Heartbreak in Minneapolis: Canada Falls to Guatemala in Gold Cup Thriller
What a rollercoaster it was for Canadian soccer fans this weekend. Canada has been knocked out of the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup in a dramatic and agonizing fashion, falling to Guatemala 6-5 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw in regulation. It all unfolded at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, and honestly, it felt like a game of missed opportunities and unfortunate timing for the Canadian side.
Canada got off to a solid start. Jonathan David, the standout striker, buried a penalty in the 30th minute—his second goal of the tournament and the 36th of his international career. It felt like we were in control. The team was dominating early possession, pushing forward, and earning six corners in the first 20 minutes alone. But things quickly took a turn before halftime.
In a moment that changed the entire complexion of the match, Jacob Shaffelburg was shown a second yellow card in stoppage time of the first half. Down to 10 men, Canada still showed heart and continued pressing where they could, but the energy and balance had clearly shifted.
In the 69th minute, Guatemala capitalized. Rubio Rubin, an American-born forward who recently switched allegiance to Guatemala, scored with a stunning header that leveled the match. And from there, both teams fought hard but couldn’t break the deadlock.
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Then came penalties.
It was a tense shootout. Both sides went back and forth until it was tied 5-5. Then came young Luc de Fougerolles for Canada—he struck the crossbar. Guatemala’s Jose Morales stepped up and sealed the win, sending the 106th-ranked team to just their second-ever Gold Cup semifinal.
Canada’s elimination felt eerily similar to last year, when they also exited the tournament in a quarterfinal shootout—back then, it was against the U.S. There’s no question the pressure was on, and for a team ranked 30th in the world, expectations were understandably high. This latest heartbreak will sting.
Despite the result, there were moments of promise. Dayne St. Clair returned as starting goalkeeper and looked solid. The defense held its own for much of the match, and players like David, Jebbison, and Choiniere showed why they’re seen as the future of Canadian soccer. But the lack of discipline, the red card, and missed penalty proved too costly.
Coach Jesse Marsch had to navigate the tournament without key players like Osorio, Ahmed, and Eustaquio—who wasn’t released by Porto as expected. The reduced roster, combined with Shaffelburg’s ejection and a few unlucky breaks, left Canada short of their potential.
Now, attention turns to the drawing board. The dream of repeating the 2000 Gold Cup glory is on hold again. And for fans, it’s another tough reminder that while Canada is growing in stature, the margin for error at the international level is razor thin.
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