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Costa Rica and Panama: A Rivalry Renewed in the Concacaf Nations League

A History of Rivalry

The Costa Rica national football team and the Panama national football team have a long and storied history, dating back to their first meeting in 1938. The two teams have met 33 times in total, with Costa Rica holding a slight edge with 13 wins to Panama's 10. The rivalry is often intense, with both teams vying for regional supremacy.

Recent Meetings

In recent years, the two teams have met twice in the Concacaf Nations League, with Costa Rica winning both matches. In the 2019-20 edition of the tournament, Costa Rica won 1-0 in Panama City and 2-1 in San José. These results extended Costa Rica's unbeaten streak against Panama to five matches.

Concacaf Nations League

The Concacaf Nations League is a biennial international football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the member associations of CONCACAF. The tournament was created in 2018 to replace the Copa Centroamericana and the Caribbean Cup. The Nations League is divided into three divisions, with League A being the top division. Costa Rica and Panama are both members of League A, which also includes the United States, Mexico, and Honduras.

Format of the Tournament

The Nations League is played in a round-robin format, with each team playing four matches in their group. The top two teams in each group advance to the semifinals, while the bottom team is relegated to League B. The semifinals and final are played in a single-elimination format. The winner of the final is crowned the champion of the Concacaf Nations League.

Costa Rica and Panama in the Nations League

Costa Rica and Panama are both off to a good start in the 2022-23 edition of the Concacaf Nations League. Costa Rica is currently top of Group B with six points from two matches, while Panama is second with three points from two matches. Both teams are in contention to reach the semifinals, and a victory in their head-to-head match on June 14 could go a long way towards securing a place in the knockout round.

Conclusion

The rivalry between Costa Rica and Panama is one of the most intense in CONCACAF. The two teams have a long history of competing for regional supremacy, and their matches are always played with great passion and intensity. The Concacaf Nations League provides a new舞台 for this rivalry to play out, and the upcoming match between Costa Rica and Panama is sure to be another memorable chapter in the history of this great rivalry.