Mexico and Costa Rica face off in an important CONCACAF World Cup qualifying fixture at the Estadio Azteca on Sunday night with kickoff at 02:00.
Mexico have not found it easy in this season’s final round of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers but the North American giants have done well to claim 17 points from their nine qualifying matches. They did manage to bounce back from their back-to-back defeats to USA and Canada in the qualifiers with a 2-1 win against Reggae Boys on Thursday.
The results keeps them in the third place with just two points off the summit of the table, but are three points above the fourth-placed Panama who are under pressure from Costa Rica. Therefore, Mexico will look to continue in their winning ways and they will fancy their chances as they are in a good home form having lost none of their last nine home matches and have not lost to Sunday opponents in their last five encounters and they will want to continue here.
Meanwhile Costa Rica are pushing for a qualification to the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar come November as the side now sit in the fifth spot on 12 points just seven points off the summit with five matches remaining to go.
They have been on a upward trajectory in the table in the recent weeks as they have won their last two consecutive qualifying matches which have left them now sitting just two points behind Panama in the playoff spot. Therefore, the Costa Ricans will be looking to maintain that run as they look to overtake Panama and reduce the gap between them and their third-placed hosts.
However, that will not be an easy task as they are visit Azteca where they have failed to claim a win in their last seven visits, but considering the occasions they will be looking to change that form.
Indeed the three points in the match are massive for both sides making this a riveting encounter that will be fascinating to watch.
Mexico vs Costa Rica head to head
Both sides have met in 21 encounters since 2003 and Mexico have dominated the record as they have claimed 17 victories and three draws while Costa Rica have only claimed one victory.
- Costa Rica 0-1 Mexico 06/09/21
- Mexico 5-4 Costa Rica 04/06/21
- Costa Rica 0-1 Mexico 30/03/21
- Mexico 5-4 Costa Rica 30/06/19
- Mexico 3-2 Costa Rica 12/10/18
Home
- Jamaica 1-2 Mexico
- Mexico 2-2 Chile
- Canada 2-1 Mexico
- USA 2-0 Mexico
- Mexico 2-3 Ecuador
Away
- Costa Rica 1-0 Panama
- Costa Rica 2-1 Honduras
- Canada 1-0 Costa Rica
- USA 2-1 Costa Rica
- Costa Rica 2-1 El Salvador
Mexico team news
Mexico have no injury or suspension concerns heading into the clash.
Costa Rica team news
Costa Rica will be without Ricardo Blanco due to an injury.
Prediction and odds
This will be a close encounter with Mexico’s home form and their dominance in this fixture we are tempted to put our money on the home side.
- Mexico win
- Both sides to score
- Goals over 2.5
