World Cup 2002: USA Eliminate Mexico To Reach Quarters; Costa Rica Missed Knockout Stage On Tiebreaker

By Steven Torres - ANCCIF President   (Posted on  31 May 2026)

The 2002 FIFA World Cup broke new ground as the first tournament co-hosted by two nations, Japan and the Korea Republic, and the first to take place on Asian soil. It also marked a golden era for Concacaf, as three nations from the region took the world stage by storm. Mexico and the USA both survived the grueling group stage to set up an unprecedented civil war in the ‘Round of 16,’ while a resilient Costa Rica fell just short of the knockout rounds on a heartbreaking tiebreaker.

El Tri Conquers Group G

Mexico arrived in Asia making its 12th World Cup appearance. At the helm was manager Javier Aguirre, who had previously suited up for the El Tri squad that reached the 1986 quarterfinals on home soil. Placed in a formidable Group G alongside Croatia, Ecuador, and powerhouse Italy, Mexico opened its campaign on 3 June at the Niigata Big Swan Stadium. A 60th-minute penalty from Cuauhtémoc Blanco proved to be the difference, securing a 1:0 victory over Croatia before 32,239 fans.

Six days later (9 June) at Miyagi Stadium, Mexico kept the momentum alive. Goals from Jared Borgetti (29th minute) and Gerardo Torrado (57th) propelled El Tri to a 2:1 triumph over Ecuador in front of 45,610 spectators. Mexico clinched the top spot in its group for the third time in history on 13 June by holding Italy to a thrilling 1:1 draw. Before 39,291 spectators at the Ōita Big Eye Stadium, Borgetti scored a spectacular looping header in the 34th minute. Though Alessandro Del Piero salvaged an equalizer for Italy with five minutes left, both sides celebrated advancing to the ‘Round-of16.’

Heartbreak for the Ticos

Costa Rica returned to the global stage for the first time since its iconic 1990 run, led by former national team star Alexandre Borges Guimarães as its coach. The Ticos didn't miss a beat. They kicked off Group C on 4 June with a dominant 2:0 win over China at Gwangju Stadium. Second-half strikes from Ronald Gómez (61st) and Mauricio Wright (65th) secured Costa Rica’s first-ever World Cup win against an Asian opponent, delighting the 27,217 fans in attendance.

Five days later (9 June) at Incheon Stadium, 42,299 fans watched Costa Rica display incredible grit against Turkey. Trailing late, Winston Parks struck a dramatic equalizer with four minutes remaining to secure a vital 1:1 draw. On 13 June, the Ticos faced a monumental task at Suwon Stadium against four-time champions Brazil, needing a result to guarantee advancement. It wasn't meant to be. A brace from Ronaldo fueled a 5:2 masterclass by the Samba Kings before a crowd of 38,524. Despite goals from Gómez and Paulo César Wanchope, Costa Rica was eliminated. They finished level with Turkey on four points and shared an identical 1:1 head-to-head record, meaning Turkey advanced strictly on the total goal-difference tiebreaker.

The Stars & Stripes Shock the World

The USA entered the tournament for the seventh time in history and was eager to bury the ghosts of a last-place finish at France 1998. They were led by Brooklyn native Bruce Arena, a legendary collegiate coach with the University of Virginia and a two-time MLS Cup champion with D.C. United. The Stars & Stripes opened Group D on 5 June at Suwon Stadium with one of the most stunning upsets in tournament history: a 3:2 victory over a star-studded Portugal lineup featuring Luís Figo.

In front of 37,306 fans, an own goal paired with strikes from John O'Brien and Brian McBride gave the U.S. an unbelievable 3:0 lead inside 36 minutes. Portugal fought back, getting a goal from Beto and a 71st-minute own goal from U.S. defender Jeff Agoos, but the Stars & Stripes held firm. It was the first U.S. victory over a European opponent at the World Cup since defeating England in 1950.

On 10 June, the USA battled co-hosts Korea Republic to a ferocious 1:1 draw at Daegu Stadium. Clint Mathis gave the Stars & Stripes the lead in the 24th minute in front of a hostile crowd of 60,778. The hosts had a chance to level from the penalty spot before halftime, but Brad Friedel made a spectacular stop, becoming the first USA goalkeeper to save a World Cup penalty in regular play since 1990. Ahn Jung-hwan eventually found the equalizer for Korea in the 78th minute.

Needing a result against an already-eliminated Poland on 14 June to guarantee advancement, the USA stumbled. A crowd of 26,482 in Daejeon Stadium saw Poland storm to a 3:0 lead by the 66th minute. Landon Donovan pulled one back in the 83rd minute, but Poland secured the 3:1 win. Miraculously, the USA still advanced to the knockout rounds after the Korea Republic defeated Portugal 1:0 simultaneously in Incheon.

Dos a Cero in Jeonju

For the first time since 1970, two Concacaf nations met in the World Cup encounter. The bitter North American rivalry took center stage on 17 June at Jeonju Stadium, where 40,440 fans witnessed history. McBride struck early in the eighth minute, and Donovan sealed the match in the 65th, handing the USA a historic 2:0 victory over Mexico. It marked the first modern World Cup knockout win for the Stars & Stripes and punched their ticket to the final eight.

Germans Stop USA Run

The magical run came to an end on 21 June at Ulsan Munsu Stadium against three-time champions Germany. After Michael Ballack gave the Germans a 1:0 lead, the U.S. dominated the second half, throwing everything forward. The match was defined by controversy when Scottish referee Hugh Dallas failed to call a clear handball on the goal line by German defender Torsten Frings, denying the Stars & Stripes a certain equalizer. Despite outplaying the Europeans, the 37,337 fans saw the USA fall just short as Germany marched on to the semifinals.

The Final Showdown

Germany would go on to the final to take on Brazil on 30 June at Japan’s Yokohama International Stadium, marking the first time these two powerhouses had ever met in World Cup history. However, a pair of second-half tallies from Ronaldo gave the Samba Kings their record fifth title, much to the delight of the 69,029 fans in attendance.

2002 World Cup

Costa Rica Roster

GK: Érick Lonis (Deportivo Saprissa), Álvaro Mesén (LD Alajuelense), Léster Morgan (CS Herediano);

DF: Carlos Castro (LD Alajuelense), Pablo Chinchilla (LD Alajuelense), Jervis Drummond (Deportivo Saprissa), Luis Antonio Marín (LD Alajuelense), Gilberto Tuma Martínez (Deportivo Saprissa), Juan José Peché Rodríguez (AD San Carlos), Hárold Wallace (LD Alajuelense), Mauricio Wright (CS Herediano);

MD: Steven Bryce (LD Alajuelense), Wálter Paté Centeno (Deportivo Saprissa), Rodrigo Rocky Cordero (CS Herediano), Wílmer Pato López (LD Alajuelense), Mauricio Solís (LD Alajuelense), Luis Daniel Vallejos (CS Herediano); 

AT: Rolando Fonseca (LD Alajuelense), Ronald La Bala Gómez (OFI Crete FC/GRE), Hernán Medford (Deportivo Saprissa), Winston Parks (Udinese/ITA), William Sunsing (CS Herediano), Paulo César Wanchope (Manchester City/ENG).

TD: Alexandre Borges Guimarães (CRC)

Mexico Roster

GK: Jorge Campos (Pumas UNAM), Óscar Pérez (CD SC Cruz Azul), Oswaldo Sánchez (CD Guadalajara);

DF: Melvin Brown (CD SC Cruz Azul), Salvador Carmona (CD Toluca), Francisco Gabriel de Anda (CF Pachuca), Rafael Márquez (AS Monaco FC/FRA), Alberto Rodríguez (CF Pachuca), Manuel Vidrio (CF Pachuca);

MD: Gabriel Caballero (CF Pachuca), Rafael García (CD Toluca), Alberto García Aspe (Club Puebla), Braulio Luna (CID Necaxa), Sigifredo Mercado (Atlas FC), Ramón Morales (CD Guadalajara), Johan Rodríguez (Club Santos Laguna), Gerardo Torrado (Sevilla FC/ESP), Germán Villa (Club América);

AT: Jesús Arellano (CF Monterrey), Cuauhtémoc Blanco (Real Valladolid CF/ESP), Jared Borgetti (Club Santos Laguna), Luis Hernández (Club América), Francisco Palencia (RCD Espanyol/ESP).

TD: Javier Aguirre (MEX)

USA Roster

GK: Brad Friedel (Blackburn Rovers FC/ENG), Kasey Keller (Tottenham Hotspur FC/ENG), Tony Meola (Sporting Kansas City);

DF: Jeff Agoos (San Jose Earthquakes), Gregg Berhalter (Crystal Palace FC/ENG), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96/GER), Carlos Llamosa (New England Revolution), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids), Eddie Pope (D.C. United), David Regis (FC Metz/FRA), Tony Sanneh (1. FC Nürnberg/GER);

MD: DaMarcus Beasley (Chicago Fire), Frankie Hejduk (Bayer 04 Leverkusen/GER), Eddie Lewis (Fulham FC/ENG), John O'Brien (AFC Ajax/NED), Cobi Jones (Los Angeles Galaxy), Claudio Reyna (Sunderland AFC/ENG), Earnie Stewart (NAC Breda/NED);

AT: Landon Donovan (San Jose Earthquakes) Clint Mathis (New York Red Bulls), Brian McBride (Columbus Crew), Joe-Max Moore (Everton FC/ENG), Josh Wolff (Chicago Fire).

TD: Bruce Arena (USA)

Editor’s Note: Acknowledgement to ANCCIF North Zone Board Member – Marcelo Assaf (Mexico) & ANCCIF Member - Rodrigo Calvo (Costa Rica)  for their assistance on this article