International
2025-06-18 - Costa Rica vs Dominican Republic
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: CONCACAF Gold Cup Group A
Wednesday 18th June 2025 - Kick Off 7pm (EST)
12am (British Time)
Preview
The 2025 Gold Cup is being played side by side with the new Club World Cup and, much like the other event in the United States, the attendances have been pretty disappointing overall. It should be a lot different when the World Cup rolls around in 2026, but there has to be some concern about the lack of spectators.
They are missing some entertaining football at the Gold Cup with plenty of goals scored in the opening six Group fixtures that have been completed.
Plenty of those were scored in the opening games in Group A where Dominican Republic showed heart, but ultimately came up short in a 3-2 defeat to Mexico, and Costa Rica were able to score two late goals, one in injury time to secure a 4-3 win over Suriname.
With the second of the Group fixtures set to be played on Wednesday, it feels like the two favourites in this section are set to take their place in the Quarter Final. Of course football has to be played, and won, on the pitch rather than on paper, but the very late winner secured by Costa Rica has kept the positive momentum going for a team that are favourites to join the three co-hosts at the next World Cup.
The last competitive defeat suffered by Costa Rica came in the Nations League Quarter Final against Panama, but they made short work of the last World Cup Qualifying Group. Later in the year they will face Honduras, Haiti and Nicaragua for one of the three spots available at the World Cup Finals and Costa Rica will be looking for a strong Gold Cup to keep things rolling in the way they want.
There was a lot to like about the attacking football on display in the opening game, but the defensive issues are a concern and Dominican Republic will still feel there is an opportunity for them to surprise in this Group. They will have taken some confidence from rallying from 2-0 and 3-1 down against Mexico in the opener, even if Dominican Republic were beaten 3-2, and they dominated their League B Group in the Nations League, which will mean playing alongside the top nations in this Confederation next time around.
Defeats in Jamaica and Guatemala in the last World Cup Qualifying Group meant Dominican Republic failed to make it through to the Third Round of Qualifying for the Finals, which is a blow. A first ever appearance at the Gold Cup suggests better may be to come, but Dominican Republic will regret missing out on a Qualifying campaign that did not involve Mexico, United States or Canada.
These nations have met twice before and both resulting in big wins for Costa Rica.
However, the last of those was played in August 2013 in an international friendly setting.
Prediction
The opening games in this Group were highly entertaining and this fixture between Costa Rica and Dominican Republic could continue that trend.
You have to give the edge to Costa Rica considering the attacking qualities they can display at this level and the defeats suffered by Dominican Republic to Jamaica and Guatemala in the last World Cup Qualifying Group suggests this is a gap that will not be bridged.
However, Dominican Republic can play their part in the fixture, much as they did against Mexico in their opening defeat, and Costa Rica may have to outscore them in what feels like another potentially high-scoring game.
The Pick :
Costa Rica 3-1 Dominican Republic
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back Costa Rica to Win & Over 1 Total Goals (Bet Builder) at 1.70 with Bet365 (early payout if a team is leading by two goals)
