Canada Flopped, Guatemala Celebrated—USA Better Not Slip Up
The United States Men’s National Team is getting ready to face Guatemala in a matchup that, on paper, strongly favors the Americans. History, rankings, and recent form all suggest the U.S. should come away with a win, but as always in international soccer, nothing can be taken for granted. They did, however, take down Canada.
Looking at the all-time record between the two teams, the U.S. has a clear upper hand: 15 wins, 6 draws, and just 4 losses in 25 meetings. Interestingly, all four losses came on Guatemalan soil, the most recent being a 2–0 defeat in March 2016 during World Cup qualifying. That loss came as a shock at the time and serves as a reminder that even heavily favored teams can slip up. Still, the U.S. has never lost to Guatemala at home, and that undefeated home record is something they’ll look to protect and continue in this next match.
Defensively, the U.S. has been rock solid in this matchup. They've allowed just eight goals over the past 36 years and 22 matches. That’s an average of less than half a goal per game, which speaks to the gap in quality between the two teams.
The FIFA rankings tell a similar story. Guatemala currently sits at 106th in the world, far below the United States, firmly in the top 20 in recent years.
Compared to their last match against Costa Rica, another Central American team with a much stronger soccer history, this game should, in theory, be less of a challenge. But the U.S. mustn’t take Guatemala lightly. That 2016 loss showed what can happen if the team lets its guard down, especially early in a match.
This game could also offer a chance to rotate the squad, rest some key players, give different guys a run, and still feel confident about getting the job done. But the mindset must stay sharp no matter who’s on the field.
Overall, this is a match the U.S. should win, especially at home—the numbers, the history, and the current form all point in that direction. But the team must show up, stay focused, and handle business the right way. If they do, it should be another step forward in a strong run of form.
Game is in St Louis at 5 pm Mountain Time on Fox.