Canada snatches victory from previously unbeaten Venezuela

Venezuela and Canada performed far beyond expectations in the group stage of Copa America, with Venezuela coming through to the quarterfinal round undefeated, so it was of great general interest to see how these two Cinderella teams would match up with each other at AT&T Stadium.

• READ MORE: Venezuela 1(3)-(4)1 Canada: Highlights, result and stats
• READ MORE: Copa America Stats

And so it was. Canada ended up winning the battle and extinguished the hope of thousands of Venezuelans who accompanied their national team on a promising path that ended on penalty kicks.

Now the ‘Maple Leafs’ will take that winning performance during their first invitation to the Copa America tournament, straight to the semifinals, where Argentina awaits, looking to repeat their victory from the inaugural match, while the Canadians look to avenge that loss now when the stakes are much higher.

Venezuela 1(3)-(4)1 Canada

• Canada, the new ‘Concacaf Giant’?

Of the three hosts for the upcoming 2026 World Cup, only Canada remains, outlasting Team USA and Mexico, the teams historically considered to be at the top of the Concacaf food-chain. Does this mean that the Canadian team will now join them as a viable North American rival, or is this the first indication that they have surpassed their continental neighbors as the leader of the confederation?

The team coached by Jesse March will be playing in its first semifinal, most surprisingly, while scoring only two goals in four games.

• Two matches, two penalty shootouts

Penalty shootouts have provided the path to the semifinalists in two exciting quarter-final matches so far. Will that be the case with the two remaining matches when Brazil faces Uruguay, and Colombia plays Panama tonight?

• Jacob Shaffelburg, the first to score in the MLS

Canada gained the lead against Venezuela just 13 minutes into the match via striker Jacob Shaffelburg, after a lethal run down the right flank by teammate Jonathan David.

The Nashville SC forward is the first MLS player to score in this Copa America 2024, while 42 players from the league were called to the tournament.

• A consolation for Rondón

Even with the loss, Venezuelan striker Salomón Rondón was not halted from scoring goals at the Copa América 2024, scoring one of the best goals of the tournament with a finish from almost midfield to tie the score against the Canadians in Las Vegas.

The 34-year-old striker is the highest-scoring Venezuelan in the history of the competition with seven goals, surpassing José Luis Dolguetta (6).  Rondón also finished with four goals in this edition of Copa America.