It wasn't a goal, but it felt like a loss for both teams. On the 2026 FIFA World Cup CONCACAF Third Round Group C qualifier on November 19, 2025, Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica in San José fell silent at the final whistle — Costa Rica and Honduras finished 0-0 in a match that could have changed everything. The draw left Honduras clinging to the top of Group C with nine points, while Costa Rica remained stuck on seven — a point behind, but still mathematically alive. For fans of either side, it was less a draw and more a missed chance. And in World Cup qualifying, missed chances don’t come back.
A Match That Wasn’t Supposed to Be This Tight
Entering the game, Honduras were the group leaders, unbeaten in five of their last six matches. They had weathered losses, scraped draws, and relied on grit to stay ahead. Costa Rica, meanwhile, had been drifting. A 3-1 defeat to Nicaragua just days before had exposed defensive frailties and a lack of attacking spark. Fans expected a win here — not just for the three points, but for morale. Instead, they got 90 minutes of frustration.
At the 274-second mark of CBS Sports’ broadcast, Keylor Navas, the 38-year-old veteran goalkeeper, made a save that should’ve been routine — but wasn’t. A Honduras counterattack found the net after a rebound, but Navas lunged, palms out, and somehow clawed the ball away. It was the kind of moment that reminded everyone why he’s still playing at this level. But it was also a sign: Costa Rica weren’t going to win this game with offense. They were going to win it on heart.
Who Was On the Pitch?
Costa Rica lined up with a familiar core: Navas in goal, Calvo and Waston anchoring the backline, and Manfred Ugalde alone up front. Johan Venegas and Yeltsin Tejeda controlled the middle, but the midfield lacked rhythm. The attack looked disjointed. A 552-second CBS highlight showed Joel Campbell’s shot deflecting off the wall — a corner, but nothing more. Substitutions were minimal. Only two changes from the Nicaragua loss. No bold moves. No spark.
Honduras countered with Romell Quioto leading the line, a constant threat on the break. But their final third was hesitant. They had chances — six shots on target, according to Sofascore — but none found the net. The final corner, conceded by Kervin Arriaga in the 90'+9' minute, was the last gasp. A cross floated in, cleared by a Costa Rican defender. The whistle blew. No celebration. No despair. Just exhaustion.
What This Means for the Race
The draw kept Honduras on top, but it didn’t widen the gap. That’s the problem. They needed a win to put daylight between themselves and the chasing pack. Instead, they gave Costa Rica another life. With three matches left, the top three teams in Group C all have a realistic shot at direct qualification. Fourth place? That’s the playoff purgatory. And Costa Rica are dangerously close to falling into it.
Meanwhile, Haiti’s 2-0 win over Nicaragua — happening live during the same broadcast — sent ripples through the standings. One team’s gain was another’s loss. The entire group is now a tangled web. A win for Panama or Canada in their next fixtures could shift everything. This wasn’t just a stalemate between two rivals. It was a domino.
History Between the Rivals
This isn’t the first time Costa Rica and Honduras have clashed in high-stakes qualifiers. In 2017, a 1-0 win by Honduras in San José sent Costa Rica into the intercontinental playoff — a match they lost to New Zealand. In 2022, Costa Rica edged Honduras 2-1 in a tense match that helped them qualify. The rivalry is thick with history, bad blood, and last-minute heartbreaks. Tuesday’s match added another chapter — one written in silence.
What’s Next?
Both teams have three matches remaining. Honduras face Panama and Canada — two teams above them in the table. A draw against either would be catastrophic. Costa Rica must beat Canada and Panama, and hope Honduras slip up. The pressure isn’t just on the players. It’s on the federation, the coach, the fans. One more draw, and the dream of a fourth World Cup appearance in five tournaments could vanish.
Expert Insight: The Cost of Inaction
"This wasn’t about tactics," said former Costa Rican international Rónald González, now a pundit for Telenoticias. "It was about hunger. Honduras didn’t have the quality to break us down. But Costa Rica didn’t have the will to break them. In qualifying, you don’t wait for the other team to make a mistake. You create your own. And neither side did. That’s why they’re both sweating now."
Frequently Asked Questions
How does this result affect Costa Rica’s chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup?
Costa Rica’s chances are still alive, but they’re now on life support. With seven points and three games left, they need to win at least two of their remaining fixtures — against Canada and Panama — and hope Honduras drop points. A single loss or draw in their final matches could eliminate them outright. They’re currently in fifth place, just one point ahead of sixth-place El Salvador. One more slip, and they’re in the intercontinental playoff — a path few CONCACAF teams survive.
Why didn’t Honduras press harder for a win?
Honduras played conservatively, likely fearing a counterattack. Their manager, Reinaldo Rueda, prioritized maintaining their group lead over risking a loss. They had 61% possession and 14 shots, but only six were on target. Key passes were too slow, and the final third lacked urgency. They didn’t lack talent — they lacked conviction. With Panama and Canada still to come, they can’t afford another cautious performance.
What role did Keylor Navas play in the match?
Navas was the difference-maker. At 38, he made a critical save in the 5th minute to deny a rebound from Honduras’ Romell Quioto — a moment that could’ve ended the game early. He also claimed every cross, organized his defense, and even came out to clear a loose ball in the 83rd minute. Without him, Honduras likely wins. His presence gave Costa Rica structure, but it also highlighted their lack of offensive creativity. He carried the team — again.
How does this result compare to past CONCACAF qualifiers?
It’s reminiscent of the 2017 final round, when Costa Rica drew with Honduras 1-1 in San José — a result that ultimately cost them direct qualification. That year, they ended up in the playoff against New Zealand and lost. The pattern is clear: when these two teams meet under pressure, they cancel each other out. The difference this time? The stakes are higher. The 2026 tournament includes 48 teams, but CONCACAF only gets 6 direct spots — meaning every point matters more than ever.
What’s the next big match for either team?
For Costa Rica, it’s the away match against Canada on March 21, 2026. For Honduras, it’s the home game against Panama on March 24. Both are must-win games. Canada has 11 points and is surging. Panama, with 10 points, is hungry. Lose either, and your World Cup hopes are in serious jeopardy.
Is there any chance both teams miss the World Cup?
It’s unlikely, but possible. If Panama, Canada, and Honduras all finish with 15+ points, and Costa Rica and El Salvador stay below 10, then the fifth-place team (likely Costa Rica) would enter the playoff. But if two teams from the bottom five finish with 12+ points, the cutoff could rise. With Haiti and Jamaica still in the mix, no one’s safe. The group is a free-for-all — and every draw now feels like a defeat.
