The United States Men`s National Team is just one victory away from reaching the Concacaf Gold Cup final, where they could potentially face the winner of the Mexico versus Honduras semifinal. The unexpected opponent in this semifinal is Guatemala, highlighting the overall growth and competitiveness within Concacaf, where any team can perform strongly on a given day. The USMNT experienced this firsthand in their previous match against Costa Rica, requiring Matt Freese`s three penalty saves to avoid elimination.
This hard-fought win against Costa Rica is expected to build momentum for the USMNT as they prepare to face Guatemala. Beyond the goal of winning the tournament and potentially avenging their loss in the last Gold Cup final against Mexico, many players on the roster are also competing to prove they deserve a spot in the squad for the 2026 World Cup.
Match Information and Odds
Here`s how to follow the game and the current betting odds:
- Date: Wednesday, July 2
- Time: 7 p.m. ET
- Location: Energizer Park — St. Louis, Missouri
- TV: FS1
- Live Stream: Fubo
- Odds: USMNT -400; Draw +450; Guatemala +1000
Last Meeting
These two teams have not faced each other since 2016. Notably, Guatemala has not managed to score against the USMNT since 2012. Their most recent encounter in 2016 resulted in a dominant 4-0 victory for the United States, which suggests a potential outcome for this match. While Rubio Rubin has shown good form for Guatemala and will be a player the USMNT defense needs to monitor, the expectation is that the U.S. team should be capable of scoring multiple goals early in the game, allowing them to control the match comfortably.
Predicted USMNT Lineup
Based on recent matches and form, here is a potential starting eleven for the USMNT:
Matt Freese, John Tolkin, Tim Ream, Chris Richards, Alex Freeman, Tyler Adams, Luca De La Torre, Diego Luna, Malik Tillman, Jack McGlynn, Patrick Agyemang
Key Player: Malik Tillman
Malik Tillman, PSV: Despite missing a penalty in the match against Costa Rica, Malik Tillman is arguably the player whose reputation has grown the most during this Gold Cup tournament. With three goals and one assist to his name, Tillman has been a vital part of the USMNT`s progression. His performances could potentially lead to a move to Bayer Leverkusen. While he was likely already considered for the 2026 World Cup squad, displays like these are helping him push for a starting role. If other players can match his level of performance in this camp, the USMNT will be in a strong position.
Key Storyline: Handling Expectations
Can the USMNT perform effectively when favored? In the game against Costa Rica, the USMNT created difficulties for themselves through conceded penalties and defensive lapses. This was even against a Costa Rica side that wasn`t at full strength, leaving a slight sense of concern despite ultimately securing the win. Addressing these issues is something the team needs to improve upon under coach Gregg Berhalter. A commanding performance in this semifinal would be highly beneficial. The USMNT must ensure they are not their own biggest obstacle as the level of competition increases.
Match Prediction
Expect Diego Luna to set the tone with an early goal, leading to USMNT dominance from that point onwards. Similar to their opening game of the tournament, the match could be effectively decided by halftime, with the USMNT scoring multiple goals to convincingly secure their spot in the Gold Cup final.
Predicted Score: USMNT 5, Guatemala 0
