The United States Men’s National Team will try to regain momentum on Wednesday when it faces Costa Rica in a 2022 Concacaf World Cup qualifying match in Columbus, Ohio. Team USA (2-2-1) looked sloppy and uninspired in a 1-0 loss to Panama on Sunday. It was its first loss of the qualifying round, but the USMNT needs to garner some points in this one. The Americans sit second, even with Panama on eight points and one ahead of Canada. There are 14 games in this final round, with the top three qualifying for Qatar 2022 and the fourth-place team headed to an inter-confederation playoff. Costa Rica (1-3-1) brings in a veteran squad and secured its first World Cup qualifying victory on Sunday, a 2-1 win against El Salvador.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m ET. Caesars Sportsbook lists Team USA as the -275 favorite (risk $275 to win $100) on the 90-minute money line in its latest USMNT vs. Costa Rica odds, while Costa Rica is the +800 underdog and a draw is priced at +290. The over-under for total goals scored is set at 2.5. Before you lock in your USMNT vs. Costa Rica picks or make any 2022 Concacaf World Cup qualifying predictions, you need to check out what soccer insider Roger Gonzalez has to say.
Gonzalez grew up playing competitive soccer before becoming one of the world’s foremost soccer journalists. After covering soccer all over the globe — a Champions League final in Italy, Copa America, and professional leagues in Argentina — Gonzalez returned to the U.S. as CBS Sports’ top soccer expert. He has his finger on the pulse of the game at all levels.
Now, Gonzalez has taken a close look at the Costa Rica vs. USMNT matchup. You can head to SportsLine to see his World Cup qualifier picks. Here are the betting lines and trends for USMNT vs. Costa Rica:
- USA vs. Costa Rica: USA -0.5
- USA vs. Costa Rica over-under: 2.5 goals
- USA vs. Costa Rica money line: USA -275, Costa Rica +800, Draw +290
- USA: Ricardo Pepi has 15 goals in 44 matches with FC Dallas in Major League Soccer
- CR: Keylor Navas has 28 clean sheets in 56 matches with Paris Saint-Germain
Why you should back the United States
The Americans should be motivated after Sunday’s disappointing showing and have a tough qualifying match against Mexico looming next month. The loss was in a difficult environment, and Gregg Berhalter went with a lineup of mostly backups. The lineup on Wednesday should be the same one that beat Jamaica 2-0 last week, and Team USA will be playing on home soil. The lineup should feature Ricardo Pepi, who scored both goals against the Reggae Boyz. The 18-year-old Texas native has three goals and set up another in three qualifying appearances.
The Americans have won four of the last five against Costa Rica, holding Los Ticos scoreless in all four victories. Team USA is 9-2-1 in its last 12 matches, allowing four goals in that span. The Americans are 14-1-0 in its 15 home games since a 3-0 friendly loss to Mexico in September 2019.
Why you should back Costa Rica
Los Ticos are a veteran-laden squad, with 11 players boasting at least 50 international appearances. Captain Bryan Ruiz and midfielder Celso Borges lead the way, and they scored the goals in the win against El Salvador. They have combined to score 54 times in international competition, and striker Joel Campbell (21 career goals) could cause problems for the American defense. Costa Rica will come out confident and determined to rise in the standings. It is just two points behind Team USA and Canada as it seeks to earn its fifth World Cup berth all-time.
A defense featuring Oscar Duarte and Francisco Calvo, who have combined for 127 caps, has been tough to crack, allowing three goals in the five matches. Keylor Navas is one of the world’s best goalkeepers, starting for top European clubs Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain. He is among the veteran core that has reached the last two World Cups, and Los Ticos are likely to play a physical game to intimidate the young Americans.
How to make USMNT vs. Costa Rica picks
Now, Gonzalez has taken an in-depth look at the USMNT vs. Costa Rica showdown and revealed his best bet for Wednesday’s Concacaf World Cup qualifying match. He’s only sharing that pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Costa Rica vs. USA? And where does all the betting value lie? Visit SportsLine now to see the best bets for USA vs. Costa Rica, all from the soccer expert who has his finger on the pulse of the game all over the world, and find out.