Argentina vs. Costa Rica: How to watch international friendly, live stream

The World Cup champions close out their two-game U.S. tour in Los Angeles

Argentina will conclude a two-game tour of the United States on Tuesday with a match against Costa Rica at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

The World Cup champions defeated El Salvador 3-0 on Friday in Philadelphia, before flying to the west coast for their second match against Concacaf opposition.

Lionel Messi is out for this international window due to a hamstring injury, but plenty of Argentina’s other big names have made the trip to the USA, including Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister, Ángel Di María, Julián Álvarez and more.

[afflinkbutton text=”Watch Argentina vs. Costa Rica on Fanatiz” link=”https://fanatiz.jbbfvx.net/xkKdgO”]

Costa Rica is coming off a huge 3-1 win against Honduras on Saturday, with the victory seeing the Ticos qualify for this summer’s Copa América.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the match.

Argentina vs. Costa Rica (international friendly)

  • When: Tuesday, March 26
  • Where: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
  • Time: 10:50 p.m. ET
  • Channel/streaming: Fanatiz (Watch LIVE)

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Costa Rica vs. Honduras: How to watch Copa America playoff, live stream

The winner moves on to the 2024 Copa America, while the loser is eliminated

Costa Rica will face Honduras on Saturday with a spot at the Copa América on the line.

The winner of the one-game playoff at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas will advance to the Copa América this summer, while the loser is eliminated.

Honduras nearly qualified directly to the Copa América, but fell to Mexico on penalties in a wild Nations League quarterfinal tie in November.

Costa Rica did not come nearly as close in its quarterfinal, as it was hammered 6-1 on aggregate by Panama.

[afflinkbutton text=”Watch Costa Rica vs. Honduras on Paramount Plus” link=”https://paramountplus.qflm.net/217Nxg”]

The winner of Saturday’s match will go into Group D of the 2024 Copa América alongside Brazil, Colombia and Paraguay.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the match.

Costa Rica vs. Honduras (Copa America playoff)

  • When: Saturday, March 23
  • Where: Toyota Stadium (Frisco, Texas)
  • Time: 7:15 p.m. ET
  • Channel/streaming: Paramount+ (WATCH LIVE), CBS Sports Golazo Network

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Messi ruled out for Argentina friendlies in Philadelphia and Los Angeles

The Inter Miami star will be forced out of matches against El Salvador and Costa Rica

Lionel Messi has been ruled out for a pair of upcoming Argentina friendlies in the United States due to injury.

Messi suffered what the Argentina Football Federation (AFA) called a “minor injury” in his right hamstring last Wednesday during Inter Miami’s Concacaf Champions Cup match against Nashville SC.

After missing Inter Miami’s game against D.C. United over the weekend, Messi has now been ruled out for Friday’s game against El Salvador in Philadelphia and a March 26 match against Costa Rica in Los Angeles.

“Argentina captain Lionel Messi won’t be able to be in the squad for the friendlies in the USA due to a minor right hamstring injury suffered in Inter Miami’s match against Nashville SC,” an AFA statement read.

Messi has struggled with injury on multiple occasions so far in 2024, with a preseason muscle injury limiting him during Inter Miami’s tour of Asia.

After recovering in time for the MLS regular season, Messi returned to his usual outstanding form by tallying five goals and two assists across five matches in all competitions.

Though Messi won’t be part of Argentina’s squad for its March friendlies, fans in the U.S. will still have plenty more chances to see the legendary figure if he is healthy this summer.

Argentina will face Ecuador at Soldier Field in Chicago on June 9, before a June 14 match against Guatemala at FedEx Field in Landover, Md. Those two friendlies will take place just before the 2024 Copa América, which could see Argentina play up to six more games in the United States.

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‘Pass the Puffer!’ Boaters encounter ‘very high’ dolphin

The dolphin appeared to have been in a trance, perhaps induced by a toxic substance found in pufferfish.

Tourists in Costa Rica this week encountered a dolphin that appeared to be in a trance or possibly ill.

The accompanying footage shows the boat slowly approaching the dolphin, which remained motionless with its head out of the water.

“Hello. What are you doing buddy?” the tour operator asks as the vessel inches closer. “Are you OK?”

Sierra Goodman of Divine Dolphin described the encounter via social media:

“Bottlenose dolphins will often spyhop, that is sticking their face out of the water to see around them. But this guy was in this position for several minutes with his eyes closed, and did not move until we were right next to him and I could have reached out and touched him.

“He was either deep in meditation, or, as dolphins are known to do, he sucked on a puffer fish, which produces hallucinogenic effects. Either way, we encountered a very high Dolphin! Pass the Puffer!”

Dolphins are known to play with and chew on pufferfish, which contain a toxic substance that is potentially deadly to other fish and marine mammals.

Four years ago, BBC Earth published a YouTube video showing dolphins “passing the puffer” and gently chewing the fish.

It was explained in the footage (posted above) that small doses of the toxin appear to have a narcotic effect on dolphins – enough so, apparently, to place the mammals into a deep trance.

Costa Rica assistant coach Rodriguez dies at age 49

Rodriguez fell ill while traveling in Europe with the Costa Rica national team

Costa Rica men’s national team assistant coach Erick Rodríguez died on Tuesday at age 49, the Costa Rican Football Federation (FCRF) confirmed.

Costa Rica defeated Saudi Arabia in a friendly on Friday in Newcastle, England. The FCRF said in a statement that Rodríguez began to feel unwell on the flight from Newcastle to Zagreb, Croatia, where the Ticos lost to the United Arab Emirates in another friendly on Tuesday.

During a layover in Amsterdam, Rodríguez was taken off the plane to be medically evaluated.

“Saturday, Mr. Rodríguez presented a health issue during the transfer from Newcastle to Zagreb, which is why during the stopover in Amsterdam it was decided that he remain in that city to be medically evaluated, always in the company of a member of the administrative staff of the national team,” read the FCRF statement.

“However, on Sunday he was admitted to the OLVG Hospital in that city. That same day the federation made contacts for his wife to travel to the Netherlands, who managed to arrive Monday. However, in the early hours of Tuesday morning, his health condition worsened and unfortunately Erick Rodríguez died alongside his wife at 3:45 p.m. local time.

“The federation regrets this news, and at the same time is working on all the details for the repatriation of the body, together with the Costa Rican embassy in the Netherlands.”

In a video statement sent by the FCRF, an emotional Costa Rica head coach Claudio Vivas said he learned of Rodríguez’s death during the first half of Tuesday’s friendly against the UAE.

“I found out in the first half. I tried to be as professional as possible in the second half because we had to finish the game,” Vivas said.

“He was a great friend and a great companion. These are things that one has to deal with in life, but it was something very sad and unfortunate that happened in less than 72 hours.”

Rodríguez coached several club teams in Costa Rica during his career, as well as the Costa Rica U-17 and U-23 national teams.

2023 Women’s World Cup Day 12 Recap: Australia sends Canada packing

The Matildas got the performance they needed to reach the knockout stage at Canada’s expense

Day 12 of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup came with plenty of drama as the knockout stages are starting to fill up. There were four games on Day 12: Costa Rica played Zambia, Japan took on Spain, the Republic of Ireland battled it out against Nigeria, and Canada faced off against Australia.

But before we dive into the action, here’s your daily reminder that you can follow the entirety of the World Cup right here on Pro Soccer Wire! Make sure to check out the full TV/streaming schedule, an updated list of the group stage standings, and the rankings in this year’s race for the Golden Boot.

Now, let’s get into the games.

2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Day 7 Recap: Spain, Japan advance easily

We already know who is advancing out of Group C, with only first place left to play for

There were three games of 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup action on Day 7 of the event, and we are officially one week into the tournament. Japan took on Costa Rica, Spain faced off against Zambia, and in the final game of Day 7, Canada went up against the Republic of Ireland.

As you look to keep up with all the action of the tournament, remember that you can get all of the information you need right here at Pro Soccer Wire! We have the TV/streaming schedule, an updated list of the group stage standings, and an updated inventory of the race for the Golden Boot.

Now, let’s get into the action of Day 7.

2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Day 2 Recap: Spain, Switzerland dominate

Spain and Switzerland showed their class, while Canada was held to a frustrating draw

The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup is officially getting into the swing of things, as Day 2 of the event saw a three-game slate on Friday (Or Thursday night into early Friday morning, for those not living in the host countries). Nigeria took on Canada, Switzerland faced off against the Philippines, and Spain battled it out against Costa Rica.

Before diving into the action, a quick reminder about our coverage of the World Cup here at Pro Soccer Wire. Make sure to keep up with the games by checking out the TV/streaming schedule, a constantly updated list of the standings, and the Golden Boot race at all times.

With that, let’s see how the games played out on Day 2.

Spain beat Costa Rica 7-0 and it wasn’t even that close

It’s not a stretch to say Costa Rica’s World Cup may already be over

Maybe Costa Rica saw a couple of the big upsets at this World Cup so far and, ahead of its World Cup opener against Spain, thought: why not us?

That question was answered pretty quickly and emphatically: Because Spain is very good and the Ticos very much are not.

Spain hammered Costa Rica 7-0 on Wednesday in a scoreline that somehow actually flattered the Ticos. La Roja opened the scoring with Dani Olmo’s 11th-minute goal and didn’t let up until Álvaro Morata scored the seventh in stoppage time.

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With the goal-differential crater it now occupies, combined with tough games ahead against Germany and Japan, it’s not a stretch to say Costa Rica’s World Cup may already be over.

How comprehensive was Spain’s win over Costa Rica? Let’s start with possession. Spain dominated the ball to the tune of 81.3% possession, which was the highest total at a World Cup for 56 years.

But of course, possession isn’t everything. You have to turn all of that ball control into meaningful chances. So what about expected goals? The picture there was just as grim: Spain was at 2.98 xG, while Costa Rica finished with 0.00. That’s zero point zero zero.

That’s actually hard to do!

To be fair to Spain, its performance was outstanding. The highlight may have been the fifth goal, scored by wonderkid Gavi with a lovely volley off the post.

With the strike, the 18-year-old became the third-youngest player to ever score at a World Cup and the youngest since a 17-year-old Pele scored a brace against Sweden in the 1958 World Cup final.

For Spain, it was the team’s largest margin of victory ever at a World Cup. The challenge level will only go up from here, but La Roja have laid down a marker early in this World Cup. For Costa Rica, it may be about damage limitation the rest of the way.

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Extraordinary eco-adventures you won’t want to miss in Costa Rica

Costa Rica’s lush landscapes call to adventurous souls worldwide.

On a trip to northwestern Costa Rica with Choose Life Sober Adventures, nobody missed sitting around the pool drinking. There is so much to do in this Central American country known for ecotourism and biodiversity. Our group of nondrinkers bonded as we spent three days among the forest and waterfalls of Volcán Rincón de la Vieja National Park and three days in the sun and sand at Playa Carrillo. The days started early and ran full throttle as we explored the country’s land, water, and wildlife. Curious about what kinds of excursions are available for energetic travelers? Here are some of northwestern Costa Rica’s top eco-adventures.