After a dominant second-round performance, Costa Rica have hit a rough patch in the final phase of World Cup 2026 qualifying. Despite entering as heavy favourites, Miguel Herrera’s men have drawn all three of their matches so far, leaving them in a tricky position as they look to return to the world stage for a fourth consecutive tournament.
The good news for Los Ticos is their stellar record against Nicaragua — unbeaten in their last 15 meetings, with 13 wins and six consecutive clean sheets before the reverse fixture. Costa Rica’s home form remains strong too, having won eight of their last 10 internationals on home soil. Expect a much more assertive performance from the hosts this time, particularly with Manfred Ugalde in fine scoring form and Keylor Navas providing stability at the back.
Nicaragua’s dream slipping away
For Nicaragua, this final round has been a learning curve. Two straight defeats to Honduras and Haiti have left them bottom of the group and on the brink of elimination. While Marco Antonio Figueroa’s men deserve credit for reaching this stage for the first time, their lack of experience and poor away record — seven defeats in their last 10 road trips — make a positive result in Costa Rica unlikely.
With both form and history against them, Nicaragua may struggle to cope with Costa Rica’s pace and pressure, especially in San José.
Tip: 1
