Mexico vs. Costa Rica: Score, Gold Cup Odds & Travel Guide

You don’t see a scoreless draw between Mexico and Costa Rica every day, but that’s exactly what 62,000 fans got at Allegiant Stadium on June 22, 2025 – and it was anything but boring. This article untangles the match’s implications, previews Mexico’s Gold Cup trajectory, and settles whether you’d rather vacation in Mexico or Costa Rica.

Match result (June 22, 2025): Mexico 0-0 Costa Rica ·
Gold Cup Group A standings after match: Mexico 1st, Costa Rica 2nd ·
Gold Cup 2025 favorites: Mexico favored (El Tri favored ahead of USA-Mexico final) ·
All-time head-to-head (football): Mexico 24 wins, Costa Rica 12 wins, 10 draws

Here are the match details in a snapshot:

Is Costa Rica nicer than Mexico?

Key differences in natural attractions

• Costa Rica is known for eco-tourism and biodiversity — the country claims over 5% of the world’s biodiversity despite covering only 0.03% of landmass.
• Mexico offers a broader range of natural landscapes, from Lonely Planet’s guide to Mexico — deserts, beaches, rainforests, canyons, and ruins.
• Travelers who prioritize wildlife and volcano hikes lean toward Costa Rica; those wanting variety in a single trip favor Mexico.

Beach quality: Costa Rica vs Mexico

• Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast has turquoise water with coral reefs; Pacific side offers surf breaks like Tamarindo and Jacó.
• Mexico’s Caribbean coast features Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum with white sand beaches.
• Pacific coast of Mexico offers U.S. News Travel picks like Puerto Vallarta and Sayulita.

Cultural experiences

• Mexico has ancient Mayan and Aztec ruins — Chichen Itza and Teotihuacan — alongside vibrant cities like Mexico City and Oaxaca.
• Costa Rica’s cultural draw is less archaeological, more “pura vida” lifestyle and community-based tourism.
• “Niceness” is subjective: travelers seeking ancient history and big-city energy prefer Mexico; those wanting nature and calm choose Costa Rica.

The implication: your choice depends on what you prioritize.

Who won today, Mexico or Costa Rica?

Match summary from June 22, 2025

• Mexico and Costa Rica drew 0-0 on June 22, 2025, in the CONCACAF Gold Cup Group A match (ESPN).
• The match was played at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas (Allegiant Stadium) — a neutral venue.
• Mexico’s Santiago Giménez had a late bicycle-kick goal disallowed after a VAR review in second-half stoppage time (ESPN report).

Gold Cup Group A standings

• Mexico finished level with Costa Rica on seven points but won the group on goal difference (FOX Sports).
• Costa Rica advanced as group runner-up.
• Mexico’s quarterfinal opponent is Saudi Arabia; Costa Rica faces the United States.

What this means: Despite the scoreless draw, both squads advanced. The tactical stalemate showed Costa Rica’s defensive discipline — but Mexico’s dominance of possession and the disallowed goal show why oddsmakers still favor them.

Who’s favored to win the Concacaf Gold Cup?

2025 Gold Cup odds overview

• Mexico are the favorites per FOX Sports.
• El Tri is favored ahead of a USA-Mexico final scenario.
• Flashscore lists odds comparison for the tournament.

Mexico’s strong position

• Mexico remained unbeaten in 10 Gold Cup matches against Costa Rica, a streak dating back to 2000 (ESPN).
• The squad features in-form goal scorers — the disallowed bicycle-kick attempt from Giménez shows the quality in attacking depth.
• Mexico has won a record nine Gold Cup titles entering 2025; Wikipedia notes the 2025 edition is the first to feature 16 teams.

Other contenders: USA, Canada

• The United States is the defending champion (2023) and has home advantage.
• Canada has a strong generation of players and could be a dark horse.
• With Costa Rica drawn against the USA in the quarterfinals, at least one strong contender will exit early.

The pattern: a group-stage stalemate can still set up contrasting knockout trajectories.

Which is better, Costa Rica or Cancun?

Cancun as a Mexico vacation hotspot

• Cancun offers all-inclusive resorts, pristine white-sand beaches, and vibrant nightlife on the Yucatán Peninsula.
• It’s a family-friendly, resort-style vacation spot with direct flights from most U.S. cities.
• Nearby Mayan ruins like Chichen Itza and Tulum add cultural depth.

Costa Rica’s unique selling points

• Costa Rica emphasizes nature and adventure — zip-lining through cloud forests, whitewater rafting, and volcano hiking.
• The country is known for its “pura vida” lifestyle and sustainability initiatives.
• Travel costs: Costa Rica is generally more expensive than Cancun for accommodation and food.

Comparing costs, activities, and safety

• A mid-range vacation in Cancun can cost $1,500–$2,500 per person for a week; Costa Rica often runs $2,000–$3,500 per person for similar standard.
• Both destinations are considered safe for tourists, though U.S. State Department advisories for Mexico flag regional crime concerns in certain states.
• Costa Rica consistently ranks higher on the Global Peace Index for overall safety.

The catch: Cancun is a resort-and-party first destination; Costa Rica is an adventure-and-nature destination. If you want to lie on a beach and sip margaritas, Cancun wins. If you want to rappel down a waterfall, choose Costa Rica.

What is safer, Costa Rica or Mexico?

Crime statistics comparison

• Costa Rica generally considered safer with lower violent crime rates per capita according to Global Peace Index data.
• Mexico has high crime in some regions, particularly border areas and certain states, but tourist areas (Cancun, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta) have relatively low violent crime rates against tourists.
• The U.S. State Department advisory for Costa Rica calls for exercising increased caution due to crime, while the advisory for Mexico is more nuanced with state-by-state levels.

Tourist safety tips

• In both countries: avoid displaying valuables, stay in well-lit tourist zones at night, use official taxis or rideshares, and don’t walk alone after dark in unfamiliar areas.
• For Mexico: review state-by-state advisories before traveling to interior states.
• For Costa Rica: stick to popular tourist areas and book accommodations in safe neighborhoods.

Government travel advisories

• U.S. State Department: Mexico has multiple level 3 and level 4 advisories for specific states, while Costa Rica is at level 2 nationwide.
• Canada’s travel advisory: similar, with Costa Rica rated “exercise normal precautions” for most areas.
• Both countries have active tourism industries and millions of safe visits annually.

Timeline

• June 22, 2025 — Mexico vs Costa Rica Gold Cup group match ends 0-0 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas (ESPN match recap).
• June 23, 2025 — Group A concludes; Mexico wins group on goal difference, Costa Rica advances as runner-up (FOX Sports).
• July 2025 — Gold Cup knockout stages begin. Mexico faces Saudi Arabia; Costa Rica faces United States.
• Upcoming — Mexico quarterfinal vs Saudi Arabia; Gold Cup final on July 6, 2025.

A scoreless draw doesn’t tell the full story. Mexico controlled possession, created chances, and had a goal disallowed on a controversial VAR call. Costa Rica defended stoutly and showed they can compete with the tournament favorites. Both teams reached the knockout stage, but their paths diverge from here.

After the 0-0 draw, fans might be curious about Costa Ricas national team and its historic performances on the international stage.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading

• Netherlands vs Spain Lineups: 2010, 2014 & 2025
• PSG vs Bayern Munich Stats: H2H, Recent Matches & Predictions