Haitians return negative tests to keep US game in Kansas on schedule
July 11 – Concacaf narrowly avoided a second fixture crisis on the second day of the Gold Cup after enforcing strict covid protocols on the Haitian team and management.
Gold Cup 2021
Tragedy for Kluivert’s Curacao as Covid outbreak forces last minute withdrawal from Gold Cup
By Paul Nicholson
July 9 – Disaster has struck the Curacao team before a ball has been kicked in the Gold Cup group stages that start tomorrow (Saturday). Escalating numbers of positive cases within the team and the management have forced them to withdraw from the tournament with their first match scheduled to be played in Frisco, Texas, against El Salvador.
Mexico primed and ready to fire up Gold Cup defense in front of packed house in Arlington
July 9 – Saturday night will see reigning champions Mexico open the 2021 Gold Cup and the defence of their title in front of more than 60,000 fans at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Concacaf open investigation into Cuba’s failure to make it to Gold Cup qualifying
July 9 – Cuba, who failed to turn up for their Concacaf Gold Cup Preliminary Qualifier against French Guiana last week, now face disciplinary proceedings by governing body Concacaf as new information has arisen regarding their failure to travel.
Qatar Airways lands on Concacaf in time for Gold Cup and 60th anniversary celebrations
July 7 – Concacaf are building on their links with Qatar with Qatar Airways committing to a confederation-wide partnership that sees the carrier becoming the Official Airline of the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup that completed its final preliminary qualifying rounds last night in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Guadeloupe stun Guatemala after marathon penalty shoot-out
Prelim Qualifiers 2: Guatemala 1 Guadeloupe 1 (Guadeloupe win 10-9 on penalties)
July 6 – It took 12 rounds of penalties for Guadeloupe to create the shock of the Gold Cup group qualifying rounds and beat Guatemala to secure their first ever finals place.
Trinidad and Tobago grab dramatic Gold Cup group spot with penalty shoot out win
Prelim Qaulifiers 2: Trinidad and Tobago 1 French Guiana 1 (Trinidad win 8-7 on penalties)
July 6 – Trinidad and Tobago battled their way into the Gold Cup stages with a dramatic 8-7 win on penalties over French Guiana after the score was tied at 1-1 at full time.
Haiti turn on the power of Pierrot to brush Bermuda aside and had to Gold Cup group stage
Prelims Qualifer 2: Haiti 4 Bermuda 1
July 6 – It was billed as a shoot out between Haiti’s Duckens Nazon and Bermuda’s Nakhi Wells, but it was Haiti’s Frandzty Pierrot who stole the headlines with a first half hat trick that decided the game sent them into the group phase of the Gold Cup.
Guatemala bring the crowd and a possession game to Guadeloupe decider
July 5 –Guatemala, once a regular name on Gold Cup final tournament fixture lists, are having to battle their way back to the top tier of confederation competition through the knock-out qualifying rounds for the Gold Cup group stages.
Haiti vs Bermuda. Nazon vs Wells. Big guns in shoot out for Gold Cup group slot
July 5 – The Haiti vs Bermuda play-off for a slot in the Gold Cup group stages is a return to hostilities between two nations that went head-to-head in 2019 with Haiti just coming out on top 2-1. It was the precursor of a run that took them to the semi-finals, leaving Bermuda rueing what might have been.
Concacaf names female refs to Gold Cup officiating teams as VAR debuts
July 6 – Concacaf have broken new ground with their officiating teams and is introducing VAR – it debuted in the Preliminary Qualifying rounds last weekend – for the first time.
Free scoring Trinidad and Tobago face the unknown in must-win French Guiana play-off
July 5 – Trinidad and Tobago will open the final round of preliminary qualifiers for the Gold Cup group stage in Fort Lauderdale tomorrow as favourites against a French Guiana that has not played a competitive fixture since 2019 due to the covid pandemic.
Montagliani stresses the importance of fans as Concacaf set for big Gold Cup month
July 4 – In an open letter to fans and federations, Concacaf president Victor Montagliani has welcomed the important return of fans to stadiums for the Gold Cup and highlights the increased playing national team playing opportunities as the confederation celebrates their 60thanniversary.
Guatemala and their fans up the ante with play-off win over Guyana
Prelims Qualifer: Guatemala 4 – Guyana 0
July 4 – A pulsating night of crowd energy and fast paced football in Fort Lauderdale last night ignited the touch paper for the Gold Cup whose group stages start July 10.
Cuba forfeit Gold Cup play-off after no-show in Florida
July 4 – Cuba became the first covid and visa casualty of the return to competitive international football after the country failed to get to Fort Lauderdale in Florida for their 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup Preliminary Round (Prelims) qualifier for a spot in the group stages that start July 10.