The USMNT is two wins away from its eighth Gold Cup title. But before thinking about that, there’s Guatemala standing in the way — a team that wasn’t supposed to make it this far and now has nothing to lose. The semifinal happens at Energizer Park, the home of St. Louis CITY SC, and it brings together two very different paths. One is rebuilding under constant pressure. The other is playing free, with no weight on their shoulders.
The U.S. didn’t have a smooth ride to this stage. Even after winning all three Group D matches, they had to get past Costa Rica in a penalty shootout in the quarterfinals. The match finished 2-2. Real Salt Lake’s Diego Luna and Columbus Crew’s Max Arfsten both scored their first international goals. Then came the penalties. New York City FC’s Matt Freese made three key saves, and Damion Downs converted the final shot to seal the win, 4-3 on penalties.
Against Costa Rica, the USMNT got to win, but not without raising concerns
This result pushed the USMNT into its 17th Gold Cup semifinal in 18 tournaments. They’re chasing their first title since 2021. But Guatemala just pulled off one of the biggest results in their history. They held Canada to a 1-1 draw, then moved on with a 6–5 win on penalties.
Former Real Salt Lake forward Rubio Rubin scored the equalizer with a header in the second half, after Canada took the lead on a first-half penalty from Jonathan David. José Morales hit the winning penalty. The surprise came in goal — Kenderson Navarro stepped in for injured Columbus Crew keeper Nicholas Hagen and delivered.
Guatemala’s squad includes DC United defender Aaron Herrera and CF Montréal forward Olger Escobar. This is their first Gold Cup semifinal since 1996. Despite being ranked 106th in the FIFA World Rankings, they’ve ignored the odds and made their run.
For the U.S., this tournament is more than just about the title. It’s the last serious test before hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2026. Coach Mauricio Pochettino brought a squad with 15 MLS players. After a strong group stage, the team needed extra effort to get past Costa Rica. Some players are new to the national team environment. Many are playing their first Gold Cup. The average number of caps is just 16. But they’ve been together for nearly a month now, starting from the friendlies in June.
In that window, the U.S. lost to Turkey and Switzerland, both strong UEFA teams. Those games exposed gaps. The group is still developing, and the Gold Cup became the only chance for real competitive experience before 2026.
Now, here comes Guatemala
Now there’s pressure. Getting knocked out now would be disappointing. Not because of Guatemala’s quality — they’ve earned respect — but because of the expectations around the U.S. team. History also plays a role. The U.S. and Guatemala have played 27 times. The Americans lead with 16 wins, 6 draws, and 5 losses. Their last Gold Cup meeting was back in 2007, when the U.S. won 1-0.
It’s been almost 10 years since they faced off in a World Cup qualifying series in 2016. No current players were part of that. This is a new generation on both sides. For the U.S., it’s a young group, still finding its rhythm. For Guatemala, it’s a chance to do something that wasn’t expected from them.
The U.S. arrived as a team that many believed would make it to the semifinals. That’s been the case in 13 straight tournaments since 2000. Even with a less experienced roster, that expectation didn’t change. Now that they’re here, the real question is what this match means for the team’s direction.
Guatemala won’t make it easy. They’ve already broken through expectations and come in with confidence, not pressure. For them, getting here is already a statement. For the U.S., it’s about proving they’re actually ready for what’s ahead.