Mexico Sets Up Decisive Clash with Puerto Rico

for FIVB World Cup Berth and Olympic Qualifier Spot

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, August 25, 2026 – Mexico defeated Costa Rica 3-0 (25-19, 25-7, 25-15) to advance to the fifth-place match of the 2026 NORCECA Women’s Continental Championship at the Prof. Ricardo Gioriver Arias Volleyball Palace.

Mexico will face Puerto Rico this Wednesday in a decisive fifth-place match, with the winner securing a berth in the 2027 FIVB Women’s World Cup and a spot in the NORCECA Olympic Qualification Tournament for the LA 2028 Olympic Games.

Costa Rica will face Trinidad and Tobago for seventh place.

Mexico outperformed Costa Rica in all scoring categories, leading in attacks (39-17), blocks (7-2), and aces (7-0). Both teams committed 22 errors.

Mexico’s offense was led by Aimé Topete with 13 points (9 attacks, 2 blocks, and 2 aces), followed by Sofía Maldonado with 12 (10 attacks and 2 blocks), while Karina Flores added 10.

For Costa Rica, María Sofía Arroyo and María del Sol Venegas scored 6 points each.

Nicola Negro, Mexico’s coach: “Today was a game we had to win. We were able to give some players a rest, and tomorrow we have a very important match because qualification for the World Cup is at stake. We have 24 hours to prepare for that game against Puerto Rico.”

Ciro Zoratti, Costa Rica’s coach: “I think that for a large part of the game we did what we planned to do, but the pressure Mexico puts on from the service line is very high, and if your reception isn’t very good, the game falls apart. Overall, it was a positive game for us, better than yesterday’s, so our process is going as well as possible.”