If you were watching the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup, you already know. The United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) squeezed past Guatemala with a 2-1 victory in a match that was way more stressful than it should have been.
It wasn't a blowout. Not even close.
It was a hot July night in St. Louis, and for about 15 minutes, it looked like the U.S. was going to cruise. Then things got weird. Guatemala didn't just show up to participate; they basically tried to hijack the narrative of the entire tournament.
The Diego Luna Show in St. Louis
Honestly, if you're asking who won USA vs Guatemala, the real answer is Diego Luna. The kid was everywhere.
The match started like a dream for Mauricio Pochettino’s squad. Just four minutes in, Luca de la Torre fired a shot that the Guatemalan keeper, Kenderson Navarro, couldn't quite hang onto. Luna was right there. He collected the rebound with his right foot and slotted it home with his left. 1-0.
Then, in the 15th minute, Malik Tillman—who has been in incredible form lately—found Luna again. Luna didn't hesitate. He beat a defender, found a pocket of space, and ripped a right-footed shot into the lower corner from just outside the box.
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At that point, Energizer Park was jumping. A 2-0 lead in the first quarter-hour? Most people thought it was over.
When Things Got Gritty
But soccer is never that simple. Guatemala, known as Los Chapines, decided to turn the match into a physical battle. We’re talking 30 total fouls. Six yellow cards. It was "Concacaf" in its purest, most chaotic form.
The U.S. started to fade. It’s a bad habit this team has—starting like a Ferrari and finishing like a lawnmower.
Guatemala outshot the U.S. 20 to 12. Think about that for a second. The underdog had nearly double the attempts on goal.
The Late Scare
In the 80th minute, the tension finally snapped. Olger Escobar, the 18-year-old CF Montréal winger, found a gap in the U.S. midfield. He took a pass from Arquímidez Ordóñez and buried a low strike past Matt Freese.
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Suddenly, it was 2-1.
The final ten minutes were pure survival mode. Pochettino had already subbed off Luna and Tyler Adams, so the U.S. had to "park the bus." Walker Zimmerman came on in the 85th minute to shore up a five-back formation.
Matt Freese had to make a massive save in stoppage time to keep the lead. If he misses that, we’re talking about one of the biggest collapses in U.S. soccer history.
Why This Win Was Actually a Big Deal
Look, a 2-1 win over Guatemala might not sound like a statement, but it punched the USA's ticket to their 13th Gold Cup Final. It also proved that Diego Luna is the real deal. After being left off the Olympic roster previously, he used this tournament to basically scream for a spot on the 2026 World Cup roster.
Landon Donovan said it best on the broadcast: the guy has become an absolute star.
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Match Breakdown
- Final Score: USA 2, Guatemala 1
- Scorers: Diego Luna (4', 15') for USA; Olger Escobar (80') for Guatemala.
- Venue: Energizer Park, St. Louis, MO.
- Attendance: 22,423 (Sellout).
- The stakes: This was the Gold Cup Semifinal. The win sent the U.S. to face Mexico in the final.
What’s Next for the USMNT?
Now that we're into early 2026, the focus has shifted entirely to the World Cup. The U.S. Soccer Federation actually did away with the traditional "January Camp" this year, moving it to December to better prepare for the massive summer ahead.
If you're looking for the next time the U.S. takes the pitch, mark your calendars for March 28, 2026. They'll be facing Belgium at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. That's followed by a clash with Portugal on March 31.
These aren't just friendlies. They are the final dress rehearsals before the World Cup opener against Paraguay on June 12 at SoFi Stadium.
Tactical Takeaways
If you’re a coach or just a die-hard fan, there are three things to keep an eye on based on that Guatemala win:
- Midfield Stability: The U.S. struggled to keep control once Tyler Adams left the pitch. Finding a backup who can "kill" a game is priority number one.
- The Luna-Pulisic Puzzle: How does Pochettino fit both Diego Luna and Christian Pulisic into the starting XI without losing defensive shape? It's a "good" problem to have, but a problem nonetheless.
- Fitness Levels: The drop-off in the second half against Guatemala was alarming. In a World Cup, top-tier teams like Germany or Portugal won't let you off the hook if you stop playing at the 60-minute mark.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on the injury reports for Benjamin Cremaschi and Chris Richards, who were recently named U.S. Soccer’s Young Male and Male Players of the Year respectively. Their health will dictate how deep this team can actually go when the world arrives on our doorstep this June.