Mexico Wins 11th CONCACAF U-20 Title
First reported April 11, 2011 · Updated October 28, 2026
April 11, 2011 | Guatemala City
Mexico defeated Costa Rica 3-1 in the final of the 2011 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship on April 10, claiming its 11th continental title in the age category. Costa Rica took an early lead through Joseph Mora, but Mexico responded quickly and went on to win with two goals from Ulises Dávila and another from Carlos Orrantía.
The result ended Costa Rica’s attempt to retain the regional title it had won in 2009. Both finalists had already qualified for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Colombia, so the match was about the championship itself and the momentum the teams would carry into the global event.
Costa Rica strikes first
Costa Rica went ahead in the 17th minute when Mora finished a move involving Juan Golobio. The goal gave Ronald González’s team an early advantage against a Mexican side that had been aggressive from the opening stages.
Mexico’s response was nearly immediate. Dávila equalized in the 18th minute, redirecting the contest before Costa Rica could settle into defending its lead. The quick change in score shaped the remainder of the half.
Mexico moved in front in the 39th minute when Orrantía struck from distance. His goal gave the Mexican side a 2-1 lead at halftime and placed Costa Rica in the position of having to chase the game against a team increasingly confident in possession.
Dávila scored again in the 52nd minute to extend the lead to 3-1. Costa Rica needed two goals to get back on level terms, but Mexico defended its advantage through the final whistle.
A strong tournament despite the defeat
Costa Rica reached the championship match after defeating Guatemala 2-1 in the semifinals. The team’s run demonstrated the depth of a talented age-group squad, even though the final exposed the difficulty of containing Mexico’s attack.
The match featured young players who attracted attention for their performances during the tournament, including Costa Rican forward Joel Campbell. For Costa Rica, qualification for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup remained an important achievement regardless of the loss in the final.
Mexico’s victory also had a broader historical dimension. The country had won numerous regional youth titles, but this was its first championship in the competition since 1992, according to the tournament account. The title run restored Mexico to the top of CONCACAF’s under-20 competition.
What happened next
Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Panama advanced from the regional tournament to the 2011 FIFA Under-20 World Cup. A later CONCACAF statistical briefing confirmed the April 10 result, the 3-1 scoreline and the principal scorers, making this one of the best-documented historical sports stories in the archive.
Questions and answers
Who won the 2011 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship? Mexico.
What was the final score against Costa Rica? Mexico won 3-1.
Who scored for Costa Rica? Joseph Mora, in the 17th minute.
Did Costa Rica qualify for the U-20 World Cup? Yes. Costa Rica was one of four CONCACAF qualifiers from the tournament.