Group D rivals Guatemala and Cuba will kick off their 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup campaigns when they lock horns at Inter Miami’s DRV PNK Stadium in midweek.
Key Takeaways
- Both sides booked their place in the Gold Cup by winning their Nations League group
- Guatemala have won each of their previous four meetings with Cuba
- Cuba have managed to win just four of their 16 previous encounters with Guatemala
With host nation Canada expected to dominate Group D, Guatemala and Cuba will both be desperate to avoid defeat in their opening clash. However, both sides head into the tournament in iffy form.
Guatemala Form
Guatemala head into the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup in poor form, having lost three of their four warm-up friendlies earlier this month.
After failing to score in successive defeats to Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago, Los Chapines claimed a narrow victory over Costa Rica before suffering a 1-0 loss against Venezuela, meaning they have fired three blanks across their previous four outings.
That said, Guatemala booked their place in the Gold Cup thanks to an impressive 2022-23 CONCACAF Nations League campaign, losing just one of their six matches to punch their ticket. For that reason, Luis Fernando Tena’s men will fancy their chances of advancing from Group D.
Cuba Form
Like Guatemala, Cuba qualified for the Gold Cup via the Nations League. The Lions of the Caribbean won five of their six matches to finish six points clear atop their Nations League group, scoring 11 goals while conceding just three.
Pablo Elier Sanchez’s side also suffered a couple of friendly defeats in the lead-up to the Gold Cup, losing 3-0 to Chile before losing 2-0 against Uruguay.
However, it is worth remembering that Cuba enjoyed a seven-game unbeaten streak between June 2022 and March 2023, picking up six wins and one draw in the process. Naturally, Sanchez’s men will be eager to rediscover their best form and progress to the knockout phase.
Head-to-Head
Guatemala have won each of their last four matches against Cuba, with a 3-0 triumph in 2018 preceding three successive 1-0 victories.
When you look at the bigger picture, Cuba have managed to win only four of their 16 meetings with Guatemala over the years, suffering nine defeats along the way.
Team News
Only six members of Guatemala’s 23-man Gold Cup squad play their club football outside of their homeland. One of those players is Derby County’s Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, who recently pledged his allegiance to the country at the age of 31.
Luis Fernando Tena has also called upon a couple of Major League Soccer regulars, with Real Salt Lake’s Rubio Rubin and CF Montreal’s Aaron Herrera featuring in the squad.
By contrast, Cuba’s squad contains only six players who represent Cuban clubs. The Lions of the Caribbean also boast representatives from American, Austrian, Costa Rican, Dominican, Finnish, Gibraltarian, Guatemalan, and Nicaraguan teams.
With 42 caps to his name, FC Tulsa’s Jorge Corrales is the most experienced player in Cuba’s squad. At the opposite end of the spectrum, 18-year-old Romario Torrez and 21-year-old Jassael Herrera are both uncapped.
Key Players
It’s fair to say that Rubio Rubin holds the key to Guatemala’s chances of success in the United States and Canada. The experienced striker has scored goals all around the world, from the Netherlands and Norway to the US and Mexico.
Cuba, meanwhile, will be looking to captain Aricheel Hernandez for inspiration throughout the Gold Cup. The playmaker has scored seven goals in 35 appearances for his country and, even netted a hat-trick against Antigua and Barbuda last year.
How to Watch on TV or Online
Fans in the UK can watch the Group D clash between Guatemala and Cuba on Viaplay Sports 1, as the Swedish media company owns the rights to the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Final Thoughts
This should be a relatively tense and cagey affair between two sides looking to start the tournament with a positive result. Given that Guatemala and Cuba have netted just three goals across their previous eight matches combined, a low-scoring affair is expected in Miami.
Gold Cup