Mexico, USMNT showdown must wait until Concacaf Gold Cup final as both top group
Mexico secured first place in Group A after a tense 0-0 draw against Costa Rica, despite a last-gasp acrobatic effort from Santi Gimenez being controversially disallowed for offside in stoppage time.
The stalemate, though largely devoid of excitement, ensured that the two Concacaf giants cannot meet before the tournament’s decisive match on July 6. With group play wrapped up, the USMNT is now set to face Costa Rica in the quarterfinals next weekend, while Mexico will square off against Saudi Arabia.
Had Costa Rica managed a win over Mexico, the door would have been open for a possible early meeting between El Tri and the Americans in the quarterfinals, but that scenario was ultimately avoided. Javier Aguirre’s Mexico edged Costa Rica for the group’s top spot due to a slightly better goal difference, after both sides secured wins over the Dominican Republic and Suriname in their earlier matches.
Both teams struggled to break the deadlock in their final group game, with Raul Jimenez coming closest for Mexico and Keylor Navas pulling off a pair of critical saves in quick succession. Costa Rica, meanwhile, will have to make do without forward Manfred Ugalde in the quarters after he picked up a suspension due to a second yellow card.
Prior to kickoff, Costa Rica’s manager Miguel Herrera shared warm greetings with the Mexican squad, which he previously managed from 2013 to 2015. Now, Herrera aims to upset the Americans, who enter the knockouts missing key players such as Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Antonee Robinson, and Tim Weah, making their quarterfinal matchup against a determined Costa Rican side all the more challenging.
Costa Rica, currently ranked 54th in the world, will be eager to take advantage of the situation and continue their Gold Cup run.
