The United States Men's National Team (USMNT) is set to face Costa Rica in the quarterfinals of the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota on June 29. As the tournament progresses towards its final stages, this match marks a critical juncture for both teams, each vying for a spot in the semifinals and a step closer to the coveted Gold Cup title.
The USMNT, hosting the tournament alongside Canada, has advanced to the knockout stage for the 18th consecutive time. They come into the match with an unblemished record in the group stage, securing three wins out of three. The team started strong with a 5-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago, followed by a 1-0 win against Saudi Arabia, and a 2-1 victory over Haiti. Malik Tillman currently leads the team in scoring with three goals, while Diego Luna and Max Arfsten are tied for the team lead with two assists each. Several players, including Tillman, Luna, and Patrick Agyemang, are capitalizing on the opportunity to showcase their abilities on the international stage. Agyemang's go-ahead goal against Haiti helped the USMNT complete the group stage with a perfect nine points.
Costa Rica, on the other hand, enters the quarterfinal clash with confidence, having also had an undefeated start in the tournament. "Los Ticos" finished second in Group A with a 2-1-0 record. They secured a 4-3 comeback victory against Suriname and a 2-1 comeback win against the Dominican Republic, before drawing 0-0 with Mexico. Josimar Alcócer has been a key player in attack, delivering back-to-back winning goals, while Manfred Ugalde leads the team with three goals in the tournament. Veteran goalkeeper Keylor Navas has also been in excellent form, registering 11 saves in the group stage.
This will be the 44th meeting between the United States and Costa Rica in international play. The USMNT holds the advantage in the all-time series with 20 victories, while Costa Rica has 17 wins, and there have been 6 draws. However, in their last six encounters, Costa Rica has suffered five defeats against the USMNT, with their only win occurring during the FIFA World Cup Qualifying for Qatar 2022 on March 30, 2022. The most recent match was a friendly on January 22, 2025, where the United States won 3-0.
The USMNT has a dominant record against Costa Rica in the Gold Cup, with 7 wins and 1 draw in their 8 previous meetings in the tournament. They have also won all four knockout stage encounters against Costa Rica, including two semifinals (1993, 2017), one third-place match (2003), and one final (2002).
One of the key challenges for the USMNT will be to overcome Costa Rican goalkeeper Keylor Navas, regarded as one of the best in the world. USMNT midfielder Tyler Adams acknowledged Navas' experience and leadership. USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino is also familiar with Navas, having coached him at Paris Saint-Germain.
Several factors point towards a USMNT victory. The team has scored in all three group games and boasts multiple players who have found the net in the tournament. The USMNT has also won four of their last five matches against Costa Rica. However, Costa Rica has been improving, demonstrated by their strong performance in the Concacaf World Cup qualifying.
Looking ahead, the winner of this quarterfinal match will face the winner of Canada vs. Guatemala in the semifinal. The USMNT is aiming to win their eighth Gold Cup title. The 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup final is scheduled for July 6 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
