The CONCACAF third round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers heats up as Costa Rica vs Nicaragua on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at the Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica in San José.
This Group C matchup is crucial for both teams, with Costa Rica seeking its first win in this stage and Nicaragua fighting to stay alive in its historic campaign.
Kick-off is scheduled for 10:00 PM ET (8:00 PM local time) and will air on Paramount+ and CBS Sports Network. Here’s all you need to know about Costa Rica vs Nicaragua, including current standings, recent form, team news, and predictions.
Costa Rica vs Nicaragua CONCACAF 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers
- Date & Time: Tuesday, October 14, 2025 | 10:00 PM ET / 7:00 PM PT / 3:00 AM GMT (October 15)
- Venue: Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica, San José
- Competition: 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers – CONCACAF Third Round, Group C
Group C Standings
In the CONCACAF final round, the group winner qualifies directly for the 2026 World Cup, while the top two runners-up across groups advance to inter-confederation playoffs. After three matchdays, Group C is tightly contested:
| Position | Team | Played | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Haiti | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 5 |
| 2 | Honduras | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 5 |
| 3 | Costa Rica | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| 4 | Nicaragua | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | -5 | 1 |
Haiti leads after a convincing 3-0 win over Nicaragua on October 10, while Honduras and Costa Rica drew 0-0 on the same day. Costa Rica’s three draws keep them in contention, but a win here is essential. Nicaragua, in its first-ever third-round appearance, needs a miracle to climb back.
Costa Rica vs Nicaragua Recent Results and Head-to-Head
The two sides met earlier in the qualifiers on September 5, 2025, in Managua, where they drew 1-1. Nicaragua took the lead, but Costa Rica equalized late via a penalty. Costa Rica dominates the head-to-head record, unbeaten in the last 15 encounters (13 wins, 2 draws), including six straight clean sheets before the September draw.
Recent form:
- Costa Rica (all competitions): W D L D D D – Unbeaten in qualifiers but winless in four overall.
- Nicaragua (all competitions): D W L D L L – Winless in four, with poor away form (7 losses in last 10 road games).
Team News and Predicted Lineups
Costa Rica coach Miguel Herrera has few injury worries. Veteran Celso Borges is doubtful with a knock, but Warren Madrigal returns from a fibula injury. Key forward Manfred Ugalde, who scored a brace against Haiti, will lead the attack.
Predicted Costa Rica XI (4-3-3): Navas; Manley, Vargas, Gamboa, Mitchell; Galo, Alcocer, Murillo; Martinez, Ugalde, Calvo.
For Nicaragua, coach Marco Antonio Figueroa welcomes back Juan Luis Perez and Matias Belli Moldskred from injury. Jason Coronel returns from suspension, and forward Ariagner Smith is in fine club form with four goals in four games.
Predicted Nicaragua XI (5-4-1): Rodriguez; Quijano, Cano, Reyes, Acevedo, Nino; Barrera, Moldskred, Hernandez, Bonilla; Smith.
Costa Rica vs Nicaragua Match Prediction
Costa Rica’s experience and home advantage should prevail against a struggling Nicaragua side. Expect a solid defensive performance from Los Ticos, leading to a 2-0 victory. Nicaragua’s inexperience in this stage and poor away record make an upset unlikely.
This match could shape Group C’s fate—with three games left, a win for Costa Rica puts them back in the qualification hunt. Stay tuned for live updates!
How to watch Costa Rica vs Nicaragua
US soccer fans have plenty of options to catch the action live, thanks to CONCACAF’s broadcast partners. The match will be available on both English and Spanish-language channels.
TV Channels
- English: CBS Sports Network (check local listings) or CBS Sports Golazo (free streaming channel on Paramount+).
- Spanish: Universo (cable TV).
How to Watch in the UK & Europe
- ITV / ITVX: Select CONCACAF qualifiers are free to stream on ITVX (app or website). Check the schedule for confirmation.
- TNT Sports / Discovery+: May broadcast via Eurosport channels; £30.99/month for Discovery+ Premium.
- VPN Tip: If you’re traveling, use a VPN like ExpressVPN to access US streams on Paramount+ from anywhere.