Canada will face Guatemala in the Concacaf Nations League quarter-finals this November, a rematch of their painful 2025 Gold Cup exit. The two-legged tie sees the first leg played in Guatemala on November 13, with the return fixture at Toronto's BMO Field on November 16. Canada's next fixture is a friendly against Chile on October 10.
Canada earned an automatic bye to this stage as one of Concacaf's top four ranked nations. Guatemala qualified by winning their preliminary group, sealed by a stoppage-time winner from Matthew Evans against Suriname. The other quarter-final pairings are Mexico versus Jamaica, Panama against Curacao, and the United States taking on Haiti.
A chance for revenge
This draw offers Canada an immediate opportunity for redemption. Guatemala knocked them out of the Gold Cup quarter-finals last year in a penalty shootout, a match where Jacob Shaffelburg was sent off in the first half and Luc de Fougerolles missed the decisive spot-kick. Canada's most recent encounter with Guatemala was a 1-0 friendly victory in January of this year, and their historical record stands at ten wins, three draws, and three losses since 1972.
Head coach Jesse Marsch has made winning a trophy a clear objective. "Winning a trophy is a top priority for Jesse Marsch and his side, who look to win their first since the 2000 Gold Cup," he said. The four quarter-final winners not only advance to the Nations League finals at SoFi Stadium next March but also secure qualification for the 2027 Gold Cup.
Canada's form heading into the tie is mixed, with their last five results showing three wins and two losses. They fell 1-0 to the United States in a friendly last week but had beaten Peru 2-0 days earlier, with Shaffelburg scoring both goals. According to team stats, Canada has averaged 2.1 goal minutes per game over their last five matches. The first leg in Guatemala kicks off on November 13, with the winner advancing to the Nations League semifinals and securing a place in the next standings for the 2027 Gold Cup qualification cycle.
This story first appeared at Sportsnet Soccer
