Mexico vs. Costa Rica: World Cup 2018 Qualifying Live Stream and Preview

Costa Rica have made a fine start to the final stage of CONCACAF qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, winning both of their opening two matches to sit atop the Hexagonal standings.

They will be looking to keep their perfect record intact when they face Mexico at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on Friday.

But El Tri have major motivation to pick up all three points as they could leapfrog Costa Rica into top spot with a victory.

Read on for a preview of an intriguing fixture, along with scheduling and viewing information.

Date: Friday, March 24

Time: 8:50 p.m. ET, 12:50 a.m. GMT

TV Info: Fox Sports 1 (U.S.)

Live Stream: Fox Sports Go

Preview

Mexico will be without a number of key players when they host Costa Rica for what is likely to be one of the most competitive clashes of CONCACAF qualifying so far.

According to ESPN FC's Cesar Hernandez, manager Juan Carlos Osorio will be missing Hirving Lozano of Pachuca, L.A. Galaxy's Giovani dos Santos, Eintracht Frankfurt's Marco Fabian, Porto's Jesus Corona, Tigres winger Javier Aquino and PSV Eindhoven's Andres Guardado because of injury. 

Per ESPN FC's Tom Marshall, centre-back Hector Moreno could also be another absentee:

However, despite the Mexico squad having been ravaged, they should still pose a real threat to Costa Rica's perfect record on Friday.

The likes of Javier Hernandez, Carlos Vela and Hector Herrera are all available. And, per Hernandez, Jonathan dos Santos has been in fine form for Villarreal and could drop in to replace Guardado.

So far in the Hexagonal, Mexico have beaten the United States and drawn with Panama, both away from home.

Playing in front of their own fans at the Azteca should give El Tri a big boost, and they will cause Costa Rica problems despite all their injuries.

La Sele's two victories so far in the final stage of qualifying have come against Trinidad and Tobago and the United States. 

EZEQUIEL BECERRA/Getty Images

After Friday's fixture against Mexico, they face another tough away qualifier against Honduras.

But confidence is clearly high in the Costa Rica camp, and winger Christian Bolanos has said their goal is to go out and win every game, per CONCACAF: "Our mentality is always to go out to win. We believe that we can get the six points. We have to think like that if we want to continue in the search for qualifying. We know the quality of the two opponents. It will not be easy, but we will be betting on doing our job well and playing smart matches."

ESPN's Eric Gomez is still favouring Mexico:

Osorio's squad is packed with enough quality to pick up three points and move to the top of the standings.

But it is sure to be a tight and entertaining contest between Mexico and Costa Rica as they both aim to take a step closer to the 2018 World Cup.