Guatemala saw off Curaçao 3:1 in their Pan American Cup encounter on 12 August 2026. The hosts had lost 0:3 to Mexico the day before, so this result offered a way back into contention. Curaçao arrived with two straight defeats behind them, having lost 0:3 to Cuba and 0:3 to Mexico in the previous round.
The match itself produced little drama beyond the scoreline. Guatemala held their nerve after the heavy defeat in Mexico, and that steadiness showed through. By then, the visitors were clearly finding their feet with difficulty.
Curaçao's recent run suggests they are second to everything they face. Two 0:3 losses in as many days does not bode well for anyone's confidence. They have nothing to lose at this stage, but also little to show for their efforts so far.
For Guatemala, the turnaround was immediate. A 0:3 defeat to the Mexicans would have rattled most sides, but they responded with three unanswered goals against the Dutch Caribbean side. That kind of recovery is worth more than points on paper.
The result leaves Guatemala in a stronger position than they entered the day. Curaçao's campaign appears to be running out of steam, and the gap between them and the rest is widening. The standings will reflect that shift when the table is updated.