Three Mexican Coaches Advance to Gold Cup Quarterfinals
The 2025 Gold Cup will feature a triple dose of Mexican coaching talent, with Javier Aguirre, Miguel Herrera, and Luis Fernando Tena leading their respective teams to the quarterfinals. Aguirre and Herrera secured their spots during the group stage with Mexico and Costa Rica, respectively. Tena joined them on Tuesday, guiding Guatemala to the quarterfinals as Group C’s second-place team.
Guatemala’s Road to Quarterfinals
Guatemala defeated Guadalupe 3-2 in their third group stage match, securing second place in Group C with a record of two wins and one loss, along with a positive goal difference of +1. Panama topped Group C with three wins, including a 4-1 victory over Jamaica, ensuring both teams’ advancement to the quarterfinals.
Luis Fernando Tena’s Coaching Journey
Luis Fernando Tena took charge of Guatemala’s technical staff in December 2021. In his first Gold Cup with Guatemala in 2023, he led Group D ahead of Canada, amassing seven points from nine possible during the group stage.
Tena’s coaching staff includes two more Mexicans: Salvador Reyes and Marvin Cabrera. Reyes has been with Tena since his time with Mexico over a decade ago, when they won the gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics.
Historical Context and Future Goals
In the 2025 Gold Cup, Tena and Guatemala aim to make history by equaling their best-ever tournament performance, which was semi-finals in 1996 when only nine teams participated. With this victory, Guatemala would match their record in the tournament founded in 1991.
Guatemala’s Squad Composition
Out of the 26 players Tena called up for this Gold Cup, only two are based in Europe: defender Nicolás Samayoa in Romania and forward Arquímides Ordóñez in Moldova. Six players are split between the United States and Canada, leaving 18 products of Guatemala’s domestic league.
Quarterfinal Hopes and Concacaf Qualifiers
Guatemala, with three host spots secured by FIFA for the 2026 World Cup co-hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada, remains in the Concacaf qualifying round. Three groups of four teams each will compete from September to November, with the group leaders earning direct World Cup spots after six matches. The top two second-place teams will advance to intercontinental play-offs in March.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who are the Mexican coaches leading teams in the 2025 Gold Cup? Javier Aguirre, Miguel Herrera, and Luis Fernando Tena are the three Mexican coaches guiding their teams to the quarterfinals.
- What is Guatemala’s record in the group stage of the 2025 Gold Cup? Guatemala won two matches and lost one, finishing second in Group C with a positive goal difference of +1.
- What are Guatemala’s future goals in the 2025 Gold Cup? Guatemala aims to equal their best-ever Gold Cup performance, reaching the semi-finals in 1996, by advancing far in the 2025 tournament.
- What is the composition of Guatemala’s squad for the 2025 Gold Cup? Out of 26 called-up players, only two are based in Europe. Six players are split between the US and Canada, while 18 are products of Guatemala’s domestic league.
- What are Guatemala’s prospects in the Concacaf World Cup qualifiers? Guatemala is part of the Concacaf qualifying round for the 2026 World Cup, with three groups of four teams each competing for direct spots and play-off berths.
