Are the Catrachos facing a worst-case scenario?
Actually, the outcome of Group C in the third round of CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers could already have been decided. After four match days, the two opponents in this final group match were in the top two places. But then the Hondurans slipped up against Nicaragua (0-2), who had been bottom of the table and yet to win a game.
Because Haiti also beat the Ticos at the same time, the Catrachos are now facing a worst-case scenario. If Costa Rica beats Honduras and the Costa Ricans win at home, the Hondurans could potentially drop from first place, which would have taken them directly to the 2026 World Cup, to third place within a few days.
It is clear that the Ticos desperately need a home win in order to hope for help from Nicaragua to win the group, or to overtake either Panama or Suriname in the ranking of the best second-placed teams, which also requires help. With two points behind Honduras and Haiti, anything less than a home win would mean an early exit.
However, the visitors are also aware of this. Before their 2-0 defeat to Nicaragua, they had kept a clean sheet in four consecutive qualifying games, with a goal difference of 5-0, and they have great defensive qualities overall. The Catrachos are therefore very likely to park the bus in their own penalty area in San José, which is why we ultimately find the greatest value in betting on under 2.5 goals being scored in this landmark international match.
Alternatively, a result such as a 2-1 home win for Costa Rica could also be covered by playing the Match Combo on the Betano app for double chance 1X with under 3.5 goals. For this, the bookmaker is offering odds of 1.60 for Costa Rica vs. Honduras, which promises value simply because the Ticos are currently unbeaten in nine international matches against the Hondurans (three wins, six draws), but once again failed to get past a goalless draw against the Catrachos in the first leg.
Costa Rica – Honduras Head-to-head record / H2H record
Head to head: 24 – 24 – 18
A total of 66 matches have been played between the two nations so far, with Costa Rica leading the head-to-head record with 24 wins. Most recently, the Ticos remained unbeaten in nine consecutive international matches against Honduras (three wins, six draws), although six of these nine games ended in a draw. This includes the goalless first leg on October 9, 2025, in San Pedro Sula.
Costa Rica – Honduras Tip
Basically, our prediction for Costa Rica against Honduras leans towards the Ticos, who should have the playing ability to overtake the Catrachos with a home win. Meanwhile, everyone in the Honduran camp is annoyed about the 2-0 defeat in Nicaragua, without which a fourth World Cup appearance in history (after 1982, 2010, and 2014) could have been practically guaranteed, also due to the Costa Ricans’ slip-up.
Reinaldo Rueda’s team now needs to avert a complete disaster and prevent defeat in San José. Whether that will be enough for the World Cup is still written in the stars and depends not only on what Haiti does against Nicaragua, but also on how Panama and Suriname play in Group A, as qualifying for the intercontinental playoffs would also require finishing ahead of one of the other two second-placed teams, which, with a draw in Costa Rica, would only be possible against the second-placed team in Group A.
Nevertheless, the Catrachos’ only option is likely to be to put up a defensive wall at the Estadio Nacional in San José in order to at least avoid an away defeat. Space is likely to open up automatically, as the Ticos are desperate to win at home. Nevertheless, we expect a tough match in which a maximum of two goals should be scored.
