USA vs. Guatemala Preview

MNT one win away from Gold Cup Final

It hasn’t always looked likely, but the USMNT has found a way to make it to their thirteenth straight Gold Cup semifinal. Between their four straight losses coming into the tournament and then the ups and downs within the quarterfinal game against Costa Rica, it felt like this year might be the first time since 2000 that the US fell before the semifinals. But somehow, some way, the found their way through and are now set to face Guatemala in the semis.

Sunday’s game against Costa Rica could not have gotten off to a worse start. Max Arfsten gave the ball away and then compounded his mistake by giving away a penalty that Francisco Calvo promptly dispatched. But the US was awarded a penalty of their own later in the first half, only for Malik Tillman to hit the post. Persevering in the face of adversity is not something the USMNT has been capable of for a number of years, but that’s exactly what they did against Costa Rica on Saturday. Conceding an early goal and missing a penalty could have sent them into a tailspin. But they kept fighting and were duly rewarded with an equalizer from Diego Luna just before halftime. And then just after halftime they came out and scored almost immediately as Arfsten atoned for his early mistake. Unfortunately, the US was unable to find a third and another Arfsten giveaway saw Costa Rica tie the game with less than 20 minutes to play. The prospect of facing Keylor Navas, arguably CONCACAF’s greatest ever goalkeeper, in penalties was not an enticing one. Enter, Matt Freese.

The most troubled position for the USMNT over the last 12 to 18 months has been goalkeeper. Even at this tournament, Freese had done little to suggest he was working his way up the depth chart (his disastrous mistake against Haiti gifting them an equalizer). But during penalties against the Ticos he was the man of the hour, stopping three of the six shots he faced and getting his hand to two others. And despite two US misses, Alex Freeman was able to step up and seal the deal for the Americans.

Guatemala, too, earned their way into the semifinals by winning a quarterfinal on penalties. They made it to the knockout rounds by finishing second in their group after beating Jamaica and Guadeloupe but losing to Panama. In the quarterfinals they faced a heavily favored Canada team and fell behind early. But thanks to a Canadian red card just before halftime, Los Chapines were able to find an equalizer through former US international, Rubio Rubin before ultimately prevailing on penalties. But their performance at this Gold Cup shouldn’t come as a huge shock as they have done well for themselves during World Cup Qualifying. The finished as group runners-up in the second round behind Jamaica with nine points out of a possible twelve. They have been drawn into Group A in the third round with Panama, El Salvador, and Suriname.

When, Where

Date: Wednesday, July 2, 2025

Stadium: Energizer Park

City: St. Louis, MO

Time: 7pm ET

TV: FS1

All-Time Series

USA leads 16-5-6

Last Meeting

Date: Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Stadium: Historic Crew Stadium

City: Columbus, OH

Attendance: 20,624

Result: USA 4-0 Guatemala

Current FIFA Ranking

USA: 16

Guatemala: 106

Next Game

TBD

Photo Credit: US Soccer