Who will Mexico face in the 2023 Gold Cup semi-finals?
El Tricolor make it to the semi-finals for the 14th time, where they will meet a rival who they have faced a number of times over the past couple of years.
Mexico now knows who will stand in their way for a place in the 2023 Gold Cup final. Jamaica, the revelation team of the tournament, booked their ticket into the semi-finals after beating Luis Fernando Tena’s Guatemala. A solitary goal from Luton Town full-back Amari’i Bell on 51 minutes was enough to seal their place in the next round.
Mexico and Jamaica know each other well - they have met several times over the past 18 months. The most recent meeting was just four months ago in the Nations League Final Four - Diego Cocca’s second game in charge. It ended 2-2 at the Azteca, in a game marked by a thunderstorm which momentarily suspended the match.
The two nations had previously come face to face earlier in the tournament during the group phase - a game that also ended level. Leon Bailey fired the Reggae Boys ahead after just four minutes but parity was restored with practically the last kick of the first half through Luis Francisco Romo.
They also met in the CONCACAF 2022 World Cup third qualifying round. Mexico won both games by the same scoreline: 2-1, with late goals securing victory in Mexico City and Kingston.
Now, they meet again. The 2023 Gold Cup semi-final will kick off at 10 p.m. EDT / 7 p.m. EDT (20:00 hours CST in Mexico) on Wednesday 12 July at Allegiant stadium, Paradise Nevada.
Jamaica advance to the semi-finals for the first time since the 2019 edition when they were eliminated by the United States. Icelandic coach Heimir Hallgrímsson, who took the reins in September last year, will be attempting to take Jamaica to their third final - they ended as runners-up in consecutive editions in 2015 and 2017. They lost the 2015 final precisely to Mexico, who ran out 3-1 winners in Philadelphia to lift their seventh title.
Mexico is aiming to win the tournament for the twelfth time - they currently have eight Gold Cup titles and three from the competition under its previous guise, the CONCACAF Championship. Jamaica meanwhile are seeking their first title.