USA vs Costa Rica Odds & Prediction – CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying
- It is USA vs Costa Rica in Matchday 6 of CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying on Wednesday, October 13 at 7:00 pm ET
- The USA was on the receiving end of a shock at the weekend when they lost 1-0 in Panama
- We preview the game, look at the odds, and offer some picks below
USA entertains Costa Rica on Matchday 6 of CONCACAF World Cup 2022 qualifying this week with the action kicking off on Thursday, October 13 at 7:00 pm ET at the Lower.com Field in Colombus.
We list the odds, preview USA vs Costa Rica, and offer below the best picks for this World Cup qualifier.
USA vs Costa Rica Odds
| Matchup | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA vs Costa Rica | USA -1.5 (+125) | COS +1.5 (-170) | USA -270 | DRAW +350 | COS +650 | Ov 2.5 (+110) | Un 2.5 (-140) |
Odds as of October 13 at DraftKings
USA on Receiving End of a Shock in Panama
USA’s unbeaten start to World Cup qualification came unstuck at the weekend in Panama City when they were beaten 1-0.
As a result of that win, Panama moved level with the USA in the group; both of them on eight points, just three behind leaders, Mexico. It means there is plenty of work to do before Gregg Berhalter’s men can start preparing for Qatar 2022 with any certainty.
The work's done. All 👀 on three points tomorrow. 🇺🇸
Quick look with natty sound from tonight's training session @lowerfieldcbus. 🔊 #USAvCRC x @vw pic.twitter.com/jWWsto7kmK
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) October 13, 2021
Prior to the Panama defeat, the USA had been on a 13-game unbeaten run across all competitions, and so Berhalter will be desperate to get them back to winning ways, especially against Costa Rica who will overtake them in the table if they are able to pull off a surprise in Colombus. The Canadians are also waiting for the USA to slip up and currently sit just a point behind them with a 1-4-0 record.
Pressure on Berhalter
The USA missed out on the 2018 finals in Russia after an impressive run of seven consecutive finals appearances, so there is added pressure on Berhalter to deliver, but he has some superb home form to fall back on. They have won 14 of their last 15 home games in all competitions with the only blemish on that fine record being the 1-1 draw with Canada in Nashville last month. If the Costa Ricans are able to pull off a shock, they will be the first away team to win on American soil since September 2019.
Last training. Make it count. ☑️#OnlyForward #SoloPalante 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/NHY9lf296i
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) October 12, 2021
Key to the USA’s progress in qualifying so far has been a sound defense – only three goals having been conceded so far in their five games – and against a Costa Rica team that is usually involved in low-scoring games, this one is not expected to be a goal-fest.
USA vs Costa Rica Head-to-Head Stats
| 2-2-1 | Qualifying Record to Date | 1-3-1 |
| 2nd | Position in Group | 5th |
| 7 | Goals For | 3 |
| 3 | Goals Against | 3 |
| W-D-D-W-W-L | Form Guide (All Competitions) | D-D-L-D-D-W |
Invaluable Win Against El Salvador
Costa Rica’s recent record of World Cup qualification has been excellent, having made it to five of the last six finals, but they made a horribly slow start to this campaign with only three points and a single goal scored from their first four games. This made their Matchday 5 game against El Salvador on Sunday a must-win, and they duly delivered with a nervy, tense but invaluable 2-1 win, with goals from Bryan Ruiz and Celso Borges canceling out an early El Salvadorian opener from Jairo Henriquez.
📸 ¡Falta solamente un día! 🙌
#LaSele 🇨🇷 ya realizó su reconocimiento de cancha y entrenó en suelo estadounidense, de cara a su duelo de mañana ante @ussoccer @usmnt 🇺🇸#VamosTicos pic.twitter.com/VOQEGTqGfj
— FEDEFUTBOL Costa Rica (@fedefutbolcrc) October 12, 2021
In a very close qualifying group, Costa Rica’s win saw them rejoin the fight for a place in Qatar and they are now fifth in the table – just two points adrift of third-placed Panama and one behind fourth-placed Canada. Third place would be good enough for automatic qualification, while fourth would earn them a play-off place.
📰 Desde Columbus, donde #LaSele enfrentará este miércoles a Estados Unidos, Luis Fernando Suárez dejó claro que la actitud y el coraje de los jugadores son elementos fundamentales para superar la octogonal rumbo a Catar.
Nota completa: https://t.co/l9Ax6QPmdR pic.twitter.com/fH3aQndmUm
— FEDEFUTBOL Costa Rica (@fedefutbolcrc) October 12, 2021
Solid Costa Rican Defense
Defensively, Costa Rica is quite solid but they struggle in front of goal where they have scored just three times in their last seven games – two of which came in the El Salvador game – and their last three away games have all ended goalless.
Costa Rican also has an ordinary record against the USA against whom they have lost their last three games by an aggregate score of 7-0. Their most recent meeting was as recently as June when the Americans cruised to a comfortable 4-0 win.
USA vs Costa Rica Best Bets
The bookmakers have the USA down as big odds-on favorites for this and with good reason – their home form is exceptional – but the Costa Ricans’ solid defense will ensure this is a much tighter game than the experts are predicting, and lessons will have been learned from the 4-0 loss earlier in the summer.
For that reason, while the home win is the obvious bet, I see value here in a low-scoring draw, with the Costa Ricans obdurate back four making it a frustrating evening for Berhalter’s men.
Pick: USA and Costa Rica to draw (+350)
Once just a sports fanatic, fan-turned-writer Gary Gowers has been featured on European television and radio networks to discuss several professional football clubs. His work can be found in an assortment of publications like The Metro, MyFootballWriter.com, and BBC Radio Norfolk.
