U.S. Travels to Guatemala for First Road Match of 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifying

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

Canada: Oye! Times readers Get FREE $30 to spend on Amazon, Walmart…
USA: Oye! Times readers Get FREE $30 to spend on Amazon, Walmart…

U.S. TRAVELS TO GUATEMALA FOR FIRST ROAD MATCH OF 2014 FIFA WORLD CUP QUALIFYING: The U.S. Men’s National Team is preparing for its second match of the Semifinal Round of 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying in Group A when it will face Guatemala at 10 p.m. ET on Tuesday, June 12, at Estadio Nacional Mateo Flores in Guatemala City.The U.S. took the early lead in the group with its 3-1 victory against Antigua & Barbuda on June 8 in Tampa, Fla., ahead of Jamaica based on goal differential.

WORLD CUP QUALIFYING – CONCACAF SEMIFINAL ROUND
The Semifinal Round of 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying for CONCACAF consists of three groups of four teams each, comprised of the top six seeds (USA, Mexico, Honduras, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Cuba) being split into three groups and joined by six previous group winners from the second round (Panama, Canada, El Salvador, Antigua & Barbuda, Guyana, Guatemala). The top two teams from each group advance to the Final Round, with that stage to be played from February through October 2013. The top three teams automatically qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, while the fourth-place team would then play a two-game playoff against the champion of the Oceania region to determine the other World Cup-bound team.

U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION – DETAILED ROSTER GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)

 DEFENDERS (7): Carlos Bocanegra (Rangers), Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Clarence Goodson (Brondby), Oguchi Onyewu (Sporting Lisbon), Michael Parkhurst (Nordsjaelland)

 MIDFIELDERS (7): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Michael Bradley (Chievo Verona), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Jermaine Jones (Schalke 04), Jose Torres (Pachuca)

FORWARDS (6): Jozy Altidore (AZ Alkmaar), Terrence Boyd (Borussia Dortmund), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Herculez Gomez (Santos), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)

USA’S FIFA WORLD CUP QUALIFYING LEADERS
The following are the top five leaders among the current U.S. Men’s National Team roster in career FIFA World Cup qualifying matches (updated through June 8):

    Games: 1. Landon Donovan (36); 2. Carlos Bocanegra (27); 3. Steve Cherundolo (22), 4. (tie) Clint Dempsey and Oguchi Onyewu (21)
    Goals: 1. Landon Donovan (12); 2. (tie) Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey (6); 4. (tie) Michael Bradley; 5. Carlos Bocanegra (4) 

USA-ANTIGUA & BARBUDA REWIND

The U.S. was in control throughout its 3-1 victory against Antigua & Barbuda on June 8 to open the Semifinal Round of 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying in Group at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. Clint Dempsey’s penalty kick in the 44th minute proved to be the game-winner.    

Carlos Bocanegra tied the all-time goalscoring mark for U.S. defenders with his 13th career goal, matching the record set by Marcelo Balboa.    

By playing in an official competition at the senior international level, Terrence Boyd is now only eligible to represent the United States.    

Jose Torres, deputized into playing left back following injuries to Fabian Johnson and Edgar Castillo, left the match with what was later diagnosed as a bone bruise.

ROSTER NOTES

Herculez Gomez became the first U.S. player to win both an MLS Cup title and Mexican League title as Santos defeated Monterrey in the Liguilla final. Gomez had 19 goals in all competitions for Santos this past season. With four goals in 12 appearances, he’s now scored in back-to-back matches against Brazil and Antigua & Barbuda.

Five players on the U.S. roster serve as captain of their club team: Carlos Bocanegra (Rangers), Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover), Donovan (LA Galaxy) and Clarence Goodson (Brondby).    

Cherundolo led Hannover to a second-consecutive qualification for the Europa League, the side reaching the quarterfinals in this year’s tournament.

USA VS. GUATEMALA SERIES

The U.S. is 12-4-5 against Guatemala in a series dating back to 1977. Guatemala won the first four matches of the series, with all of the games taking place in Guatemala City.   

Since the USA’s 1-0 loss to Guatemala on Jan. 10, 1988, the team has posted a 17-game unbeaten streak (12-0-5).    

The U.S. holds an unbeaten 6-0-4 record against Guatemala in World Cup qualifying matches. 

IN THE RECORD BOOKS

With Clint Dempsey’s penalty kick goal against Antigua & Barbuda on June 8, he has now moved into a fourth-place tie in career points with Joe-Max Moore. Moore had 62 points (24 goals, 14 assists) in 100 games from 1992-2002. Dempsey has 62 points (26 goals, 10 assists) in 86 games since he made his U.S. MNT debut in 2004.    

U.S. captain Carlos Bocanegra tied for the most goals scored by a USA defender with his 13th against Antigua & Barbuda on June 8, matching National Soccer Hall of Famer Marcelo Balboa’s tally that has stood since 1998. Bocanegra earned his 105th international cap in that match, and with his next appearance he will tie for seventh all-time with Eric Wynalda (106).

IN FOCUS: GUATEMALA
Federación Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala
Founded: 1919 (Joined FIFA in 1946)
Head Coach: Ever Hugo Almeida
Best World Cup Finish: Never qualified in 11 attempts
Best CONCACAF Gold Cup Finish: 4th place, 1996
Caps Leader: Guillermo Ramirez (106)
Top Scorer: Carlos Ruiz (49)
Key Players: Fredy Thompson, Luis Rodriguez, Marco Pappa