3), and seeing that Costa Rica are a real force to be reckoned with at home, away win should not be considered. Aston Villa ace Leon Bailey will once again be sorely missed for the visiting team as he was not allowed to leave England due to covid-19 travel restrictions.
Highlighted Player (Keylor Navas):
Keylor Navas is an exceptionally gifted goal keeper who plays for Spanish club Real Madrid and the Costa Rica national team. The 29-year-old rose through the youth ranks at Saprissa before making his professional bow with them in 2005.
After a successful stint with them, he ventured into Spanish football with a move to Albacete and then to Levante. His exploits at Levante earned him a move to Real Madrid where he quickly established as a first-team regular. Despite coming within seconds of moving away from the club to accommodate David de Gea, Navas became a crowd favorite with outstanding displays in 2015-16 season.
Navas has played over 60 games for Costa Rica having made his debut in 2008. He has represented them at the 2014 FIFA World Cup where Costa Rica were a losing quarter-finalists. Their progress in the tournament is largely attributed to the success of Navas under the sticks.
Highlighted Team (Jamaica):
The Reggae Boyz are enjoying in their 2014 Copa Centroamericana title and are looking forward to their second-ever entry into the Copa America. Jamaica took positives from their debut in the competition last year in Chile despite going out in the group stage and will now be willing to make one step further.
The country had more success later in the summer when Winfried Schafer’s men knocked off the United States in the semi-finals of the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup. The Reggae Boyz were ultimately stopped in the final as they lost to Mexico, but the ticket to 2016 Copa America was enough of a reward itself as four highest finishers were guaranteed a place at the competition.
Jamaica stepped onto the international scene with a 2-1 win over Haiti in 1925 and have so far qualified only once for the FIFA World Cup in 1998. It was not until 1965 that Jamaica made their first attempt to qualify for the World Cup though.
Southampton
Liverpool
Ipswich
Manchester United
Napoli
AS Roma
Leganes
Real Madrid
Lazio 
Bologna 
Nice 
Strasbourg 
