The United States Men's National Team hopes some home cooking can get it back on track when it faces Costa Rica on Matchday 6 of 2022 Concacaf World Cup qualifying. The USMNT (2-2-1) was listless in a 1-0 road loss to Panama on Sunday, and now those two are tied with eight points, three behind unbeaten Mexico. The Americans went with a far different lineup than the one that beat Jamaica 2-0 last Thursday, so Gregg Berhalter hopes playing with the preferred 11 on home turf will be the difference. Costa Rica (1-3-1) got its first victory of the round on Sunday when it beat El Salvador 2-1. The top three teams after 14 games qualify for Qatar 2022, with the fourth-place team reaching an inter-confederation playoff.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m ET at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio. Caesars Sportsbook lists Team USA as the -250 favorite (risk $250 to win $100) on the 90-minute money line in its latest USMNT vs. Costa Rica odds, while Costa Rica is the +700 underdog and a draw is priced at +280. The over-under for total goals scored is set at 2.5. Before you lock in your USMNT vs. Costa Rica picks or make any 2022 Concacaf World Cup qualifying predictions, you need to check out what soccer insider Roger Gonzalez has to say.
Gonzalez grew up playing competitive soccer before becoming one of the world's foremost soccer journalists. After covering soccer all over the globe -- a Champions League final in Italy, Copa America, and professional leagues in Argentina -- Gonzalez returned to the U.S. as CBS Sports' top soccer expert. He has his finger on the pulse of the game at all levels.
Now, Gonzalez has taken a close look at the Costa Rica vs. USMNT matchup. You can head to SportsLine to see his World Cup qualifier picks. Here are the betting lines and trends for USMNT vs. Costa Rica:
- USA vs. Costa Rica: USA -0.5
- USA vs. Costa Rica over-under: 2.5 goals
- USA vs. Costa Rica money line: USA -250, Costa Rica +700, Draw +280
- USA: Ricardo Pepi has 15 goals in 44 matches with FC Dallas in Major League Soccer
- CR: Keylor Navas has 28 clean sheets in 56 matches with Paris Saint-Germain
Why you should back the United States
The USMNT has won the past three matches against Costa Rica by a combined score of 7-0, and Berhalter is certain to go back to basics after a sloppy loss in a tough environment. The manager made seven changes to the lineup from the Jamaica victory, and the results didn't inspire confidence. With Christian Pulisic and Gio Reyna unavailable, the depth of Team USA has taken a hit. But Berhalter can turn to budding superstar Ricardo Pepi, who had both goals against Jamaica. The 18-year-old Texan has played in three international matches and has three goals and an assist.
Pepi's emergence will allow players like Weston McKennie, Sebastian Lletget and Tyler Adams to play more in supporting roles where they thrive. Veteran Paul Arriola and talented 20-year-old Brenden Arronson will create chances for Pepi up front. Team USA has not lost on American soil since 2019, going 14-1-0 in its last 15 in the United States, and is 9-2-1 in its last 12 overall.
Why you should back Costa Rica
Los Ticos are a veteran-laden squad, with 11 players boasting at least 50 international appearances. Captain Bryan Ruiz and midfielder Celso Borges lead the way, and they scored the goals in the win against El Salvador. They have combined to score 54 times in international competition, and striker Joel Campbell (21 career goals) could cause problems for the American defense. Costa Rica will come out confident and determined to rise in the standings. It is just two points behind Team USA and Canada as it seeks to earn its fifth World Cup berth all-time.
A defense featuring Oscar Duarte and Francisco Calvo, who have combined for 127 caps, has been tough to crack, allowing three goals in the five matches. Keylor Navas is one of the world's best goalkeepers, starting for top European clubs Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain. He is among the veteran core that has reached the last two World Cups, and Los Ticos are likely to play a physical game to intimidate the young Americans.
How to make USMNT vs. Costa Rica picks
Now, Gonzalez has taken an in-depth look at the USMNT vs. Costa Rica showdown and revealed his best bet for Wednesday's Concacaf World Cup qualifying match. He's only sharing that pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Costa Rica vs. USA? And where does all the betting value lie? Visit SportsLine now to see the best bets for USA vs. Costa Rica, all from the soccer expert who has his finger on the pulse of the game all over the world, and find out.
