The race for the 32nd and final place at Qatar 2022 comes down to Costa Rica vs New Zealand, an intercontinental World Cup playoff showdown that pits the best of Oceania against a team that seemingly loves to do things the hard way. Who will get their hands on the last golden ticket? Read on to find out how to get a Costa Rica vs New Zealand live stream today, no matter where you are in the world - including ways to watch for FREE.
It's a surprise to see Anthony Contreras, who's still searching for his first international goal, start up front instead of the comparatively prolific Johan Venegas, who's had a terrific season for Alajuelense. Luis Fernando Suárez has also opted to keep captain Bryan Ruiz in reserve, and it will be intriguing to see what happens if Los Ticos have to chase the game. Ruiz will call time on his international career if Costa Rica miss out on the World Cup, and while he's no longer the force he once was, an icon of his standing deserves a sendoff.
It's been a while since New Zealand skipper Winston Reid last played club football, and it showed in their friendly defeat to Peru at the start of the month. The former West Ham man is in the starting lineup, however, and it could be a risky selection. Marko Stamenic has looked in recent outings, and could be a very useful resource from the bench. But there's no question who the danger man is. Chris Wood starts up front, and the All Whites will be looking to feed him at every opportunity.
Date: Tuesday, June 14
Kick-off time: 9pm AST (local) / 6am NZST / 4am AEST / 7pm BST / 2pm ET / 11am PT
Venue: Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar
Free stream: BBC iPlayer (UK)
Watch from anywhere: Try ExpressVPN 100% risk-free
Costa Rica's route to the 2022 World Cup looked fairly straightforward, but an abysmal start to their CONCACAF qualification campaign soon made every game a must-win. And boy, did they step up to the plate. Suárez's men took 19 points from their last seven games, and now stand on the brink of qualification for their third successive World Cup. Former Arsenal striker Joel Campbell and goalkeeper Keylor Navas have been the main men at both ends of the pitch.
The playoffs have been an unhappy hunting ground for the All Whites, who have been on the wrong side of the last two editions. Having had precious few opportunities to test their mettle against quality opposition, they're undoubtedly the underdogs, but Danny Hay has the perfect weapon to hurt Costa Rica with. Time after time their defense has panicked under the high ball, and Wood looks poised to play a key role today.
The winner will join Germany, Spain and Japan in Group E. Follow our guide to get a Costa Rica vs New Zealand live stream and watch this 2022 World Cup playoff online from anywhere.
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How to watch Costa Rica vs New Zealand: live stream World Cup playoff for FREE
How to watch Costa Rica vs New Zealand from outside your country
If you're abroad right now and struggling to tap into your local coverage of the game, you'll want a VPN. This'll help you circumvent the geo-blocking that will try to stop you watching a Costa Rica vs New Zealand live stream in particular parts of the world.
They're a useful means of getting around this issue, plus they're cheap and easy to set up. Here's how it's done.
Use a VPN to watch Costa Rica vs New Zealand from anywhere
How to use a VPN
Using a VPN is as easy as one-two-three...
1. Download and install a VPN - as we say, our top choice is ExpressVPN.
2. Connect to the appropriate server location - open the VPN app, hit 'choose location' and select the appropriate location e.g. UK
3. Go to the broadcaster's stream - head to your home broadcaster's site or app and watch as if you were at home - so that's BBC iPlayer if you're a UK citizen abroad right now.
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