For Guatemala, the quarterfinal series against Canada is not just another test. It is the kind of matchup that asks a team to prove its belief before it proves anything else on the field. Rubio Rubín made that point clearly: Guatemala thinks it can win the series, but only if it starts well at home in the opening match.
Rubín said there are two key matches ahead and that beginning at home is very important. That is a sensible place to start, especially in a series where momentum can matter as much as reputation. Canada may be the stronger name on paper, but Rubín was direct about Guatemala’s mindset. He said Canada is a strong opponent, yet Guatemala has excellent players and an excellent team, and the group believes it can win this series.
That confidence is not being presented as empty talk. Rubín framed it as a mentality, and for Guatemala that matters. In a short series, the first match often shapes the tone for everything that follows. A good home result would not decide the tie, but it would give the Bicolor a much cleaner path into the second game and reinforce the idea that this is a contest they can manage, not merely survive.
What Rubín says matters most
The clearest answer from Rubín is that the opening home match matters most. He stressed that Guatemala must start well and push for the win, because setting the right tone in the first of the dos partidos is essential. That is where the series can tilt: not in abstract optimism, but in how the Bicolor handles the first 90 minutes.
Rubín’s comments also carried a personal layer. He spoke about how happy he has been in 2026, when his son was born, and said that life away from the pitch has brought him great joy. At the same time, he noted that he still wants more success on the field and continues working because the goal is to keep improving. He also mentioned his new club situation with El Paso Locomotive FC, which gives his interview an added sense of change and momentum.
For Guatemala, though, the larger story remains the same. Canada is next, the series is real, and Rubín’s message was not complicated: believe in the group, respect the opponent, and make the home leg count.
