Sports Achievement
Guatemala’s national football team achieved its best-ever performance in the Copa Oro 2025, securing third place and earning a substantial economic benefit.
Under the guidance of Mexican coach Luis Fernando Tena, Guatemala finished third in the tournament, organized by CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Football). The team was eliminated in the semifinals by the United States (1-2) but finished the group stage with a better record than Honduras, which was eliminated by Mexico (0-1).
Both Guatemala and Honduras had six points, with two wins and one loss. The deciding factor was the goal difference; Guatemala had a +1, while Honduras ended with -3 after losing 0-6 to Canada in the opening match.
In the quarterfinals, both teams won on penalties against what are considered title contenders: Guatemala defeated Canada 6-5, and Honduras overcame Panama 5-4. Although Canada and Panama were favorites, Guatemala’s performance was remarkable.
Historical Context and Economic Incentives
Guatemala’s third-place finish in Copa Oro 2025 is a historic achievement, surpassing their previous best of fourth place in 1996. The team received an economic reward of $200,000, the largest publicly documented amount for Guatemala, which has never qualified for a FIFA Men’s World Cup or the Copa América.
The upcoming Copa Oro 2025 offers a prize fund of $1,000,000 for the champion, $500,000 for the runner-up, $200,000 for third place, and $150,000 for fourth. Honduras secured fourth place, earning them $150,000.
Guatemala’s ultimate goal remains qualifying for their first-ever FIFA Men’s World Cup, which they will attempt to achieve during the final round of CONCACAF qualifiers between September and November. If successful, Guatemala could receive a larger economic incentive, similar to the $9 million each team received for participating in the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
Coach’s Perspective
Luis Fernando Tena expressed his pride in coaching the team, stating that there is a good harmony within the squad. Although they were eliminated in the semifinals, Tena believes he made the right choices and that the team performed well.
Key Questions and Answers
- What was Guatemala’s best performance in Copa Oro before 2025? Guatemala’s best performance was fourth place in 1996.
- Who coached Guatemala in Copa Oro 2025? Mexican coach Luis Fernando Tena.
- What economic benefits did Guatemala receive for their third-place finish? Guatemala earned $200,000 for their third-place finish in Copa Oro 2025.
- What is Guatemala’s ultimate goal? Qualifying for the first-ever FIFA Men’s World Cup.
- What are the prize funds for Copa Oro 2025? The champion receives $1,000,000; the runner-up gets $500,000; third place earns $200,000; and fourth place receives $150,000.
