Costa Rica vs Suriname

Costa Rica and Suriname Set for CONCACAF Gold Cup Opener in San Diego

Costa Rica and Suriname will kick off their 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup journey with a high-stakes clash at San Diego’s Snapdragon Stadium this Friday.

Both teams will be desperate for a strong start in a challenging Group A, which also includes defending champions Mexico and the Dominican Republic.

Costa Rica’s Road to the Gold Cup
La Sele booked their spot in style, crushing Belize 13-1 on aggregate in the preliminary qualifiers. A powerhouse in the region, Costa Rica has missed just one Gold Cup since 1985, lifting the trophy in 1989 and finishing as runners-up in 2002.

However, their recent campaigns have ended in quarter-final exits—including in 2023—with their last semi-final appearance dating back to 2017.

The return of legendary goalkeeper Keylor Navas, fresh off an 8-0 World Cup qualifying rout of the Bahamas, brings invaluable experience to a defense seeking consistency. Under Miguel Herrera, Costa Rica has been strong in competitive matches this year, winning all four, though they stumbled in friendlies against the U.S. and Catalonia.

Suriname’s Uphill Battle
Suriname, meanwhile, is making just its fourth Gold Cup appearance after previous qualifications in 1977, 1985, and 2021. They punched their ticket this time with a gritty 2-0 aggregate playoff win over Martinique.

But history isn’t on their side—they’ve never advanced past the group stage and face a Costa Rican side that has dominated their past meetings (8 losses, 1 draw in 9 matches).

Still, coach Stanley Menzo’s squad arrives with momentum, unbeaten in their last four competitive matches (3 wins, 1 draw). Can they defy the odds and avoid another early exit?

The stage is set for an intriguing showdown in San Diego.