The Costa Rica national team live a delicate moment in the Concacaf qualifiers heading to the 2026 World Cup. With three draws in three games and without knowing the victory, the team led by Miguel Herrera He is in an extreme situation: he does not depend only on himself to ensure his direct ticket to the World Cup to be organized by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

A format that does not forgive errors

The qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup have a completely new format in the region.
With the three hosts already classified, Concacaf has three additional direct places and one more place in the intercontinental playoff.

In this last phase, 12 selections They were divided into three groups of four teams. Only the first of each group qualifies directly for the World Cup, while the two best seconds They will compete in the playoffs. Each team plays six games: three at home and three away, between September and November 2025.

Miguel Herrera’s team tied without goals | X: @fedefutbolcrc

This is how Group C goes: Costa Rica, without margin for error

After three days, Costa Rica is in third place with 3 points from three ties:

Above are Haiti and Hondurasboth with 5 pointswhile Nicaragua closes the group with 1 point.

The lack of forcefulness has been the great problem of the Costa Rican team, which has shown moments of good football but without being able to reflect them on the scoreboard. own Miguel “Piojo” Herrera He has acknowledged that his team “cannot continue drawing if they want to dream of the World Cup.”

What remains for Costa Rica

The calendar will not be easy for the Ticos:

• vs Nicaragua — October 14, 2025

• visit to Haiti — November 14, 2025

• vs Honduras — November 19, 2025

Costa Rica will close its group with two key games at home, where it must win no matter what.
With 9 points still up for grabs“La Sele” needs at least two wins and one draw to have real options to qualify, depending on the results between Honduras and Haiti.

Piojo Herrera in game with Costa Rica I MEXSPORT

What do you need to qualify for the 2026 World Cup?

The panorama is clear:

• Yeah win all three gamesI would qualify directly with 12 points.

• With two wins and one draw (8 pts)could reach the playoffs if their goal difference exceeds that of the runners-up in other groups.

• Yeah lose one or draw more than necessarywill even be out of the playoffs.

The margin of error is zero.

The “Piojo” under pressure

Miguel Herrera assumed command of Costa Rica with the promise of renewing the hope, but the results are still not there. The fans are starting to get impatient, especially after 0-0 against Honduraswhere the team showed little offensive weight.

With figures like Keylor Navas, Manfred Ugalde and Francisco Calvotalent is not lacking; What “La Sele” needs is to give a blow of authority and regain trust.