Costa Rica and Haiti play decisive but unequal CONCACAF Nations League finale

A match of very different stakes

The game kicked off at 6 p.m. local time at Estadio Ricardo Saprissa in Tibás, as reported by TUDN. It was moved from the National Stadium in La Sabana because a concert was scheduled there that day, according to The Tico Times. Haiti arrived already qualified for the quarterfinals alongside Curaçao — both Caribbean sides also took part in this year's World Cup. Costa Rica, by contrast, failed to qualify for the World Cup and, as TUDN notes, could no longer advance in this tournament; all that remained at stake was whether the team would finish high enough to stay in League A or drop into League B.

Costa Rica's rocky campaign and the Bryan Ruiz effect

Costa Rica's campaign opened with a 4-3 home loss to Curaçao after blowing a 3-0 halftime lead, followed by a 2-0 defeat to Haiti in Jamaica — their only previous meeting in this tournament. Those results cost Costa Rica six places in the FIFA ranking, according to The Tico Times. After the federation fired coach Fernando Batista, former national team captain Bryan Ruiz took over on an interim basis. His first match ended in a 3-0 win over Nicaragua, Costa Rica's first victory of 2026 after a five-match winless run, with goals from Orlando Sinclair, Carlos Mora and Kenyel Michel. Ticket sales picked up sharply afterward, and only a handful of seats remained unsold by Saturday afternoon, The Tico Times reported. Veteran goalkeeper Keylor Navas started in goal, marking his first official match at his former club's home ground in more than 16 years.

Haiti's form and history

Haiti came in off a 4-1 win over the Dominican Republic, in which Wilson Isidor scored twice. With a +6 goal differential compared to Costa Rica's 0, Haiti had a chance to become one of the first Caribbean teams to finish the League A group stage unbeaten. Haiti's last win over Costa Rica on Central American soil dates back to 1950, while Costa Rica has not lost to Haiti at home this century — their last win over Haiti came in a 2015 World Cup qualifier, according to Sports Mole.

Costa Rica was without Josimar Méndez, suspended after picking up two yellow cards, and injured player Roan Wilson, while Ruiz called up Ronald Matarrita, Anthony Hernández and Mayron George. Ruiz said before the match it could be his last game in charge for now, adding he would not weigh his future until Monday — the federation is expected to decide after this window whether to keep him or search for a permanent coach ahead of the 2030 World Cup cycle.