USA and Guatemala will face off today at 4:00 p.m. EDT at Energizer Park in St. Louis, Missouri.
USA is favored at a -360 price, with the over/under set at 2.5 (-160o / +115u) goals.
Let's get into my USA vs Guatemala prediction.
USA vs Guatemala Prediction
Pick: USA ML, Over 2.5 Goals
My USA vs Guatemala best bet is on the USA Moneyline and Over 2.5 Goals.
USA vs Guatemala Odds
| USA Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 -119 | 2.5 160o / +115u | -360 |
| Guatemala Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -111 | 2.5 -160o / +115u | +950 |
USA vs Guatemala spread: Canada -1.5 (-120), Honduras +1.5 (-110)
USA vs Guatemala over/under: 2.5 Goals (-160o / +115u)
USA vs Guatemala moneyline:USA -275, Draw +390, Guatemala +800
USA vs Guatemala best bet: USA Moneyline, Over 2.5 Goals
USA Preview
The USMNT went through the group stage like a knife through butter, taking an 8-1 aggregate advantage with wins over Saudi Arabia, Haiti and Trinidad & Tobago, but that's all ended. Their quarterfinal matchup against Costa Rica proved a tough encounter, as head coach Mauricio Pochettino's men required a penalty shootout to move past the Ticos.
Competing at the same time as the FIFA Club World Cup has meant that the national team is missing several key players, including Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Gio Reyna, and others have been sidelined due to injury. This has allowed outsiders like Patrick Agyemang, Malik Tillman and Luca de la Torre to shine as Pochettino looks for new cogs for his system.
Still, they're undefeated in this competition and that stern test against Costa Rica will have ignited a fire under players who weren't being pushed early on. The USA has reached the semifinals in 17 of the 18 Gold Cups played, so the test begins now as they look to set up a meeting with either Mexico or Honduras and reclaim the trophy they lost two years ago.
Guatemala Preview
The underdog carries on. It looked like making the semis was an impossible task for the hosts, with a mountain to surpass in Jesse Marsch's Canada, but here we are.
The Azul y Blanco made their luck count as the Rouges went a man down at the end of the first half and pushed to earn a well-deserved tie. It was a big step in the right direction for head coach Luis Fernando Tena's side, who only finished second in Group C through a 3-2 win over Guadeloupe.
It's only their second semifinal appearance since the tournament format switch in 1991, and the first time Tena's team beat a North American rival, even if it'll technically go down as a draw. The USA will be another, much steeper mountain to climb for Guatemala, who can go home filled with pride regardless of the result. If they win, it'll be their first final since 1969, in a competition they won in 1967 when it was the CONCACAF Championship.
USA vs Guatemala Prediction
Canada underestimated Guatemala in their quarterfinal clash, and that's a lesson the USMNT will ideally have learned — if Pochettino's men don't open any windows, the match shouldn't get out of their hands.
Guatemala has lost 16 of the 27 clashes between the two, including all but one of their past five matchups — that being a 2-0 win in 2016 — and conceded a whopping 17 goals in those games.
The Azul y Blanco were smart to capitalize on Canada's relaxed approach and lack of discipline, but if the US can take this game on like any other, their quality will see them through. The USA has seen a squad develop and improve since the start of the tournament, and while they could've been caught unprepared at the group stages, Pochettino has fine-tuned the team.
I expect a solid win by the USA, and a comfortable goal margin.
USA vs Guatemala Projected Starting Lineups
USA
Freese; Freeman, Richards, Ream, Arfsten; Adams, De La Torre; Aaronson, Tilmann, Luna; Agyemang
Guatemala
Navarro; Herrera, Pinto, Samayoa, Morales; Rosales, Saravia, Robles; Escobar, Rubin, Santis
