Costa Rica vs Canada: CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying Odds, Prediction

Daniel Coyle
March 24, 2022

The Canadians have claimed the top of the table in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying while going undefeated through their first 11 matches. Costa Rica has rebounded from a shaky start to qualifying, and currently ride a four-match unbeaten streak. However, the Ticos remain desperate for a win in their bid to make a third straight World Cup appearance.

Canada has emerged as strong +111 favourites. Costa Rica lag as lengthy +256 underdogs, while the odds of Thursday’s contest ending in a draw are pegged at +215. A low-scoring affair is expected, with -145 odds favouring the total to finish UNDER 2.0.

Costa Rica vs Canada Betting Analysis

Canada +134
Draw +190
Costa Rica +235

Thursday night’s matchup at Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica marks the second meeting between these two sides during the current World Cup qualifying cycle. Canada escaped with a 1-0 victory when they hosted Costa Rica in November, and are now unbeaten in six non-friendly dates with the Ticos since 2006. Recent meetings between these sides have tended towards low scoring. Two or fewer total goals have been scored in each of their past four non-friendly clashes, with Canada keeping clean sheets on three occasions.

Currently, Canada sports an impressive 7-4-0 record, and sports a comfortable four-point lead over both the United States and Mexico atop the octagonal table. The Canadians have outscored opponents by a wide 19-5 margin, and have not surrendered a goal in three outings since their epic 2-1 victory over Mexico, back in November.

Winless in six of their first seven octagonal contests, capped by their November defeat in Edmonton, Costa Rica has since turned things around. The Ticos have allowed just one total goal during a 3-1-0 run, and trail only Canada with just seven total goals allowed. However, Costa Rica shooters have scored more than once in just two of their first 11 outings.

Canada

A pair of Canadian strikers have emerged as the top goalscorers during this round of World Cup, with Cyle Larin and Jonathan David both recording five markers. However, both players arrive in Costa Rica amid lengthy scoring droughts. Larin has failed to score in eight outings across all competitions since potting the match winner in Canada’s 2-0 win over the Americans on January 30. And David has scored just once in nine overall contests. Canada will also be missing Alphonso Davies for a third straight match. The Bayern Munich star remains sidelined while recovering from a bout of myocarditis.

Costa Rica

The Costa Rica lineup sports just one player with more than one goal so far in World Cup qualifying. Veteran midfielder Bryan Ruiz has recorded two goals to date. However, they represent the only goals the 36-year-old has scored in his past 44 overall appearances. Sporting a veteran lineup, comprised mostly of players currently playing in Costa Rica’s Premier Division, the Ticos not-so-secret weapon comes in the form of goalkeeper Keylor Navas. The 35-year-old has played a key role in Paris Saint-Germain’s rise to the top of the Ligue 1 table, and has kept clean sheets in three of his past five outings with PSG.