Costa Rica and El Piojo Herrera hope to beat Honduras and use the calculator to qualify for the World Cup
We tell you what combination of results Costa Rica needs to qualify for the World Cup; Honduras and Haiti are vying for the same spot
The Costa Rican national team, which is on the verge of elimination, is clinging to the math to keep its hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup alive this Tuesday in the last round of the Concacaf qualifiers, when it hosts Honduras. With a win, they can secure their World Cup berth. To qualify, Costa Rica (6 points), coached by Mexican Miguel Herrera, must defeat Honduras (8 points) and hope that the already eliminated Nicaragua (4 points) does them a favor and at least draws in their visit to Haiti (8 points), the other team that currently holds the qualifying spot in its own hands. Honduras, coached by Colombian Reinaldo Rueda, needs to beat Costa Rica and hope that Haiti doesn't win, or draw and hope that Haiti loses. If Honduras and Haiti win, everything will be decided by goal difference. This Tuesday's match, to be played at the National Stadium in San Jose, will feature a Costa Rica team coming off a 1-0 defeat in their visit to Haiti last Thursday, while Honduras let a golden opportunity slip away, losing 2-0 to Nicaragua. Two tough losses for the Central American teams with the most World Cup appearances, and both could be hurt if they draw, as that result would leave the door open for Haiti to qualify. Costa Rica will be without New York City FC striker Alonso Martinez, who suffered a knee injury in the previous match, and U Craiova winger Carlos Mora, who is suffering from a muscle injury. Coach Herrera will have to take maximum risks in search of victory and hope for what the Costa Rican press has called the "miracle" of Nicaragua not losing. against Haiti in Curacao, where the Haitian team plays its home games. Spartak Moscow striker Manfred Ugalde will be the team's spearhead.While the defense will be led by Pumas goalkeeper Keylor Navas and the towering defender Kendall Waston.
For their part, Honduras must go all out for a victory that puts their World Cup qualification in their own hands, and for this they will rely on star attacking players such as center forward Jorge Benguche and his partners Luis Palma and Romell Quioto.
Costa Rica aspires to go to its seventh World Cup, its fourth consecutive one, while Honduras seeks its fourth appearance and a return to the biggest stage after missing the last two editions.