USMNT Battles Costa Rica in High-Stakes Gold Cup Quarterfinal Showdown

The United States men's soccer team has advanced to the elimination rounds of the Concacaf Gold Cup and aims to maintain their impressive tournament momentum as they face Costa Rica in Minneapolis, Minnesota, this Sunday evening.

Despite Mauricio Pochettino's squad entering the competition amid concerns following four consecutive defeats, they excelled during the group phase, defeating Trinidad and Tobago, Saudi Arabia, and Haiti to secure the top position.

They now face Costa Rica, one of Concacaf's more formidable teams, who secured second place in their group behind Mexico. Although Los Ticos may not match their peak performance from the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil eleven years ago, they remain a challenging quarterfinal adversary.

Here's your complete guide to this upcoming encounter.

What Time Does USMNT vs. Costa Rica Kick-Off?

USMNT vs. Costa Rica Head-to-Head Record (All-Time)

Most recent meeting: USMNT 3–0 Costa Rica—Jan. 22, 2025 (international friendly)

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How to Watch USMNT vs. Saudi Arabia in USA on TV, Live Stream

USMNT Team News

The United States men's national team has managed to silence critics just one year before hosting the FIFA World Cup 2026, thanks to an outstanding group stage featuring exceptional individual performances.

Although Pochettino has rotated his starting eleven throughout each match, attacking midfielder Malik Tillman and central midfielder Sebastian Berhalter have emerged as tournament standouts, while center-back Chris Richards has maintained his exceptional leadership qualities in defense.

The USMNT will likely depend on strong contributions from this trio against Costa Rica, and may turn to Charlotte FC's Patrick Agyemang in attack, following his goal against Haiti that secured a flawless group stage with his second tournament strike.

Nevertheless, team selection might be influenced by yellow card concerns, as both Berhalter and Tyler Adams face semifinal suspension if they receive another booking.

While Gold Cup success remains the primary focus for the Stars and Stripes squad, recent transfer speculation has surrounded several players, including Agyemang's potential move to Derby County and Tillman's connections with Bayer Leverkusen, though neither has materialized yet.

Having conceded only one goal during the group stage, the USMNT hopes to neutralize Costa Rica's offensive threat and maintain their defensive solidity to secure advancement to the demanding semifinal and final stages.

USMNT Predicted Lineup vs. Costa Rica

USMNT predicted lineup vs. Saudi Arabia (4-2-3-1): Freese; Freeman, Richards, Ream, Arfsten; Berhalter, de la Torre; McGlynn, Tillman, Luna; Agyemang.

Costa Rica Team News

Costa Rica narrowly missed group victory, finishing just one goal behind Mexico following a goalless encounter between the teams. Nevertheless, they enter the quarterfinal with an opportunity to defeat a vulnerable USMNT side.

Manager Miguel Herrera's team launched their Gold Cup campaign with an exciting 4–3 comeback victory over Suriname, then overcame an impressive Dominican Republic 2–1 to secure their quarterfinal berth. Additionally, they have shown consistent improvement throughout 2025, achieving positive results in Concacaf World Cup qualification prior to the Gold Cup.

If they succeed against the USMNT, they will likely rely on top scorer Manfred Ugalde, who has netted three goals in three tournament appearances, alongside New York City FC forward Alonso Martínez, who has scored eight goals in 16 MLS matches this season.

Defensively, former Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas retains his starting position and has maintained his quality despite his advancing years at 38.

While Costa Rica faces a difficult challenge, particularly with the anticipated Minnesota crowd support, victory remains achievable.

Costa Rica Predicted Lineup vs. USMNT

Costa Rica Predicted Lineup vs. USMNT (5-3-2): Navas; C. Mora, Mitchell, Vargas, Gamboa, Calvo; Aguilera, Galo, Alcocer; Martinez, Zamora

USMNT vs. Costa Rica Score Prediction

This certainly isn't the most favorable quarterfinal matchup for either team, but considering the home field advantage and solid defensive displays throughout the group stage, the USMNT appears to hold the edge over Los Ticos. However, American fans should expect some anxious moments, as this won't be a straightforward victory.

Score Prediction: USMNT 1–0 Costa Rica