The Guatemala team, directed by coach Luis Fernando Tena, He landed in Austin, Texas, this Tuesday, June 17after having won his first game in the Concacaf Gold Cup against Jamaica.
The Guatemalan team triumphed in its debut on June 16, in the Dignity Health Sports Park, 1-0 and He added his first points in the contest. Now, the challenge will be capital, since it will face the one that is considered the best selection of Central America and the third in the region: Panama.
In his last antecedent, Panama defeated Guatemala 3-0 in a duel of the League of Nations, in 2023. However, in the Gold Cup 2025 the result could be different, taking into account what is shown by those led by Tena.
The Mexican coach aspires to continue giving joy to the Guatemalan fans, since Under his mandate three victories have been recorded in the tournament (two in the 2023 edition and one in 2025), which represents 42.86% of the total triumphs of the blue and white In the history of the contest.
1991 (the year in which the first edition of the current Gold Cup) was played until 2023, Guatemala registered four victories. However, since Tena assumed command, the bicolor has won three of five games.
This statistic places the Mexican coach as one of the most successful in the history of the national team in the Gold Cup, and against Panama, Guatemala aspires to achieve his eighth win.
The challenge for the bicolor will be the night of Friday, June 20, when in front of the Canalera squad At 8:00 p.m. in the Q2 Stadium, Austin, Texas.
This duel will be vital in the fight to classify the next round, and will also serve as learning, since Panama is a direct rival for one of the quotas of the Concacaf Qualifiers for the FIFA 2026 World Cup.