USA vs. Costa Rica Betting Odds, Best Bets: USMNT Favored In Gold Cup QF
Mauricio Pochettino and the USMNT are favored over Costa Rica in the quarterfinals of the Gold Cup on Sunday night.
Mauricio Pochettino and the USMNT are favored over Costa Rica in the quarterfinals of the Gold Cup on Sunday night.
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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USA takes on Costa Rica tonight in the Gold Cup quarterfinals in one of the biggest games of Manager Mauricio Pochettino's stint at the helm of the USMNT.
Though the team is currently without a number of its best players, including stars Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie, a loss to this Costa Rica squad would mark a massive disappointment just one year after a full-strength lineup failed to reach the knockout stage of the 2024 Copa America.
Following a pair of disastrous showings in pre-Gold Cup friendlies vs. Turkey and Switzerland -- which the American lost by a combined score of 6-1 -- they took down Trinidad and Tobago, Saudi Arabia and Haiti in group play to reach the quarters.
Costa Rica, which has traditionally been a tough opponent for the United States, is coming off a solid showing in group play. Los Ticos beat Suriname and the Dominican Republic and also earned a 0-0 draw against tournament favorite Mexico.
USA vs. Costa Rica Betting Odds
Below are the odds from three top sportsbooks in the two most popular markets for soccer matches: three-way moneyline and match winner.
Gold Cup Quarterfinal Moneyline Odds: USA vs. Costa Rica
The DraftKings, FanDuel and bet365 three-way moneyline odds below apply to today's result after 90 minutes, plus stoppage time.
DK FD bet365 USA -175 -175 -182 Costa Rica +550 +500 +550 Draw +295 +280 +290
Gold Cup Quarterfinal Winner Odds: USA vs. Costa Rica
Sportsbooks also offer each team's odds to advance tonight.
In this market, it doesn't matter whether the winner comes out on top in 90 minutes, extras or PKs.
DK FD bet365 USA -400 -385 -350 Costa Rica +295 +290 +250
How to Watch USA vs. Costa Rica Gold Cup Quarterfinals
Kickoff : 7 p.m. ET
: 7 p.m. ET TV: FOX/Universo
USA vs. Costa Rica Betting Analysis
The odds for tonight's game give Costa Rica very little respect, and they also downplay how uninspiring (or worse) the Americans have looked under Mauricio Pochettino in 2025.
And remember, the USMNT lost to Costa Rica in both qualifiers ahead of the 2018 World Cup, and it split its two 2022 World Cup qualifiers against Costa Rica.
USA did, however, beat Costa Rica 3-0 in the most recent meeting between these teams in a friendly back in January.
One big reason why the USA is so heavily favored tonight is that Costa Rica will be without two key starters in defender Joseph Mora and forward Manfred Ugalde. Ugalde is Costa Rica's top player, and he scored two goals vs. Suriname in group play, then tallied a goal and an assist vs. the Dominican Rebublic.
Even shorthanded -- the only two starters from the 2022 World Cup who are starting for this squad are center back Tim Ream and midfielder Tyler Adams -- the USA has a talent advantage in this match, especially with Ugalde and Mora unavailable.
But we've seen little reason to expect USA (FIFA No. 16) to win comfortably, as the Gold Cup group stage wins over Trinidad and Tobago (FIFA No. 100), Saudi Arabia (FIFA No. 58) and Haiti (FIFA No. 83) were just a case of the Americans handling overmatched opponents.
Against a Costa Rica side (FIFA No. 54) that has not been great defensively, I expect a back-and-forth battle tonight, with the USA squeaking out a win.
It would be a gross understatement to say that going out in the quarterfinals of the Gold Cup -- especially after entering this tournament on a four-game losing streak -- would ramp up doubts about USA's chances of making noise in the 2026 World Cup.
I expect this to be a struggle for the USMNT early on, which makes the halftime draw tempting. The other play I'd recommend tonight is USA to Win and Over 1.5.
USA vs. Costa Rica Best Bets
Halftime draw (+115 at DK) -- 1 unit
Parlay: USA To Win, Over 1.5 (+100 at DK) -- 1 unit
Newsweek may earn an affiliate commission if you sign up through the links in this article. See the sportsbook operator's terms and conditions for important details. Sports betting operators have no influence over newsroom coverage.
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New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
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During an under-23 U.S. women's national team game against Germany on May 30, 18-year-old center-back Jordyn Bugg launched a long shot of a cross in the waning seconds of stoppage time. The ball landed just in time for Evelyn Shores to run onto and score past Germany's goalkeeper, giving the U.S. a 2-1 lead and dramatic victory in a small stadium just outside of Stuttgart. Advertisement Less than one month later, in Commerce City, Colorado, Bugg found herself replacing Naomi Girma as a substitute in the senior USWNT's meeting with the Republic of Ireland. By the time she entered the field in the 73rd minute, the U.S. held a commanding 3-0 lead; Bugg's assignment was to maintain the U.S.'s grip on the game. 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Joining Bugg in senior camp during this window are 21-year-old defender Lilly Reale, 23-year-old midfielder Sam Meza, and 24-year-old goalkeeper Angelina Anderson, who recorded a shutout on Sunday — all of whom were on the field for that under-23 win over Germany. (Per an agreement between U.S. Soccer and the German federation, each team was allowed to bring five over-age players to camp.) The intention behind Hayes' strategy is to shrink the gaps she's identified between age groups within the national team setup, and also those that exist between those who typically start on the senior team and those who come off the bench. When Hayes first took the helm of the program, she admittedly pumped players with information in order to prepare them for Olympic competition. With that gold medal secured, she turned her sights to development and preparation for the World Cup, two different yet interrelated mandates. 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Diego Luna of the United States celebrates after scoring a goal against Costa Rica during the first half of Sunday's game. Diego Luna of the United States celebrates after scoring a goal against Costa Rica during the first half of Sunday's game. Photograph: John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images You can, as they say, only beat the teams in front of you. You can only play with the guys you've got. And you can only overcome the challenges you are confronted with. When the United States men's national team gathered to embark on the ongoing Concacaf Gold Cup in early June, success at the regional championship was tricky to define for the seven-time champions. They would, after all, be appearing absent 10 regulars and entering an event that hardly offered up the world's strongest opposition. Advertisement Yet this deeply diluted and sometimes plain experimental US side has passed test after test. 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Advertisement On penalties, however, Tillman redeemed himself and Damion Downs scored the winner on the sixth round of kicks. Freese saved no fewer than three times, his tongue out in celebration and nodding to the crowd, plainly having a delightful evening. 'Penalties are my thing,' he declared to Fox after the game. 'On the plane ride over here to Minnesota I was studying the penalties. I've been studying them all week. I was ready for it if we needed it.' Although an early elimination here would have triggered an inquisition and yet more existential questions over the state of the American program, safe passage to the next round suggests something greater and ultimately more useful than a 17th Gold Cup semi-final appearance. A team that often seemed deflated, disinterested and generally gormless over the last year looked like something entirely different on Sunday. Feisty. Pressing ferociously. Quick to get in opponents' faces. 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New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
With USMNT GK role in flux, Freese stops Costa Rica cold with PK heroics
MINNEAPOLIS – Any college advisor will try to guide a pupil to find a thesis topic that'll both lean into their interests while setting themselves up for success once they enter their respective workforce. Thankfully for Matt Freese, who graduated from Harvard in 2022, his focus was on the art of the shootout. Advertisement 'I actually did a very long research project in college about penalty kicks,' Freese said after his trio of saves helped the U.S. men's national team edge Costa Rica on penalties following a 2-2 draw and advance to the Gold Cup semifinals. 'To be able to rely on that type of thing and deal with a lot of statistics and stuff like that, read the game and read their hips and things like that, is massive.' Historically, the successes of the USMNT hasn't been determined by Harvard men. A quick survey of their alumni finds just one U.S. international: Shep Messing, the goalkeeper-turned-commentator who earned one cap in the early 1970s. With the program in a continued state of flux following last summer's Copa América group stage exit and Mauricio Pochettino working to find his best squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup, Freese has gotten an extended run-out this summer as a possible alternative to Matt Turner. Turner, 31, claimed the program's starting goalkeeper spot during qualifying for the 2022 World Cup and was among the team's top performers during the tournament in Qatar. Given the usual longevity of players in the role, expectations were that he would remain atop the depth chart when the tournament came to the United States, Canada and Mexico in 2026. However, Turner made just four appearances for Crystal Palace in 2024-25, all in domestic cups, leaving him with little form and momentum entering the Gold Cup. 'I think we have plenty of good players and good keepers,' Pochettino said after the win. 'Matt Turner has the experience because he played in the World Cup in 2022. He's a great keeper. But the only problem, in this tournament, was that Matt didn't play in the whole season, and for different reason: we wanted to see another keeper. But it was a good conversation. I think it's important for our coaching staff to have the possibility, for the future, to have different options, because you never know. Advertisement 'That is the moment now, one year to the World Cup. I think … I don't want to say nothing wrong, but I think maybe one of the few, or the only players, that proved to deal with with this type of responsibility and stress was Matt — playing in different competition, in the World Cup. I think it's good for Matt Turner, (and) for the rest of the keepers, to see that they can have the possibility and deal with the pressure — because you never know what is going to happen in one year. Now is the moment to test or to give the possibility to show that they can deal also with the stress, and perform.' 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The second, a second-half equalizer from Alonso Martínez, fizzed past Freese with precision and velocity that made it a difficult one to stop in a congested box. Still, no goalkeeper will feel good about conceding a pair goals in a knockout game. Freese had a golden opportunity to make amends in the ensuing shootout, outlasting arguably the greatest goalkeeper the region has produced this century, Keylor Navas. Advertisement 'No disrespect to him: I think he is everything I strive to be in being a goalkeeper,' Freese said of his storied opposite number. 'He's one of the best in the history of the world. To share that moment, share that pitch with him, is very special. But yeah, in the moment, I'm not really thinking about that. I'm very much so just focused on myself and helping my team.' Throughout the sequence, Freese's studiousness was evident as he proved to be difficult for Costa Rica to exploit. After Sunday's earlier game saw Guatemala eliminate Canada on penalties, including an excellent panenka, Freese stood his ground as Calvo returned to the spot and attempted to fire his shot right up the middle. While many goalkeepers' instincts are to dive — a proactive show of effort if not always a wise pick depending on the kick — his resolve was immediately rewarded as the USMNT advanced to its 17th semifinal in 18 Gold Cups. (Freese gave credit to U.S. goalkeeper coach Toni Jimenez for the strategy in his postmatch remarks.) It was Freese's third save of the sequence, following two of the diving variety. While many goalkeepers are demonstrative after making saves, from Canada starter Dayne St. Clair to reigning World Cup champion Emiliano Martínez, Freese is far more stoic. That level-headedness helped weather his own team's pair of misses that extended the shootout to a sixth round. 'In the moment, not really,' Freese said when asked if he allows himself a moment of satisfaction after a save. 'After the first save, I went over to the corner, and I kept repeating to myself: 'I want another, I want another.' And then after the second save, I did the same thing, kept telling myself 'I want another.' You can't get too happy with yourself.' Freese will understandably be wanting another start under Pochettino, as well. He's rewarded his coach's trust in him by helping his team overcome a strong challenge by a longtime regional rival and held his resolve when needed the most. That's all one can ask for from such a singular figure on the field, especially after letting two go past him in regulation. 'I think it's a very special place,' Pochettino said of Freese and goalkeepers at large, 'and for me, the most important position on the pitch. The objective for the opponent is to score goals, and for you, for us, try not to concede goals. You need to, for some mistake, you cannot change when you make your decision. Maybe it's different if you compare when a striker miss a goal — OK, the next game, not playing because (they) miss a goal. It's true that it's really important when a keeper maybe have not a good action, but I think we really trust in our keepers, and when we made a decision to play (Freese) and give the confidence to him. Advertisement 'I think any keeper can make a mistake. The most important is to make a decision and translate the confidence and trust, and be sure that your decision was a good decision for the team.' It's a message that strongly conveys that Freese will be given an opportunity to see this tournament out. What follows will largely be up to the club form of Freese, Turner and other hopefuls for the World Cup roster like Chris Brady, Patrick Schulte and Zack Steffen. Turner's transfer to Olympique Lyon hit a potential snag before he arrived as the club faces relegation into Ligue 2 (pending their appeal) for financial violations. The step from the Premier League to Ligue 1 is already seen as one down the ladder a bit, but that's far more pronounced dropping into France's second division. Coupled with the fact that Lyon, for now at least, still rosters last year's starter, and it's unclear whether he's in a better position to start regularly and rebuild his case to start in 2026. While that situation resolves beyond his control, Freese is learning valuable lessons in this extended camp and tournament training alongside Turner. 'I mean, Matt is obviously incredibly athletic, a fantastic goalkeeper,' Freese said. 'I think the biggest thing I've picked up from him is how to be a part of a team and and how to create relationships in a national team camp. Obviously, this is newer for me than him, and so he's done a fantastic job. I'm super, super grateful for the support he's shown me, and likewise: he's someone I would always support. We have each other's backs, and the team is what's important at the end of the day.' Only time will tell whether the two Matts will both be on Pochettino's World Cup squad, and how they (and others) will have their starts assigned in the lead-up to next summer. Freese will hope to sustain his strong form with NYCFC, which sits ninth in MLS' Eastern Conference and struggled in his absence this weekend. As Freese said when asked about facing Calvo twice, and if he took cues from the defender's converted attempt in regulation, 'each one is independent from the last.' Each start provides another chance for him to make his case to stay in goal for the USMNT's biggest games. A semifinal against an inspired Guatemala will be another test of his resolve. Rather than be stressed by the burden of responsibility, it's an opportunity that Freese is relishing having been handed to him by Pochettino. 'I've just got to be ready for whatever game I get, whatever moment is there for me,' Freese said. 'He's shown a lot of faith in me, and that's something I'm really grateful for. It's my job to repay him and help the team win.'
