Published on Tuesday, February 20, 2024

By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services

When it comes to Soccer World Cup Qualifying (WCQ) between the United States and Costa Rica, it is all about defending a place on home soil. 

The game will take place tonight at 7 p.m. (9 p.m. ET) at the Ricardo Saprissa Stadium in Tibas Canton, San José.

According to the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concaf), the remaining six match-ups in Round One of the 2024 Champions Cup get started this week with their respective first leg matches, starting in an all-Major League Soccer (MLS) affair between debutants St. Louis City SC and the Houston Dynamo in St. Louis. 

The nightcap will see a rematch of a 2021 Champions Cup Round of 16 ties, as Costa Rican giants Deportivo Saprissa host the Philadelphia Union.

Deportivo Saprissa of Costa Rica and the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer (MLS) will renew acquaintances in the first leg of Round One of the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup.

These two teams met three years ago in the 2021 Champions Cup Round of 16, with Philadelphia winning both legs, a 1-0 final in Costa Rica in the first leg, followed by a 4-0 triumph at home.

With the backing of their venerable home crowd, Saprissa will be targeting a much better start this time around. The Ticos qualified for their 37th Champions Cup thanks to winning one of the two 2023 Concacaf Central American Cup Play-In matches.

The three-time Concacaf champions, like always, have some very good attacking pieces, among them Javon East, Ariel Rodriguez and Orlando Sinclair. Each player scored four goals during the 2023 Concacaf Central American Cup.

The Philadelphia Union claimed their 2024 Champions Cup spot by finishing third in the 2023 Leagues Cup, defeating five-time Concacaf champions Monterrey to do it.

Philadelphia Union are no strangers to bagging goals, either. FW Julian Carranza and attacking MF Daniel Gazdag enjoyed exceptional seasons in 2023 in MLS with 14 goals each, while Gazdag also chipped in with 11 assists.

That duo also led the Union to the semifinals of the 2023 Champions Cup, with Gazdag scoring three goals and Carranza notching a pair of scores.

In two Champions Cup appearances, Philadelphia has reached the semifinals in each instance and will be targeting a strong first leg in Costa Rica to start another deep run.

Tickets are still available on the Boleteriamorada website. Also, the game will be broadcast live on ESPN and Star+.

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What teams are you picking for  the Concacaf Champions Cup?  We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com