After winning their group with three wins at the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup, the United States are into the knockout rounds. They'll take on Costa Rica on Sunday night in what should be their most difficult match so far.
Match info
Teams: United States 🇺🇸 vs Costa Rica 🇨🇷
Odds: USA (-150), CRC (+500)
Date: Sunday, June 29, 2025
Time: 6:00 pm CT, US Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
TV: FOX / TUDN
TV Commentary (English): John Strong, Stu Holden & Jenny Taft
Forecast: 81º/67º. 79º at kickoff. Scattered storms. 10-19 mph winds. 40% chance of rain. 86% humidity.
Head-to-head
United States wins: 2o
United States goals: 52
Draws: 6
Costa Rica wins: 17
Costa Rica goals: 48
Last meeting: USA 3-0 CRC (January 22, 2025 | Friendly)
Costa Rica 🇨🇷
The numbers
Key Players: Keylor Navas (goalkeeper, Newell's Old Boys), Jeyland Mitchell (defender, Feyenoord), Francisco Calvo (defender, Hatayspor), Brandon Aguilera (midfielder, Rio Ave), Josimar Alcócer (midfielder, Westerlo), Manfred Ugalde (striker, Spartak Moscow), Alonso Martínez (striker, New York City FC)
Last match: 0-0 draw vs Mexico (Gold Cup Group A)
Costa Rica snapshot
Costa Rica are through to the quarterfinals after a second-place finish in Group A. Under former Mexico national team manager Miguel Herrera, they've maintained the physical and direct style of play they've been known for, but have sprinkled in some real quality.
Spartak Moscow striker Mandfred Ugalde is one of the more dangerous attackers in Concacaf, scoring 10 goals in just 23 international caps. Paired with NYCFC striker Alonso Martínez, Los Ticos have two attackers who are absolutely lethal in and around the box.
The challenge for Costa Rica becomes getting them the ball. Playing in a back five, they often trade ball progression for defensive solidity. Their midfield trio of Orlando Galo, Brandon Aguilera and Josimar Alcócer does a ton of work in and out of possession, but can struggle to create chances out of sustained possession. They're at their most dangerous in transition, when they're able to get the ball on the half-turn and quickly play it forward into space.
After struggling defensively in their Gold Cup opener against Suriname, Costa Rica ended up locking things down in the back. They held the Dominican Republic to a single goal, before capping off their group stage with a robust 0-0 draw against powerhouse Mexico. They'll certainly be a tough test for the United States.
Predicted XI
United States
The numbers
Key Players: Tyler Adams (Bournemouth), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Malik Tillman (PSV), Matt Turner (Crystal Palace)
Last match: 2-1 win vs Haiti (Gold Cup Group D)
United States snapshot
It's been a weird week for the USMNT. After playing all three group stage matches in a week, they got a full seven days off between group and quarterfinal games, a weird quirk of the Concacaf schedule. In between, rumors popped up that head coach Mauricio Pochettino had interviewed for the vacant Brentford job during the tournament, a rumor he himself shot down.
While the effects inside the camp were probably minimal, it certainly was yet another distraction for a fanbase that has already been frustrated by a rotated roster and some laborious results in the group stage. While they finished with a perfect 3W-0D-oL record, their performances weren't inspiring, apart from a 5-0 demolition of Trinidad & Tobago in their opener.
Ben Wright
Charlotte FC striker Patrick Agyemang hasn't been clinical in the final third, but he's a nightmare for opposing defenders and does a lot of unheralded work to open up space in the final third. Seemingly on the verge of a transfer to Derby County, he's nailed down the starting No. 9 job for the foreseeable future.
With Johnny Cardoso apparently out with an ankle issue, it will be a battle between Sebastian Berhalter and Luca de la Torre to partner Tyler Adams in midfield.
Costa Rica are an incredibly difficult side to play against, and have the quality to punish any mistakes they make in midfield. This will be a battle, and the United States have to be up for a very different type of match in Minnesota tonight.
Predicted XI
Pre-match Media
Prediction
Score: USA 2-1 CRC
Scorers: Diego Luna, Malik Tillman
MOTM: Malik Tillman
Prediction: It hasn't been an incredibly inspiring tournament so far for the United States, and while Costa Rica are an incredibly difficult opponent, they should have just enough juice to get the job done and advance to the semi-finals.
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