What to expect
The US were the strongest of the four nations in Las Vegas in the CONCACAF Nations League beating Mexico 3-0 in the first semi-final and Canada 1-0 in the final with an exciting brand of football driven by a young team of extremely talented players who visibly grew in confidence. They come into the Gold Cup having dropped the bulk of that squad and are relying more on the MLS and LigaMX players.
What to expect
Mexico come into the tournament with a win, having beaten Panama 1-0 in the third place play-off at the Nations League finals a week ago. But Mexican fans demand more and so does a federation in presidential flux. With the US having made wholesale changes this Mexican team should be good enough to go all the way and they will have packed stadia driving them on. However, they are in the group of death with a fast improving Honduras with all their stars fit,
What to expect
Canada on their day can be the most exciting football team in the region going forward. They will be anxious to put the disappointing Nations League final loss behind them as well as three losses at the Qatar 2022 World Cup – they gained prose for their performance in Qatar, but praise doesn’t win games. The key thing for the Canadians is not losing games that they should win,
What to expect
Honduras are making their 16th appearance at the Gold Cup only having missed one final in 2002. They made the final in 2002 and have been semi-finalists in 2009, 2011 and 2013. They are a very proud footballing nation and have a strong and vocal supporter base in the US that expects their team to be better than they have shown in recent years. With the changing of the old guard this could be their time but the are in the group of death with Gold Cup royalty,
What to expect
Panama are a team looking to transition and under Christiansen have maintained momentum since their qualification for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, however, they just missed out on 2022 qualification to Costa Rica and that hurt. They struggled at the Nations League finals in Las Vegas a week ago but will be stronger at the Gold Cup with players returning from injury.
Star players
Right back Michael Murillo who plays his club football at Belgium’s Anderlecht has the ability to get forward and score.
What to expect
Jamaica come into the Gold Cup on a mission. They have twice made the Gold Cup final in 2015 and 2017. In 2015 they beat the US to get there, and in 2017 they beat Mexico. They are in a group with the US, Trinidad and Tobago and St Kitts and Nevis. With their Premier League looking forward line they will expect to qualify from the group. If that frontline start to find the back of the net then they could go all the way.
What to expect
Costa Rica, playing in their 16th Concacaf Gold Cup, are in a battle not just for the Gold Cup but for bragging rights in South America. Having led the way in the region they are now challenged by Panama who beat them to qualify for the Nations League finals. Once again they are in a group with Panama and the winner of this match looks likely to be the group winner.
What to expect
Cuba are making their 11th appearance in the Gold Cup and arrive on the back of a Nations League campaign that saw them win five matches, only losing once. They are in a group with Canada, Guatemala and Guadeloupe and expect to be competitive for a place in the knockout rounds. Part of the Cuban story is always how many players they lose when they arrive in the US,
What to expect
Haiti are making their ninth Gold Cup appearance and have had some notable performances, in particular in 2019 when they knocked out Canada before going on to lose to eventual winners Mexico in extra time. With players predominantly based in the French leagues, Haiti bring athleticism and steel to their game. Fearless and committed in equal amounts they never give up until the final whistle – their intensity,
What to expect
El Salvador are playing in their 13th Concacaf Gold Cup, and ninth consecutive. In 2021 they made it through to the kickout rounds for the sixth time, but they have never progressed beyond the quarter finals. In a group with Costa Rica, Panama, and Martinique, they could find progress difficult. They have had a poor run of form into the finals, failing to win a game in the past year.
What to expect
Guadeloupe fulfilled their expectation of making it through the preliminary knock-out rounds in Fort Lauderdale. They will present an athletic and physical challenge in a group that contains Canada, Cuba and Guatemala. They have the ability to pull off big results with a team that is a mix of experience and new, younger players, with many drawn from the French leagues.
Coach
What to expect
In 2021 Guatemala, in the process of rebuilding with a young team, failed to make it through the knockout stages, only to be called back when the bulk of the Curacao squad tested positive for Covid. From that experience they have continued to improve and will participate in its 12th Gold Cup. They have not made the knockout stage since the 2011 edition but they will expect to do so this time.
What to expect
Martinique qualified through the preliminary play-offs with a win over up and coming Puerto Rico. They are making their fourth consecutive Gold Cup appearance and eighth overall. In a group with Panama, Costa Rica and El Salvador they have the strength and ability to be the surprise package and cold make it into the knockout rounds. Crucial to that will be getting a result against El Salvador. Panama may be too strong but a rebuilding and physically smaller Costa Rica could offer that opportunity of progression.
What to expect
This is Qatar’s second appearance at a Concacaf Gold Cup as a guest team. In 2021, the Asian champions made it all the way to the semi-finals under coach Felix Sanchez before losing to the US. Carlos Queiroz is in charge now, having left Iran, and is bringing a young and developing team. They are in the toughest group with Mexico and Honduras and first opponents will be Haiti.
What to expect
Saint Kitts and Nevis are the first team from the third tier of Concacaf’s Nations League to make it to the Gold Cup final. Qualifying via two penalty shoot out wins in the preliminary knock out rounds, they are in a group with the US, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago. The Trinidad game will be their biggest opportunity to get a result but this is a team that has already played twice and will be starting to get weary.
