'Win that game, and win it convincingly' - Former El Tri boss Miguel Herrera promises Costa Rica victory over Mexico in Gold Cup

Following the draw and announcement of the groups for the 2025 Gold Cup, which will take place from June 14 to July 6 in the U.S., there was an immediate focus on one of the most anticipated matches: Mexico vs. Costa Rica, both drawn into Group A.

The match stands out not only because of the long-standing rivalry between the two national teams, but because Miguel Herrera, who coached Mexico at the 2014 World Cup, will now face El Tri as the new head coach of Costa Rica.

In an interview with ESPN, Herrera promised victory against Mexico when the two sides meet at the Gold Cup.

"This matchup was bound to happen sooner or later," he said. "It's great that it's happening soon, and that we have the chance to face a solid team. On the football pitch, we're going out there to win that game, and win it convincingly."

“Happy, at the end of the day the opponents we were going to face were always going to be strong - there’s a reason they were seeded in the Final Four," he said. "We’re ready. If we want to be champions, we know we have to compete. We’re up against the best, and I say that because they’re the reigning Nations League champions. They’re coming in with great momentum, but our guys are ready. We’ve made it clear to the players that whatever comes our way, we’re going to give it everything we’ve got."

The Mexican national team and Costa Rica will face each other for the tenth time in Gold Cup history. The record favors El Tri, with six wins, three draws, and no losses against Los Ticos in the tournament.

But overall, the two national teams have met 58 times, with El Tri holding a dominant record of 32 wins, 20 draws, and just six losses to the Central Americans.

The team led by Herrera now knows its opponents for the Gold Cup, but it's true that they have other goals in mind - most notably, qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.

Before taking on the regional tournament set to be played this summer, Costa Rica will first face the Bahamas on June 7 and Trinidad and Tobago on June 10 in World Cup qualifiers.