Costa Rica and USA qualify for U-20 World Cup

Costa Rica and USA have qualified for the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2027™ in Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan after their respective victories over Haiti and Guatemala in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Concacaf U-20 Championship in Puebla, Mexico.

Los Ticos and the Stars & Stripes are the first two teams from Concacaf to punch their ticket to next year's global showpiece. The other two qualifiers will be decided in Wednesday's quarter-finals, with the winners of Canada-Jamaica and Mexico-Panama also booking their spots. The winner of the Concacaf U-20 Championship will also qualify for the 2028 Men's Olympic Football Tournament at Los Angeles 2028, joining hosts USA.

The day started with the Central Americans overcoming the Caribbean side, 5-3, in a dramatic penalty shootout after the two teams had battled to a 1-1 final after 120 minutes. Clavens Exantus gave Haiti an early lead, only for Yerlan Sosa to equalise for Costa Rica via penalty.

Matters had to be settled in spot kicks, and Costa Rica were perfect, converting all five attempts to secure their tenth U-20 World Cup berth and their first since 2017.

The nightcap saw USA overcome a tough Guatemala side, 3-1. Los Chapines were in dreamland when Oscar de Leon reacted first to a shot off the crossbar and headed into an open net. The Americans would equalise on the brink of half-time when a loose ball from a corner kick fell to the feet of Brandon Dayes, who slotted home from a few yards out.

USA kept their foot on the gas in the second half and grabbed their first lead of the night thanks to an excellent cutback pass from Jaidyn Contreras to Din Klapija, who hammered home. The Americans added an late insurance goal through Joshua Torquato's fine finish, sealing a seventh consecutive U-20 World Cup qualification and their 19th overall.

Photo courtesy of Concacaf