The United States Men's National Team (USMNT) faced off against Costa Rica in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup Quarterfinals on Sunday, June 29, 2025, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The match, a critical win-or-go-home game with a spot in the semifinals on the line, saw Diego Luna score a crucial equalizer in the 43rd minute.
Costa Rica took an early lead when Francisco Calvo converted a penalty. However, the USMNT responded before the halftime whistle. Diego Luna, the 21-year-old midfielder for Real Salt Lake, found the back of the net in the 43rd minute to level the score. Luna's goal was a deflected effort that fooled Costa Rica's experienced goalkeeper, Keylor Navas.
The game was broadcast live on FOX and Univision, with streaming options available on the FOX Sports App and TUDN.
The USMNT entered the quarterfinal match with a perfect 3-0-0 record in the Gold Cup group stage, having secured victories against Trinidad and Tobago (5-0), Saudi Arabia (1-0), and Haiti (2-1). Costa Rica, on the other hand, finished second in Group A with a 2-1-0 record, including a 4-3 win against Suriname, a 2-1 win over the Dominican Republic, and a 0-0 draw with Mexico.
The USMNT Starting XI against Costa Rica featured Matt Freese in goal; Chris Richards, Tyler Adams, Tim Ream, and Alex Freeman in defense; Sebastian Berhalter, Luca de la Torre, and Malik Tillman in midfield; and Max Arfsten, Patrick Agyemang, and Diego Luna in attack.
This match marked the 44th all-time meeting between the United States and Costa Rica, with the U.S. holding a 20-17-6 advantage in the series. In Gold Cup matches, the USMNT has an even more dominant record against Costa Rica, with 7 wins and 1 draw in 8 encounters.
Diego Luna's journey to becoming a key player for the USMNT has been noteworthy. Luna earned his first selection to the senior national team in January 2024. In a friendly against Costa Rica that same month, Luna suffered a broken nose early in the match but insisted on continuing to play, even assisting on Brian White's opening goal in a 3-0 victory. His determination and character impressed USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino, who praised Luna's "big balls".
Luna's performance in the Gold Cup quarterfinal further solidified his importance to the USMNT. With his equalizer against Costa Rica, Luna demonstrated his ability to perform under pressure and contribute to the team's success.
The United States is aiming to win its eighth Gold Cup trophy. The winner of the USMNT vs. Costa Rica quarterfinal will advance to play Guatemala in the semifinal.
