'That’s a seat I’ll always be ready to take' - Costa Rica manager Miguel Herrera says he would coach Mexico again

Miguel Herrera will face Mexico for the first time, the national team he led at the 2014 World Cup. El Piojo took charge at one of the team’s lowest points, guiding them to the tournament after a playoff against New Zealand. Now, as head coach of Costa Rica and knowing both teams are set to meet in Group A of the upcoming Gold Cup, Herrera shared a personal reflection about El Tri:

"I’ve always said it: that’s a seat I’ll always be ready to take," Herrera told TUDN. "I said it back then - I always wanted to be with the national team, but they chose a great coach [in Javier Aguirre]. We joke that we’re cousins because my second last name is Aguirre. I get along really well with him. He’s a great guy, a fantastic coach who’s done well in Europe. He’s opened doors for many of us and now they’re betting on him again because of who he is and what he’s accomplished. Mexico is in good hands, and that’s clear to see."

El Piojo spoke about the importance of starting strong in the Gold Cup and how beating Mexico could shift Costa Rica’s outlook.

"Winning the first match in the Gold Cup is always crucial - it sets the tone," Herrera said. "And if we manage to beat Mexico, then there’s no reason to fear the United States or anyone else. It would give us the confidence to believe we can go far in the tournament."

Costa Rica landed in Group A of the Gold Cup alongside Mexico, Suriname, and the Dominican Republic. The tournament schedule has been released, with Los Ticos opening against Suriname, then facing the Dominican Republic, and wrapping up the group stage with a clash against Mexico.

El Tri will follow a similar path, starting their campaign against the Dominican Republic, then playing Suriname. This sets the stage for a potential group-deciding showdown between Mexico and Costa Rica in the third match.

Group A is set to cross over with Group D in the quarterfinals, meaning one of these two teams could face the United States, assuming the USMNT also tops its group.

"There he is in the CONCACAF Final Four, a tournament many people thought Mexico wouldn’t win — and he goes and wins it convincingly, doing things the right way," Herrera said about Mexico’s current head coach, Javier Aguirre, and his recent achievement of leading El Tri to its first-ever Nations League title. "Whether people like his playing style or not, we all know how Javier’s teams play — he has a very defined style. But the important thing is, he gets results, and the national team is finding its rhythm again. He’s a great coach and, as a person, he’s exceptional."

Before making their Gold Cup debut against Suriname, the Central Americans will face Bahamas on June 7 and Trinidad and Tobago on June 10 in the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.