Nicaragua vs Costa Rica prediction: team news, lineups, expert analysis

The match will not produce many goals: prediction for December 25, 2025

Author:

Benjamin Mcneil, betting expert

Published: 30.09.26, 14:19

Math prediction 1 X 2

Nicaragua

-

Costa Rica

-

6.48 Linebet 01 Oct 12:01 6.13 + 0.35 01 Oct 03:00 6.38 -0.25 01 Oct 01:02 5.5 + 0.88 30 Sep 20:00 4.39 + 1.11 4.25 Linebet 01 Oct 12:01 4.15 + 0.1 01 Oct 03:00 4.2 -0.05 01 Oct 01:02 3.84 + 0.36 30 Sep 20:00 3.74 + 0.1 1.45 Linebet 01 Oct 01:02 1.57 -0.11 30 Sep 20:00 1.71 -0.14

14% 22% 64%

18 TIPS

Tournament CONCACAF Nations League

Date & kick-off time Today, 22:00

On October 2, 2026, the 3rd round of League A of the CONCACAF Nations League will feature a clash between the national teams of Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Both sides will be hoping to finally give their fans something to celebrate.

Nicaragua - Costa Rica team news and expert analysis

Nicaragua made it through to the decisive round of World Cup qualifying, but finished bottom there with just four points. They began the current campaign at home against the Dominican Republic, falling 2-3 in a thrilling shootout. Then, away to Curaçao, they suffered a tennis-style thrashing, losing 1-6.

Costa Rica have regularly featured at World Cups this century. However, this time they collected just three more points than their opponents in the final round—seven—after losing to both Honduras and Haiti. They opened the current campaign against Curaçao, taking a commanding lead before eventually collapsing to a 3-4 defeat. Then Haiti scored twice against them without conceding a reply.

Juan Real's side score just 0.7 goals per game and concede 2.7. Soto and company have found the net once while allowing 2.1 goals per match.

Previous matches: Nicaragua - Costa Rica

Costa Rica lost the very first meeting, back in 1950. Since then, however, they have won seven of the next nine encounters, with two draws.

We are not expecting a spectacle here: neither side is in form, so the bet that stands out is "under 2.5 goals" (odds – 1.68).

Nicaragua - Costa Rica: key statistics and trends

• Nicaragua have lost five of their last six matches
• Both teams have scored in 40% of Nicaragua's matches, while the average total goals per game is 3.4
• Costa Rica have lost five matches in a row
• Both teams have scored in 40% of Costa Rica's matches, while the average total goals per game is 3.1

Nicaragua - Costa Rica: possible starting lineups

Nicaragua are expected to line up in a 1-5-4-1 formation (possible lineup): Vega - Cano, Fletes, Perez, Gutierrez, Gomez - Raimondi, Moncada, Cole, Mejia - Moreno

Costa Rica are expected to line up in a 1-4-3-3 formation (possible lineup): Madriz - Barahona, Mitchell, Calvo, Araya - Gallo, Acuna, Mendez - Mora, Sinclair, Alcocer

Follow the CONCACAF Nations League table and find out how your team is performing before placing a bet on the next match

Our Pick

Game Prediction Total under 2,5

1.68

Details →

Mostbet Promo Code 2026

Bonus code 150BET Promo code copied

Benjamin Mcneil

betting expert

He is an analyst in the world of football who doesn't mind adding to his budget with a lucky bet, something he has been doing for the last 10 years. I don't believe in luck, but I believe that the motivation of the opponents and their kit plays a big role, and any sensation is explainable. I prefer to play cautiously, because it is better to win 5 out of 5 bets at odds of 1.6-1.7 than to lose 2 out of 3 bets at odds of 2.2.

WinRate WinRate (%) for the last 30 days 55

Avr. Coef. Avr. Coef. for the last 30 days 1.73

Void Voided bets (postponements, cancellations, etc.) in the last 30 days 85

Won/total Performance for the last 30 days 169 / 305

Active tips 25

Form