USMNT Wins 2025 Gold Cup Semifinal vs Guatemala, Advances Houston Final

The United States men's national soccer team (USMNT) advanced to the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup final for the 13th time after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Guatemala in the semifinals at Energizer Park in St. Louis. Diego Luna emerged as a standout player, scoring twice early in the match to help secure the win, while goalkeeper Matt Freese made critical saves to maintain the lead, building on his impressive performance in the quarterfinal penalty shootout against Costa Rica. The USMNT, coached by Mauricio Pochettino, fielded a young and dynamic lineup featuring multiple players aged 25 or younger, including key contributors like Malik Tillman and Tyler Adams, the latter serving as a veteran leader. Guatemala, who had upset Canada in the quarterfinals, ended their surprising run in the semifinals despite a strong tournament showing. The USMNT will now face either Mexico or Honduras in the Gold Cup final on July 6 at NRG Stadium in Houston, aiming for their eighth title and first since 2021. The team's resilience and tactical discipline under Pochettino, combined with emerging talents and solid goalkeeping, underscore their strong position as favorites for the championship.