USMNT vs. Guatemala Prediction: Hosts Seek Place in Final

• The USMNT needed a penalty shoot-out to get past Costa Rica in the last eight

• Guatemala are having a fantastic tournament after they beat Canada last time out

• The USMNT are strong favorites, but can Guatemala cause a major shock here?

USMNT vs. Guatemala Odds

The odds for USMNT vs Guatemala can be found in the odds table below, courtesy of BetMGM. Use our promo code WSNSPORTS to sign up for a BetMGM account and get up to $1,500 in bonus bets*.

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USMNT vs. Guatemala Pick

Back a draw at half-time and a USMNT win at full-time. The Stars and Stripes should get the job done eventually on Wednesday.

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USMNT Battle Their Way Through to the Quarter-Finals

Having collected maximum points in the group stage of the Concacaf Gold Cup, the USMNT were put through their paces by Costa Rica in the quarter-finals. A 2-2 draw with los Ticos necessitated a penalty shoot-out, which the hosts ultimately won 4-3 after Andy Rojas failed to convert his team’s sixth spot-kick.

Costa Rica were always likely to represent a step up from the group stage. The USMNT thrashed Trinidad & Tobago 5-0 on matchday one, before a 1-0 defeat of Saudi Arabia and a 2-1 victory over Haiti saw them finish top with nine points from nine. 

Costa Rica, for their part, collected seven points in Group A from wins against Suriname (4-3) and the Dominican Republic (2-1), and a draw with Mexico. They are no pushovers and they showed their strength in the quarters, denying the USMNT a comfortable evening at the U.S. Bank Stadium.

The important thing for Mauricio Pochettino’s crew is that they ultimately found a way to win. They were behind in the 12th minute after Francisco Calvo scored a penalty but, the USA rediscovered their poise to score just before half-time and then again shortly after it. From there, it looked like the hosts would preserve their lead.

Costa Rica had other ideas, however, and they were back on level terms when Alonso Martinez found the back of the net in the 71st minute. Both teams had chances to win the match before extra time and during it, but there were no more goals and the quarter-final was decided on penalties. 

Sebastian Berhalter and John Talkin failed to convert for the USMNT, but three Costa Rica players including the aforementioned Rojas were unable to make the net bulge. As such, the USMNT are now two games away from Gold Cup glory.

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Guatemala Enjoying a Fine Summer - Can They Go Further?

Whatever happens from here, Guatemala will look back on this summer by pride. Their run to the semi-finals of the Gold Cup is not without precedent: los Chapines reached three consecutive finals between 1965 and 1969, winning one of them. But the Gold Cup was a very different tournament back then.

There has been minimal success for the nation of 18 million in recent times. True, Guatemala did reach the quarter-finals last time out, but that was their first passage to the last eight since 2011. Moreover, they have not made the semis since 1996, when they lost 3-0 to the USMNT in the third-place play-off.

How did Guatemala get here? It all started with a 1-0 victory over Jamaica on matchday one. That set them on the path towards qualification, since the Reggae Boyz had been expected to mount a strong challenge for a top-two finish in Group C. A 1-0 loss to Panama followed, before Guatemala beat Guadeloupe 3-2 to secure the runners-up berth.

Underdogs in their quarter-final clash with Canada, Guatemala held their own against Jesse Marsch’s men. Jonathan David put Canada ahead from the penalty spot in the first half, but Rubio Rubin restored parity with 69 minutes on the clock. With no more goals scored, Guatemala triumphed 6-5 on penalties.

The post-match discussion inevitably centered on Canada’s shortcomings, but Guatemala deserve great credit for the way they performed. It was an excellent display from Luis Fernando Tena’s team, who are now aiming to cause another upset when they take on the USMNT for a place in the Gold Cup final. One thing is for sure: Guatemala will not go down without a fight.

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USMNT Must Hold Their Nerve to Advance to the Gold Cup Final

Pochettino would no doubt have preferred to see his side wrap up the victory over Costa Rica in regulation time, but the manager believes the manner of the USMNT’s triumph will serve his side well in the long run.

“I'm so happy, so pleased for them to show great character,” he said after the dramatic shoot-out victory. “I think it's good for this group of players to have this type of experience. This is really important, it's priceless, because that is the reality when you have a big tournament. It's important that they start to build the experience together.”

The USMNT should prepare for another tough encounter here. Of course, they are strong favorites. No one would be massively surprised if the hosts won comfortably. However, there is a good chance they will be tested by Guatemala.

Indeed, the USMNT will have to remain patient and hold their nerve if they want to win this semi-final. They will not have everything their own way and they will not necessarily be ahead at half-time; indeed, they have held a lead at the break only once so far at this tournament. Go for a draw after 45 minutes and a USMNT victory after 90. 

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How to Watch USMNT vs. Guatemala

• Teams: USMNT vs Guatemala

• Location: Energizer Park, St. Louis, USA

• Date and Time: Wednesday, July 2 at 7:00 PM ET 

• How to Watch: FS1, TUDN, Univision