Canada’s men’s national team will be desperate for a win in their second Gold Cup group match against Guatemala, as they look to get their pursuit of the trophy back on track on Saturday night in Houston.
A disappointing 2-2 draw against Guadeloupe, with a goal allowed deep in stoppage time, left Canada in precarious position to qualify from Group D. Only the top two teams advance to the knockouts, and anything but a victory against Guatemala would put passage to the quarterfinals at risk.
Canada, missing several of its stars who are not part of the Gold Cup squad, did not look like the same team that wowed fans at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Meanwhile, under Mexican manager Luis Fernando, Guatemala put forth a spirited performance to beat a difficult Cuba side in their group opener (1-0).
The Sporting News will be following the Canada vs. Guatemala match and providing live score updates, commentary, and highlights as the action unfolds.
MORE: Updated 2023 Gold Cup bracket
Group D standings
| Team | Pts | W-D-L | Goals Scored |
Goal Diff. |
| 1. Guatemala | 3 | 1-0-0 | 1 | +1 |
| 2. Canada | 1 | 0-1-0 | 2 | 0 |
| 3. Guadeloupe | 1 | 0-1-0 | 2 | 0 |
| 4. Cuba | 0 | 0-0-1 | 0 | -1 |
Canada vs Guatemala live score
| 1st Half | Goal scorers | |
| Canada | — | |
| Guatemala | — |
Projected lineups:
Canada starting lineup (3-4-3, right to left): 18-Borjan (GK) — 14-Bombito, 23-Kennedy, 4-Miller — 22-Laryea, 3-Fraser, 21-Osorio, 20-Ahmed — 19-Brym, 9-Cavallini, 11-Millar
Guatemala (4-2-3-1, right to left): 1-Hagen (GK) — 7-Herrera, 4-Pinto, 3-Samayoa, 2-Ardon — 15-Sequen, 8-Saravia — 18-Mendez-Laing, 5-Altan, 11-Archila — 14-Lom.
Canada vs Guatemala live updates, highlights and commentary from Gold Cup
2 hours to kickoff: The Canadian men’s national team would love nothing more than to give their compatriots back home something to celebrate on Canada Day, by leaping into first place in Group D and getting their Gold Cup run back on track.
Happy Canada Day! 🇨🇦😎
There’s no better way to celebrate than with more Canadian soccer, as the #CanMNT take on Guatemala in the Gold Cup (PRE-SHOW 9PM ET / 6PM PT) 🏆
But, before that? We’ve got @ValourFootball vs. @CPLCavalryFC in #CanPL action! (3PM ET / 12PM PT) ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/E4QPmcvBAQ
— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) July 1, 2023
Canada vs Guatemala lineups
Canada manager John Herdman gave debuts to five players in the opening match and a couple of those could be involved again. Among those names, 22-year-old Ali Ahmed was the best player on the field against Guadeloupe, and should retain his spot in midfield.
Herdman made it clear he wanted to address the team’s defensive shortcomings vs. Guadeloupe, and shifting Moise Bombito from midfield to his natural center-back position could represent one switch. A reminder that Canada is playing without several of its star players, who were released following the Nations League final.
Canada projected starting lineup (3-4-3): 18-Milan Borjan (GK) — 14-Moise Bombito, 23-Scott Kennedy, 4-Kamal Miller — 22-Richie Laryea, 3-Liam Fraser, 21-Jonathan Osorio, 20-Ali Ahmed — 19-Charles Brym, 9-Lucas Cavallini, 11-Liam Millar
Canada projected subs (12): 1-Dwayne St. Clair (GK), 16-Tom McGill (GK), 15-Zac McGraw, 6-Dominick Zator, 5-Steven Vitoria, 2-Zachary Brault-Guillard, 8-David Wotherspoon, 12-Victor Loturi, 10-Junior Hoilett, 7-Jayden Nelson, 13-Jacob Shaffelburg, 17-Jacen Russell-Rowe
The breakout star for Guatemala in the opening victory against Cuba was right winger Nathaniel Mendez-Laing of Derby County, who once represented England’s youth teams and provided the game-winning assist in his debut for La Bicolor. He even got a “Vamos Guateeee” from fellow Birmingham native Jack Grealish.
Starting center-forward Rubio Rubin came out after 10 minutes against Cuba due to injury, but the Guatemala soccer federation president claims he should be ready to go. Match-winning striker Darwin Lom would get the start if Rubin still can’t go.
Guatemala projected starting lineup (4-2-3-1): 1-Nicholas Hagen (GK) — 7-Aaron Herrera, 4-Jose Pinto, 3-Nicolas Samayoa, 2-Jose Ardon — 15-Marlon Sequen, 8-Rodrigo Saravia — 18-Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, 5-Pedro Altan, 11-Cesar Archila — 14-Darwin Lom.
Guatemala projected subs (12): 12-Ricardo Jerez Jr. (GK), 21-Fredy Perez (GK), 20-Gerardo Gordillo, 16-Jose Morales, 23-Jorge Aparicio, 22-Stheven Robles, 17-Oscar Castellanos, 10-Antonio Lopez, 13-Alejandro ‘El Parce’ Galindo, 6-Carlos ‘Cuilapa’ Mejia, 19-Esteban Garcia, 9-Rubio Rubin
Canada vs Guatemala live stream, TV channel
Here’s how to watch the Canada vs. Guatemala match in Canada and the USA on Saturday, July 1 with kickoff set for 10 p.m. ET from Shell Energy Stadium in Houston.
USA
- TV channel: FS1, Univision, TUDN
- Streaming: Fubo, Fox Sports site/app, TUDN site/app
The match will be televised in the USA on FS1 (English) and Univision and TUDN (Spanish) with all three channels streaming on Fubo, which is available to new users on a free trial.
Subscribers to cable, satellite, or telco packages can use those authenticated credentials to access a live stream on the Fox Sports or TUDN site and app.
Canada
- TV channel: Telus Optik TV (Channel 980)
- Streaming: Fubo Canada, OneSoccer site/app
The match will be televised in Canada on Telus Optik TV (Channel 980), where viewers can watch the OneSoccer broadcast.
It will also be streamed on Fubo Canada, as well as on the OneSoccer site and app for subscribers.
MORE: Watch Premier League matches live with Fubo in Canada
Canada vs Guatemala betting odds
Despite the results from the opening matches, Canada are still the favorites with Guatemala at 5-to-1 to win the game. Guatemala will also have home-field advantage in Houston between the crowd in the stands and the temperature in the high 80s Fahrenheit.
Given that a draw would be a positive result for Guatemala, and Canada’s attack is far from full-strength, the total goals under could be an interesting look. The weather conditions could also impact sharpness under goal.
| Canada win |
Draw | Guatemala win |
Both teams to score Y / N |
Over / Under 2.5 goals |
CAN -0.5 |
GUA +0.5 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BetMGM (USA) |
-190 | +300 | +500 | -105 / -135 | -120 / -120 | -210 | +140 |
| Sports Interaction (Canada) |
1.50 | 4.20 | 6.20 | 1.87 / 1.73 | 1.82 / 1.95 | 1.50 | 2.55 |