USA vs Guatemala: Pochettino sends message to American fans after Diego Luna goals earn Gold Cup 2025 final vs Mexico

Mauricio Pochettino has told American fans they “need to learn” the consequences of national team results after his side beat Guatemala 2-1 on Thursday to set up a 2025 Gold Cup final against Mexico.

Forward Diego Luna, who is of Mexican descent and considered playing for El Tri earlier in his career, scored twice inside the first 15 minutes at St Louis’s Energizer Park, where USMNT boss Pochettino was impressed by Guatemala’s support.

“The Guatemala fans were unbelievable,” said Pochettino. “It was not like playing in our country. That was good for our players, because it was something we didn’t expect to happen.

“They gave Guatemala an unbelievable energy, and that is football. That is the connection we would like to see at the World Cup.”

⚠️ WARNING ⚠️

This Diego Luna goal is not for the faint of heart. pic.twitter.com/WEFKsAkMU2

— U.S. Soccer Men’s National Team (@USMNT) July 3, 2025

2026 Fifa World Cup: Pochettino on USA ‘future’

Pochettino was appointed in 2024 as the USMNT’s coach for the 2026 World Cup, which the USA will host alongside Canada and Mexico.

The former Argentina international spoke earlier this year about his ambition to foster a greater competitive spirit among his players, reiterating his point after they moved a game from a first trophy under the 53-year-old.

“You play for emotion – to be happy and be sad,” he explained. “I saw players from Guatemala crying and I said ‘congratulations – you are in a good way’.

“That is the way we need to feel, and our fans need to feel the same. You play for your pride and many, many things that I cannot tell you.

“That is our future – to see your team fight and how the fans behave. That is an important thing we need to learn here in this country.

“I am not trying to tell [people] that we need to do this or that. I come from Argentina, where winning or losing is not the same. The consequences are massive.”

Gold Cup 2025: Luna stars as USA beat Guatemala

Real Salt Lake’s Luna pounced from close range for the fourth-minute opener and made a blistering run before striking from long range 11 minutes later.

Rubio Rubin’s reply for Guatemala was ruled out for offside in the 29th minute, but Olger Escobar slotted in 10 minutes from time to tee up a tense finish.

“All the big chances were for us,” said Pochettino. “The problem is that, at 2-0, there is always a feeling you are in danger if you don’t score the third.

“This roster deserves massive credit for reaching the final. Since January, Diego has been a good example with the way he is desperate to play for the shirt, for the national team. That is why he is now at the level he is playing at.

“Diego is all that we expect from a player. Of course he’s scored goals, but it’s that attitude, hunger, desire. That is what we expect from our athletes; what we want.

“Winning or losing is not the same. If you play a sport only for fun, the rest of the countries are playing to survive, for food, for pride.”

USA vs Mexico: When is the Gold Cup 2025 final?

The final takes place at Houston’s NRG Stadium on Sunday, starting at 19:00 PT or 16:00 ET between the two most successful teams in Gold Cup history.

Holders Mexico have taken the title nine times, while 2021 champions the USA are in a record 13th final. Canada’s sole victory in 2000 makes them the only other team to have been champions.

New York City goalkeeper Matt Freese, who saved three penalties in the USA’s shootout win over Costa Rica in the quarter-finals, was again busy against Mexico, including a late save from Jose Morales late in second-half added time.