The United States Men's National Team (USMNT) has secured its place in the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup Final after a 2-1 victory over Guatemala. The match, held at Energizer Park in St. Louis, Missouri, saw midfielder Diego Luna score both goals for the Americans, propelling them to their 13th Gold Cup Final appearance.
Luna, who also scored his first national team goal in the quarterfinal against Costa Rica, continued his impressive form by netting his first international brace. His goals in the first half proved decisive, as the U.S. managed to fend off Guatemala's attempts to equalize.
The USMNT, under the guidance of current manager Mauricio Pochettino, is now one step closer to claiming their eighth Gold Cup title. They won the inaugural tournament in 1991 and last lifted the trophy in 2021. Only two players from the 2021 starting XI, goalkeeper Matt Turner and defender Miles Robinson, are on the current roster, signaling a new generation of players ready to make their mark.
Guatemala, who reached their first Gold Cup semifinal since 1996, put up a strong fight, but ultimately fell short against a determined U.S. side. To reach the semi-final, Guatemala earned a 1-1 draw against Canada and prevailed 6-5 on penalties. In their history, Guatemala has only reached the Gold Cup semifinal once before in 1996, where they lost 0-1 to Mexico.
The United States has faced Guatemala three times in the Gold Cup, winning all three encounters without conceding a goal. The U.S. has never lost at home to Guatemala, winning 14 of 15 games, and drawing only a 2007 friendly.
The final will be held on July 6, 2025, at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. This marks the first time the Gold Cup Final will be held in Houston. The stadium is also set to host matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The USMNT now awaits the winner of the other semifinal match between Mexico and Honduras to determine their opponent in the final. Mexico, who has a record nine Gold Cup titles, is considered a strong contender. A final against Mexico would be a classic encounter, as the two rivals have met eight times in the Gold Cup, with seven of those meetings in the final. However, Honduras could also prove to be a difficult opponent, having upset Panama in the quarterfinal. If Honduras pulls off the upset, it will be the first time the United States and Honduras have battled for the title since the first tournament in 1991.
Tickets for the final are available at GoldCup.org. The match will also be broadcast on Fox Sports and TUDN.
Regardless of their opponent, the USMNT will be aiming to continue their dominance in the CONCACAF region and secure their place as Gold Cup champions.
