The USMNT is set to face Guatemala in the Concacaf Gold Cup Semifinal at Energizer Park in St. Louis on July 2nd. The USMNT advanced to the semifinal after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Costa Rica. Guatemala, considered the underdog, reached this stage by upsetting Canada, also via a penalty shootout.
The USMNT enters the semifinal with a strong historical record against Guatemala, holding a 16-5-6record in 27 previous meetings. The last time these two teams met in the Gold Cup was over two decades ago, in 2007, with the USMNT winning 1-0. Their most recent encounter was in the World Cup Qualifiers in 2016.
Several players are expected to play key roles for the USMNT. Matt Freese is coming off a heroic performance in the quarterfinal, saving three penalties in the shootout. Malik Tillman has been a standout player throughout the tournament, contributing goals and assists. Patrick Agyemang's physicality up front has also been a factor.
Guatemala, currently ranked 106th internationally by FIFA, is considered a capable team playing with "house money". They are led by former US international Rubio Rubin, who scored the equalizing goal against Canada. Guatemala is comfortable possessing the ball but can also play without it.
As the USMNT prepares for this match, it's worth reflecting on the impact of legendary USWNT players like Julie Ertz and Carli Lloyd, who have left an indelible mark on soccer in the United States.
Julie Ertz, a two-time World Cup champion, Olympic bronze medalist, and two-time U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year, is known for her competitiveness, ball-winning abilities, and leadership on the field. Ertz played a crucial role in the USWNT's victories at the 2015 and 2019 FIFA Women's World Cups. While the stat sheets often failed to measure Ertz' impact, her work rate, world class ball-winning and elite abilities on both offensive and defensive headers were a cut above.
Carli Lloyd, inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame, had a remarkable 17-year career with the USWNT. She is a two-time Olympic gold medalist, a two-time FIFA Women's World Cup champion, and a two-time FIFA Player of the Year. Lloyd is known for scoring crucial goals, including the game-winning goals in the 2008 and 2012 Olympic finals. In the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup Final, Lloyd scored a hat trick in the first 16 minutes, a feat unmatched in World Cup history. Lloyd has made 316 appearances for the U.S. national team, placing her second in caps, and has the third-most goals and fifth-most assists for the team.
Lloyd believes that hosting the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup and 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States will transform the sport's standing within American culture and inspire young kids to play soccer. She drew inspiration from watching the 1999 Women's World Cup held in the U.S., which motivated her to represent her country.
The USMNT vs. Guatemala match presents an opportunity for the current generation of players to create their own legacy. The USMNT has reached the semifinals in 17 of 18 total Gold Cups. The match will be broadcast on FS1 and the FOX Sports app at 7 p.m. ET.
