The 2025 Gold Cup has reached its knockout rounds! Eight teams qualified for the quarterfinals, finishing first or second in their respective groups. Three victories stand between the last eight and lifting the Gold Cup. Who will take advantage of the opportunity?
Gold Cup Quarterfinals kickoff tonight!
The end of the group stage at this Gold Cup saw a few twists and turns. More than half of the knockout round spots were open, and some of the teams that grabbed them did so in rather boring ways, while others did so in dramatic ways. Guatemala beat Guadeloupe in a 3-2 thriller to make it out of Group C; Honduras needed a goal in second-half stoppage time to make it out of Group D. Here’s a look at the nations that made it to the knockout rounds.
- Group A: Winners – Mexico 7 pts +3 GD | Runners Up – Costa Rica 7 pts +2 GD
- Group B: Winners – Canada 7 pts +8 GD | Runners Up – Honduras 6 pts -3 GD
- Group C: Winners – Panama 9 pts +7 GD | Runners Up – Guatemala 6 pts +1 GD
- Group D: Winners – USA 9 pts +7 GD | Runners Up – Saudi Arabia 4 pts 0 GD
Panama takes on Honduras, and Mexico is matched up with Saudi Arabia on the first night of the quarterfinals; Canada will fight Guatemala, and the USA will play Costa Rica.
Panama vs Honduras
Panama had a perfect group stage. They scored 10 goals in three matches and only conceded three. They state their case as the dark horse favorites to win this tournament. Honduras had a horrible start to their Gold Cup, losing 6-0 to Canada; they responded by winning their next two matches, scoring four goals and conceding just one. Could they pull off a shocking upset in the Quarterfinals?
This will be the first time these two have met in a match since World Cup qualifying back in 2022. Things are an even split over the last 13 games: four wins for both nations, and five draws. This upcoming match seems to be one where Panama will look to jam the ball down Honduras’s throat, while Honduras will look to endure and counter. I wouldn’t be surprised if this game needs PKs to decide a winner.
- Saturday, June 28 @ 7:15 pm EST
Mexico vs Saudi Arabia
Mexico is the reigning Gold Cup champions, but they haven’t looked their best in this tournament. A close call win over the Dominican Republic, beat a competitive Suriname team, and drew 0-0 against Costa Rica. Saudi Arabia is the guest nation at this tournament, and needed a draw against Trinidad & Tobago in their final group stage match to make the knockout rounds by getting 4 points. This match could be ugly in a few different ways.
These two have met in recent years at the 2022 World Cup, a group stage game that saw Mexico win 2-1. As it was in that match, this one proves to be chippy. Saudi Arabia will look to sit in and be compact against a Mexico that loves to be on the front foot. With how things have gone in this tournament, it wouldn’t be surprising if this one stayed close throughout; however, I have a feeling we could see the first Mexico blowout in this one.
- Saturday, June 28 @ 10:15 pm EST
Canada vs Guatemala
Canada was hoping to cruise through the 2025 Gold Cup group stage, and while they won Group B, they didn’t sweep the opposition. On the other hand, Guatemala punched above their weight, beating out newly acclaimed heavyweights Jamaica to make the knockout rounds. Now, the two often overlooked Concacaf nations clash with a spot in the Semifinals on the line.
These two nations haven’t met that often over the years; just two matches have been played in the previous 10 years. So, how will these teams match up? Jesse Marsch’s Canada has more talent. They will look to press Guatemala into oblivion. Guatemala likes to pick and choose their moments to possess the ball and attack; it’s how they get their goals. Can they do this to a Canadian side that loves to fly around the field? This one is intriguing, but seems like one where talent should be enough to push the Canucks on.
- Sunday, June 29 @ 4 pm EST
USA vs Costa Rica
The USA came into the Gold Cup after a four-game losing streak. They went on to win three in a row in their group to take the top spot and make the knockout rounds. Now they’ll face an organized Costa Rica side. Los Ticos won two and drew one on the group stage, but they haven’t shown much of a spark to dominate their opposition. Which nation will stand out and make the Semifinals?
No matter who is on the field, the USMNT will play in a 4-2-3-1 formation and look to get production from their wide players to create chances. It worked against lesser opposition, but can it work against Costa Rica and their back five? This one should be back and forth; the Yanks have the advantage over Los Ticos, winning five of the last seven matches, but can they do it in a win-or-go-home game without almost all of their top players?
- Sunday, June 29 @ 7 pm EST
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