2019 Concacaf Gold Cup — Group Stage
Costa Rica vs. Nicaragua
Estadio Nacional — San Jose, Costa Rica
June 16 — 8:30 PM ET
TV: FS2, Univision, UDN, TSN3
STREAMING: FOX Sports GO
For the first time in 14 appearances in the Concacaf Gold Cup, Costa Rica will play a match on home soil when they meet Nicaragua at Estadio Nacional in both teams’ Group B opener Sunday at 8:30 pm.
Although the teams have never met in the Gold Cup, Costa Rica lead the all-time series that dates back to 1941, 16-1-1.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica, who reached the Gold Cup final in 2002, are seeking their first title and will be among the favorites to do so. Los Ticos qualified as a result of finishing second in the Hexagonal stage of World Cup 2018 qualifying and have reached the quarterfinals 10 consecutive times.
Costa Rica, 1-2 since Gustavo Matosas took over as coach in October, lost to Peru in Lima in a Gold Cup tune-up match with Christian Cueva scoring the lone goal in the 53rd minute.
Nicaragua
Nicaragua left it late to clinch a third Gold Cup appearance, and second in a row, with Juan Barrera scoring the 65th minute-winner against Barbados on the final day of the Concacaf Nations League qualification. The win moved Los Pinoleros into ninth place and booked their Gold Cup ticket.
Henry Durante’s side have yet to win a Gold Cup match, being outscored 15-1 in six previous group-stage matches. In their only Gold Cup tune-up match, Nicaragua fell to Argentina 5-1, with Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martinez each scoring a brace for the hosts. Barrera scored the lone goal for Nicaragua.
Series Matchup
- This is the first all-time meeting between Costa Rica and Nicaragua in the Gold Cup
Officials
- Referee: Ortíz Nava, Marco Antonio (MEX)
- Assistant Referees: Hernández Paredes, Miguel Ángel (MEX), Wales, Caleb (TRI)
- Fourth Official: Montano, Diego (MEX)
