Mexico vs Honduras

The United States, hosting the Gold Cup, are one victory away from reaching the final as they gear up for a semi-final clash against surprise contenders Guatemala in St. Louis on Wednesday.

Both teams advanced from the quarter-finals via penalty shootouts, setting the stage for a thrilling encounter. The USMNT, determined to recapture the CONCACAF crown after losing it two years ago, moved closer to the title with a hard-fought win over Costa Rica last weekend. Despite dominating the group stage with an 8-1 goal tally against Saudi Arabia, Haiti, and Trinidad & Tobago, the U.S. faced a tough challenge in Minneapolis. Mauricio Pochettino’s squad overcame an early penalty concession, a missed penalty of their own, and a late equalizer to secure a 2-2 draw, with Diego Luna and Max Arfsten netting their first international goals. The match went straight to penalties, where Damion Downs sealed the victory with Matt Freese making three crucial saves.

Unbeaten and boasting a strong Gold Cup record—reaching the semi-finals in 17 of 18 tournaments, including 13 consecutive times since 2000—the U.S. are favorites despite fielding a depleted roster. Pochettino faces pressure to outperform their recent fourth-place finish in the CONCACAF Nations League, with the team eyeing both the Gold Cup and a strong showing at next year’s World Cup.

Meanwhile, Guatemala, led by Luis Fernando Tena, are thrilled to reach the semi-finals. After finishing second in Group C with a narrow 3-2 win over Guadeloupe, following a victory against Jamaica and a loss to Panama, they advanced to the quarter-finals for the second straight tournament. Their historic breakthrough came last week, defeating Canada in a dramatic penalty shootout after Rubio Rubin’s equalizer canceled out Jonathan David’s opener, capitalizing on Canada’s first-half red card. Guatemala’s 6-5 shootout win marked their first semi-final appearance this century.

Despite their underdog status, Guatemala face a daunting challenge, having lost four of their last five matches against the U.S., conceding 17 goals. The seven-time champions remain focused on securing a spot in Sunday’s final against either Honduras or Mexico.