In a stunning upset, Guatemala eliminated Canada from the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup, securing a semifinal spot after a dramatic penalty shootout. The match, held at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Sunday, June 29, 2025, ended in a 1-1 draw, leading to a tense and thrilling conclusion.

Canada took the lead in the first half when Jonathan David converted a penalty in the 27th minute after Tani Oluwaseyi was brought down in the box. However, their advantage was compromised when Jacob Shaffelburg received a second yellow card in stoppage time before halftime, reducing them to 10 men. Shaffelburg's first caution came earlier in the 40th minute for a foul on CF Montreal's Olger Escobar.

Despite being a man down, Canada continued to press forward in the second half, but Guatemala capitalized on their numerical advantage. In the 69th minute, Rubio Rubin scored with a header from an Oscar Santis cross, leveling the score and injecting new life into the Guatemalan side. Rubin, who previously represented the United States, switched his international allegiance to Guatemala, taking advantage of family ties.

With the score tied at 1-1 after 90 minutes, the match went to a penalty shootout. Both teams traded successful penalties until the sixth round when Canada's Luc de Fougerolles hit his shot off the crossbar. Jose Morales then stepped up and converted his penalty, securing a 6-5 victory for Guatemala and sending them to the semifinals. Other penalty scorers for Canada included Promise David, Daniel Jebbison, Derek Cornelius, Mathieu Choiniere, and Nathan Saliba. Kenderson Navarro, the Guatemalan goalkeeper, saved Cyle Larin's penalty, while Oscar Santis, Nicola Samayoa, Aaron Herrera, Darwin Lom, and Pero Altan all scored for Guatemala. Guatemala captain Jose Pinto had a chance to win it in the fifth round after Larin's penalty was saved but sent his penalty over the bar.

This victory marks a historic moment for Guatemala, as it is the first time they have reached the Gold Cup semifinals since 1996. In that year, they finished the tournament in fourth place. This is only the fourth time in 11 tournaments since 1996 that they’ve reached the knockout rounds.

Canada, who lost a quarterfinal penalty shootout to the U.S. in the 2023 Gold Cup and also lost a shootout to Ivory Coast in the recent Canadian Shield Tournament in Toronto, will be disappointed with the result. De Fougerolles was also denied from the penalty spot in the shootout against Ivory Coast.

Guatemala will now face either the United States or Costa Rica in the semifinal on Wednesday at Energizer Park in St. Louis. The United States and Costa Rica played later that night at U.S. Bank Stadium. Meanwhile, defending champion Mexico will face Honduras in the other semifinal on Wednesday at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.