Mexico vs Costa Rica Odds & Prediction – CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying

• It’s Mexico vs Costa Rica in round ten of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying on Sunday, January 30 at 6pm ET
• Mexico stayed in third place after beating Jamaica while Costa Rica recorded a vital win over Panama
• We preview the game, look at the odds, and offer some picks below

It is Mexico vs Costa Rica on Matchday 10 of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying on Sunday, January 30th at 6pm ET at the Estadio Azteca. Despite beating Jamaica on Thursday night, Mexico stayed in third place in the qualifying table, while Costa Rica’s win in Panama saw them resurrect their chances of claiming fourth place and the one playoff spot.

All eight teams from CONCACAF are in action on Sunday night with the other matches including Canada vs USA, Panama vs Jamaica and Honduras vs El Salvador.

We list the World Cup odds for this qualifier, preview Mexico vs Costa Rica, and offer below the best picks for this CONCACAF World Cup qualifying clash.

Mexico vs Costa Rica Odds

Odds as of January 27 at Barstool Sportsbook

Mexico starts as the massive favorite here at -335 with the Costa Ricans at a huge 9/1 for the win, a reflection of the visitors’ struggles throughout this campaign. Well worth noting is that the bookies are anticipating a low-scoring game with ‘Over 2.5 goals‘ still in plus money at +115.

CONCACAF World Cup Place Awaits Mexico

Mexico’s 2-1 win in Jamaica on Thursday night was doubly vital as the two teams above them in the qualifying table – Canada and USA – also won.  It meant the table’s top three stayed as Canada, USA and Mexico, in that order – only two points separating them – and with just five rounds of games to go, they remain the three favorites to claim the automatic places.

Good night, Incondicionales. 😴🇲🇽💚#HechoDeLosMexicanos | #FMFporNuestroFútbol pic.twitter.com/cKUlwMp0jn

— Mexican National Team (@miseleccionmxEN) January 28, 2022

The win in Kingston was achieved the hard way after the Mexicans fell behind to a Daniel Johnson goal on 52 minutes, but goals from Henry Martin and Alexis Vega in the 81st and 83rd minutes were enough to seal the deal and clinch those three vital points.  With fourth-placed Panama losing at home to Costa Rica, the win left Mexico three points clear of fourth place, which brings with it a play-off place rather than automatic qualification.

Home Advantage Key for the Mexicans?

So far Mexico has played just three games of this campaign at home – recording wins over Honduras and Jamaica and drawing with leaders Canada – and so it will be their home form that dictates whether they go to Qatar, starting with this clash against Costa Rica.

🔥 @Alexis_Vega9 💥#HechoDeLosMexicanos | #FMFporNuestroFútbol pic.twitter.com/KQPmfgVtMZ

— Mexican National Team (@miseleccionmxEN) January 28, 2022

Three wins from their remaining five games should be enough for qualification, and with four of their remaining five games at home, it remains very much in their own hands.

Mexico vs Costa Rica Head-to-Head Stats

Vital Win for Costa Rica

Costa Rica’s win over Panama on Thursday evening was crucial as it closed the gap between them and the fourth-placed Panamanians to just two points. Defeat would have all but signaled the end of their hopes of going to Qatar but the 1-0 win – achieved thanks to a 65th-minute goal from the experienced Bryan Ruiz – means it’s now game on.

🎶Hoy me levanté contento, hoy me levanté feliz aunque dicen por ahí que están hablando de mi…🎵 pic.twitter.com/KHx3MhTM4b

— FCRF 🇨🇷 (@fedefutbolcrc) January 28, 2022

There is, however, still work to do for Los Ticos and a defeat here in Mexico City would undo all of Thursday night’s good work. Their chances of making fourth place, the playoff spot, still remain precarious – especially as Panama is at home to Jamaica on the same night – but at least they have now given themselves a chance. Successfully negotiating Thursday night’s must-win game will have given them a confidence boost.

¡Sí se pudo! 🇨🇷

¡¡¡¡¡GANAMOS!!!!!

🇨🇷 1 – 0 🇵🇦 pic.twitter.com/k8LDKWOEyt

— FCRF 🇨🇷 (@fedefutbolcrc) January 28, 2022

Unadventurous Costa Ricans

The main problem for the Costa Ricans in this campaign has been a lack of goals, hindered in the main by a very unadventurous approach which has also seen them concede relatively few goals, but to qualify they may need to be more expansive. The gap to fourth is, however, only two points and so every point from hereon in is vital.

When these two met in San José in early September, the game was won by Mexico with a single goal –  Orbelín Pineda scoring it on the stroke of halftime.

Mexico vs Costa Rica Pick

Mexico start as massive odds-on favorites, so there is little value in betting for the home win, and it looks like a tall order for the low-scoring Costa Ricans to win the game. There is, however, an argument that Costa Rica’s defensive style, along with an urgent need for them to build on the momentum gained from Thursday night’s win, gives them a chance here of gaining a vital point. For me, that’s where the value lies.

Picks: Mexico and Costa Rica to draw (+370)