'The dream is alive' - Coach Miguel Herrera sends a message after Costa Rica’s agonizing win over Suriname, says team is 'capable of winning' the Gold Cup

Miguel “Piojo” Herrera made his return to the Gold Cup - this time on the bench for Costa Rica - and did so with a rollercoaster victory. In his tournament debut with Los Ticos, the Mexican manager saw his team claim a wild 4-3 win over Suriname in a match full of momentum swings.

Costa Rica jumped out to a 2-0 lead, only to fall behind 3-2 before salvaging the win with a stoppage-time penalty in the 90+13 minute on Sunday night.

True to his trademark confidence, Herrera didn't hold back after the match, saying, "We have a team capable of winning the tournament. We’re here to win it. The dream is alive, and it’s up to us to make it real. We have a squad that can compete with anyone.”

Herrera emphasized that his belief in winning the Gold Cup is based on what he’s seen from his players so far, adding, “I wouldn’t be saying this if I didn’t see it reflected on the pitch. Technically, we’re in a good place. If we stay focused, we can go all the way.”

The 2025 Gold Cup features three Mexican head coaches. In addition to Javier Aguirre, who leads the Mexican national team, and Miguel Herrera, now at the helm of Costa Rica, Guatemala is coached by another familiar name in Mexican football - Luis Fernando Tena.

The veteran manager guided Guatemala to the quarterfinals in the 2023 edition of the tournament and currently has the team in contention for a spot in the 2026 World Cup.

Costa Rica will face the Dominican Republic Wednesday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, before closing the group stage with a much-anticipated clash against Mexico on June 22 - a match likely to decide the top spot in Group A.