Our prediction for this World Cup 2026 match:
Costa Rica
Match Time & Date:
05/09/2021
04:00 PM
Prediction: 1-1
Mexico
All eyes will be on Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica when Costa Rica and Mexico square off against each other in the World Cup qualifier. Los Ticos failed to impress in a goalless draw with Panama, with the team having no more than four goal attempts in their opener. Costa Rica are eager to record their first win of the process, but they will have a big fish to fry in Monday’s football match.
Veteran midfielder Bryan Ruiz is pushing for a start, while fellow star player Joel Campbell is rated doubtful for the Mexico clash. Tata Martino’s troops, on the other hand, aim to build on a hard-fought 2-1 win over Jamaica. Club America attacker Henry Martin could be handed a start here as he scored a late winner against the Reggae Boyz, but beating Costa Rica in San Jose is easier said than done.
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 (Mexico):
Football was brought below the United States border by European immigrants who build the foundations for what went on to become one of the most prominent footballing nations in the world. El Tri have qualified to the total of 15 World Cups and have become one of six nations to qualify successfully for the tournament since 1994.
Alongside Brazil and Germany, Mexico are the only country to make it past the group stage over the last six World Cups so it is fair to say that miners from Cornwall and Spanish exiles fleeing the Civil War made a pretty good job embedding the football gene. Mexico are the reigning CONCACAF champions having beaten the surprise package Jamaica 3-1 in the final. Juan Carlos Osorio’s team is captained by Rafael Marquez who is the fourth most-capped player behind Gerrardo Torrado, Pavel Pardo and Claudio Suarez.
Bayer Leverkusen striker Javier Hernandez is the team’s biggest star and current squad’s top scorer with 81 goals to his name. Chicharito is only eight goals behind Jared Borgetti who is the nation’s top scorer.
Man City
Tottenham
Celta Vigo 
Barcelona 
Southampton
Liverpool
Ipswich
Manchester United
Napoli
AS Roma
Leganes
Real Madrid
