CANADA AND COSTA RICA JOIN COPA PARTY IN THE USA
While the four CONCACAF teams already qualified for the 2024 Copa America competed in the Nations League finals, there were a couple of loose ends to tie up as two more places at this summer’s Copa in the United States were up for grabs.
As Mexico, Jamaica, Panama and the United States themselves had already qualified thanks to their performances in the Nations League, the remaining CONCACAF guest spots at the CONMEBOL tournament were decided by a pair of qualifiers involving the four losing teams from the Nations League quarter-finals.
Canada have struggled to replicate the form that saw them top the table in CONCACAF qualifying for the 2022 World Cup, but they were able to put a disappointing spell behind them with a win against Trinidad & Tobago in the first of these one-match play-offs.
It would have been unthinkable for Canada not to join fellow 2026 World Cup hosts Mexico and the United States in this year’s Copa America, which is serving as something of a high-profile curtain-raiser to the main event in 2026. Interim Canada coach Mauro Biello, who was appointed after John Herdman left to join Major League Soccer side Toronto FC last year, remained in charge for the meeting with Trinidad & Tobago.
Canada dominated the game, but the 0-0 half-time scoreline kept the fans on edge. That continued until the 60-minute mark, when the country’s all-time top scorer, Cyle Larin, added another goal to his tally, taking him up to 29 in total. Winger Jacob Shaffelburg came off the bench to add a second in added time to make sure of the victory, bringing a combination of relief and optimism.
After extending his deal, Canada Soccer said they are still conducting a “global search” for a permanent coach, but Biello is a contender. Despite recent struggles, the victory and the performance could only improve his chances.
The game between the teams ranked fifth and seventh in CONCACAF, Costa Rica and Honduras, was more difficult to call. Honduras had taken Mexico all the way to a penalty shootout in their Nations League quarter-final, and took the lead in this game, but ultimately Costa Rica demonstrated the kind of quality that sees them regularly ranked among the top five teams in the region.
It took just ten minutes for winger Michaell Chirinos to give Los Catrachos the lead, but Costa Rica replied almost immediately via Orlando Galo before second-half strikes from Warren Madrigal and Jefferson Brenes secured the win and, with it, Copa America qualification.
Costa Rica’s reward will be to go into a tough group containing Brazil, Paraguay and Colombia. Meanwhile, Canada will play in the tournament opener against defending champions Argentina on June 20 in Atlanta, Georgia, before facing Peru and Chile in Group A.
The two nations, who would have expected to be among the six Copa America guest teams from CONCACAF, made hard work of their qualification but finally made it through with the last chance.
National teams from across the Americas will now prepare for this summer’s showcase, with the CONCACAF sides aiming to cause some upsets and crash the CONMEBOL party, all the while with one eye on 2026.