The Costa Rican National Team is facing crucial hours. The dream of qualifying for its seventh World Cup is hanging by a thread and will be defined within the next ten days. Under the command of Miguel “Piojo” Herrera, the team has navigated a qualifying process filled with irregularity, criticism, and an intense debate about its identity. Now, with only two matches left, there is no margin for error. La Sele finds itself at a crossroads where the destination could be a direct ticket to North America 2026, one last agonizing chance in the playoffs, or a painful elimination.

The Current Picture: A Fight to the Death in Group C

The Third Round of the CONCACAF qualifiers has been a battlefield. Costa Rica is in Group C, and after four matchdays, the standings reflect a fierce fight for the single direct spot in the World Cup.

Here is the situation before the decisive November matches:

Position	Team	Points	Goal Difference
1	Honduras	8	+5
2	Costa Rica	6	+3
3	Haiti	5	0
4	Nicaragua	1	-8

The format is unforgiving: only the group winner gets direct qualification. The two best second-place finishers (from the three groups in this phase) will advance to an intercontinental playoff. Finishing third or worse means the end of the road.

The Decisive Matches: Two Finals on the Calendar

Costa Rica’s future will be defined in two encounters that are essentially finals:

1. Haiti vs. Costa Rica (November 13): A high-tension clash in Port-au-Prince. Haiti, playing at home, knows that a victory would put them above Costa Rica, setting the table for them on the final matchday. For La Sele, losing is forbidden; a defeat would dramatically complicate the picture. A draw keeps hope alive, but a win is the ideal result to arrive at the final match with clear options.
2. Costa Rica vs. Honduras (November 18): The Central American Clásico that could define everything. This match at the National Stadium is shaping up to be the most important one in years. Depending on the previous results, it could be the match that seals the direct ticket, qualification for the playoffs, or simply a formality before elimination.

The Possible Scenarios: From Euphoria to Disappointment

With the numbers on the table, these are the paths the National Team could take:

Scenario 1: Direct Qualification (The Golden Dream)

To secure first place and the ticket to the World Cup, Costa Rica needs to surpass Honduras in the table. The clearest path is:

• Win both remaining matches: Defeat Haiti and Honduras. This would take La Sele to 12 points, guaranteeing at least second place and a high probability of finishing first, depending on what Honduras does in its other match against Nicaragua. If Honduras fails to beat Nicaragua, a Costa Rican victory in the classic would give them the group lead.

Scenario 2: The Playoff (The Path of Suffering)

If Costa Rica fails to win the group, it can still aim for the playoff as one of the two best second-place teams. To do this, it needs to secure the second spot in Group C. This could happen in several ways:

• Win one match and draw the other: Earning 4 points would put them at 10. This total is competitive for being one of the best second-place teams, though it would depend on results in the other groups.
• Win only one match: If Costa Rica beats Haiti but loses to Honduras, or vice-versa, it would finish with 9 points. In this case, it would need Haiti to not win its final match to secure second place, and then it would come down to a goal-difference comparison with the runners-up from the other groups.

Scenario 3: Elimination (The Worst Outcome)

The specter of elimination is real and could materialize if the results do not go their way.

• Lose to Haiti and fail to beat Honduras: A defeat against Haiti would be an almost fatal blow. It would leave Costa Rica with 6 points and at the mercy of a Haitian victory on the final day, which would leave them out of all contention.
• Draw both matches: Earning only two points (ending with 8) might not even be enough for second place if Haiti manages a victory in its two matches.
• Lose both matches: This would be the most catastrophic scenario, leaving La Sele stuck with 6 points and no possibilities.

In conclusion, Miguel Herrera’s team faces its most critical moment. The mix of veterans and youth, the media pressure, and the inconsistency shown thus far are all secondary. From here on out, only the results matter. The football-loving nation will hold its breath, hoping that in these final 180 minutes, the Costa Rican National Team finds its way back to the world’s elite.