10-man Canada stunned by Guatemala in Gold Cup shootout

Canada was knocked out of the 2025 Gold Cup by underdog Guatemala on Sunday, falling 6-5 on penalties after the tense quarterfinal match finished 1-1 in normal time.

The loss means Canada now has no competitive fixtures left to play before co-hosting next summer's 2026 World Cup with the United States and Mexico. The team will use friendly matches to prepare for the tournament.

Canada was leading 1-0 through a 30th-minute goal from Jonathan David and seemingly in control until Jacob Shaffelburg received a second yellow card and was sent off in first-half stoppage time.

Guatemala took full advantage after the break, dictating play before Rubio Rubin equalized with an emphatic header in the 69th minute that enlivened the partisan crowd at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Neither side could find a winning goal in the remaining minutes, and the scrappy contest went straight to penalties after the final whistle.

David, whose first-half goal came from the spot, wasn't available to take a penalty after being substituted late in the contest. The striker, wearing the captain's armband once again in the absence of Alphonso Davies and Stephen Eustaquio, required treatment multiple times in the second half, and was clearly struggling physically before finally being taken off.

His replacement, Promise David, opened the shootout with a goal. Every other taker found the net until veteran striker Cyle Larin, who had his weak effort denied. Guatemala could've ended it there, but captain Jose Pinto fired his potential game-winning shot well over the crossbar and into the stands.

The shootout then went to sudden death, where Canadian defender Luc de Fougerolles blasted his effort off the underside of the bar. Jose Morales then stepped up to slot home the winning spot-kick and send Guatemala to the Gold Cup semifinals for the first time since 1996, when the tournament had only nine teams and no quarterfinal stage.

Canadian goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair, picked by head coach Jesse Marsch to start over Maxime Crepeau, got close to stopping two penalties, even getting his hand to one effort, but was ultimately unable to help Canada avoid the surprising ouster from the competition.

"If I'm honest, we're missing half of our group," Marsch said after the match, according to Tom Bogert of GiveMeSport. "That's not an excuse ... We fell short and that's painful."

He added: "I believe in these guys entirely."

Canada suffers its second consecutive shootout elimination at the Gold Cup after falling to the Unites States in the same manner in 2023. The Canadians were looking for their second Gold Cup title, and first since 2000.

Guatemala, enjoying an unlikely run, will play the United States in the semifinals after the Americans beat Costa Rica in a quarterfinal shootout of their own Sunday night.

Defending champion Mexico plays Honduras in the other semifinal.

The Gold Cup final will take place July 6.