:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/54518867/usa-today-8678138.0.jpg)
If this game has a winner, that winner will close out the group stage of the 2017 CONCACAF Men's U-17 Championship at the top of Group B, and head to a Classification Stage group with Panama and (probably) Mexico (but possibly Jamaica if something very surprising happens on the last day of Group C games on April 29).
Costa Rica has won both its games in the tournament to date and is favorite to win this one. But Cuba surprisingly beat Canada after a lackluster draw with Suriname in its opening game. The Cubans might have a little bit more to them than expected, or they might just have had a good day against Canada - this game could settle that question.
Barring a surprise result in the earlier game between Canada and Suriname (i.e. a Suriname win), both Costa Rica and Cuba should be heading to the next round of this Championship regardless of the result of this match. A win or tie sends Costa Rica through in first place in Group B; Cuba needs to win to claim top spot in the group. But there won't be any easy games in the Classification Stage. If both sides already know they are through to the next round by the time this match kicks off, it could play out as a dead-rubber game as the teams look ahead to more meaningful games in the Classification Stage.