For Guatemala, Gold Cup semifinal against USMNT is a historic homecoming

“I don’t really ever get emotional after wins or losses. It’s pretty stoic,” said Guatemala defender Aaron Herrera after the match. “But I think it’s probably, for the first time ever, I did get a little emotional after the game [against Canada.] The eyes were tearing up a bit. It was just an incredibly special moment.”

Herrera meant it. For much of Guatemala’s lineup, this semifinal isn’t just history: it’s a homecoming.

Of Guatemala’s 26 roster players, 10 have deep connections to the United States. Defender Nicolas Samayoa, midfielder Rodrigo Saravia and forward Darwin Lom all went to college in the southeast, while Damian Rivera (Cranston, Rhode Island), Olger Escobar (Lynn, Massachusetts), Matt Evans (Simi Valley, California) and Arquimides Ordonez (Cincinnati) were born and raised in the U.S.

But Guatemala’s American ties go even deeper. Two players — the aforementioned Herrera of Las Cruces, New Mexico and forward Rubio Rubin of Beaverton, Oregon — actually played for the USMNT before switching their allegiances to Guatemala. 

Herrera made one USMNT appearance while Rubin made seven after winning the U.S. Soccer Young Male Athlete of the Year award in 2012.

“[Herrera is] obviously a high-level player,” said USMNT midfielder Tyler Adams, who trained with Herrera when the two were American youth prospects. “Rubio Rubin, obviously, was a high-level player coming up through the national team. A lot of players looked up to him growing up. He’s done really well for himself.

“So it’ll be exciting to play against them.”

Soccer players aren’t meant to switch allegiances; the accepted wisdom is that once one debuts for a certain country, that will be the country he represents for life. (That’s why there was so much joy in the States when triple national Folarin Balogun opted to debut for the USMNT instead of England or Nigeria: his debut meant he was locked in for the rest of his career.) 

But players can, under special circumstances, apply for a one-time change to rewrite their national team futures. Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice did so when he switched from Ireland to England; Inter Milan fullback Denzel Dumfries did the same when he switched from Aruba to the Netherlands. The USMNT has seen some big names switch into its ranks, too; 2014 World Cup star Jermaine Jones got his start with Germany before declaring his future with the USMNT.

For Herrera and Rubin — and for their eight teammates with ties to the States — this semifinal is special. Both nations, each equally responsible for their professional development, together on the field at once and surrounded by raucous fan support.

“It’s definitely going to be weird, but at the same time special,” Herrera said. “Playing for the U.S. was always my dream as a kid. I never knew Guatemala was an option. I poured my heart into that, but once I made the switch, I completely poured my heart into this with Guatemala.

“I’m very proud of both nationalities.”

The winner will take on either Mexico or Honduras in the 2025 Gold Cup Final on Sunday in Houston.