Costa Rica U-17 Secures Draw Against United Arab Emirates
The Costa Rica U-17 national team began its campaign at the 2025 U-17 World Cup in Qatar with a 1-1 draw against the United Arab Emirates. This match marked their return to a youth World Cup after an eight-year absence.
Costa Rica’s Challenging Match Against UAE
The game took place at Al Bayt Stadium. An early setback occurred when defender Isaac Badilla was sent off in the 30th minute, leaving Costa Rica with just ten players. Despite this disadvantage, the team exhibited strong tactical organization and defensive intensity.
Key Events
- Date: November 6, 2025
- Location: Al Bayt Stadium, Qatar
- Final Score: Costa Rica 1 – 1 UAE
In the second half, a mistake from Costa Rica’s goalkeeper Ian O’Rourke led to a goal for the UAE. Mayed Adel scored with a header in the 59th minute, putting the UAE in the lead. However, Costa Rica responded quickly. In the 62nd minute, Nick Bennette converted a rebound to equalize the score, showcasing Costa Rica’s resilience and fighting spirit.
Looking Ahead
Despite being a player down, Costa Rica dominated the final stages of the match, creating clear scoring opportunities that they couldn’t convert. The result of this match opens up possibilities for advancing to the knockout stage.
Next, Costa Rica will face Senegal on November 6, 2025, at 9:45 AM Costa Rica time. This match will be crucial for the team’s chances of qualifying for the round of 16.
