Costa Rica and Honduras faced off at the Estadio Nacional in San Jose, each hoping to secure either direct qualification or a playoff spot for the 2026 World Cup. However, neither side could find a breakthrough, and the scoreless result ensured both teams were eliminated from the qualification race.
The pre-match scenario was complex. Costa Rica needed a victory and had to surpass rivals in the other groups on goal differential to secure a spot in the play-offs. Honduras, meanwhile, were hoping to secure the final playoff place.
However, little action occurred in the Estadio Nacional, and the match ended in a 0-0 draw, that proved fatal for Honduras. Suriname ultimately claimed the final playoff spot, finishing with the same point total as Honduras, but securing the advantage based on having scored nine goals throughout the qualifiers compared to only five from Honduras.
In the final reckoning, Panama, Curacao, and Haiti achieved direct qualification, while Suriname and Jamaica earned the right to contest the play-offs for a chance to enter the prestigious tournament.
