MIAMI — The 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup continues with Mexico and Costa Rica meeting in Group A on Sunday at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada.

The two nations are coming off consecutive victories to begin their campaigns. Both have six points in hand and have booked their place in the Quarterfinals.

Clash of Unbeaten Coaches

Mexican coaches Javier Aguirre of Mexico and Miguel Herrera of Costa Rica will write a special chapter in Sunday’s encounter. Current Costa Rica manager Miguel Herrera remains unbeaten in 10 Gold Cup matches, with 8 wins and 2 draws, including a streak of 7 consecutive victories. On the other side, Javier Aguirre also boasts an unbeaten record in 10 matches, with 7 wins and 3 draws, and his recent 2-0 win over Suriname marked the first time he’s achieved three straight victories in the tournament.

Mexico thriving on set pieces

Mexico earned a 2-nil win against Suriname to collect its first clean sheet of the campaign on Wednesday. César Montes scored the two goals, both of which stemmed from corner kick opportunities. Luis Ángel Malagón and his backline will seek to continue being a difficult team to score against in Mexico’s final group stage match.

El Tricolor opened the tournament with a 3-2 win against the Dominican Republic. Edson Álvarez, Raúl Jiménez, and César Montes scored for El Tricolor in that encounter. 

Four of Mexico’s five goals, so far in the group stage, have come from corner kicks. Mexico leads the group on goal difference, meaning only a draw is needed to seal the top spot.

Ugalde, Alcócer help Costa Rica to consecutive comebacks

Costa Rica has completed consecutive victories in comeback fashion, with its latest coming from a 2-1 win over the Dominican Republic. Manfred Ugalde equalized from the penalty spot and assisted Josimar Alcócer for the match-winner.

Ugalde also struck from the penalty spot to place Los Ticos’ up by two in their campaign-opening 4-3 victory against Suriname. After a surge by the Caribbeans with three unanswered goals, it was Alcócer who put that match back on level terms before Ugalde struck the winner in second-half stoppage time.

The Ugalde-Alcócer duo is responsible for five of Costa Rica’s six goals. The Central Americans are managed by former Mexico national team head coach Miguel Herrera.

All-Time Series Mexico v. Costa Rica – 

The upcoming clash will mark the ninth meeting between Mexico and Costa Rica in Gold Cup history. El Tri has claimed victory in six of the previous eight encounters, with the remaining three ending in draws. Their most recent showdown came in the 2023 quarterfinals, where Mexico earned a 2-0 win at AT&T Stadium on July 8 thanks to goals from Orbelín Pineda (52’) and Érick Sánchez (87’).

All three draws between these nations in Gold Cup play have ended 1-1, a testament to the tight margins when these sides collide:

- In 1993, during Group B action at the Estadio Azteca (July 15), Mexico benefited from an early own goal by Javier Delgado (4’), but Juan Cayasso leveled things for the “Ticos” in the 30th minute.

- In the 2009 semifinals (July 23 at Soldier Field), Guillermo Franco struck late for Mexico (88’), only for Froylán Ledezma to equalize at the death (90’) for Costa Rica.

- And in the 2019 quarterfinals (June 29 at NRG Stadium), Raúl Jiménez (44’) and Bryan Ruíz (52’) traded goals in another gripping 1-1 draw.

When it comes to goals, Andrés Guardado leads all Mexican scorers against Costa Rica in Gold Cup history with three goals, followed by Rafael Márquez and Jared Borgetti with two apiece.

On the Costa Rican side, four players have each netted once against Mexico in this tournament: Juan Cayasso, Froylán Ledezma, Marcos Ureña, and Bryan Ruíz.

Mexico’s most dominant win over Costa Rica came in the group stage of the 2011 edition. On June 12 at Soldier Field, El Tri stormed to a 4-1 victory behind goals from Rafael Márquez (17’), a brace by Andrés Guardado (19’, 26’), and Pablo Barrera (38’). Marcos Ureña (69’) scored the lone response for the “Ticos.” 

All-Time Series (All Competitions): 

- 56 matches 

- 31 wins for Mexico (87 goals) 

- 19 draws 

- 6 wins for Costa Rica (33 goals)