The current defending champions with a record eight Gold Cup titles, El Tri open the defence of their title against Dominican Republic at the SoFi Stadium in Hollywood Park, Los Angeles. Their expectations and that of their fans is nothing less than a ninth title.
Saudi Arabia participated in the CONCACAF Gold Cup as a guest once before, in 1998, finishing in third place. They are set to participate as a guest team in the 2025 and 2027 tournaments following an invitation in December 2024, shortly after Saudi Arabia was selected to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
Jamaica have been a steady force in the Gold Cup, making 13 appearances as of 2023 and having twice reached the final. But too often they haven’t fulfilled their billing and the promise of their Premier League stars.
Honduras has a long and notable history in the Gold Cup. They have participated in the tournament 16 times as of 2023, missing only the 2002 edition.
Haiti enters the Gold Cup as one of the region’s most storied and resilient teams. The nation boasts a proud history, having won the tournament as hosts in 1973 and finishing as runners-up in 1971 and 1977.
Guatemala have been a determined and resilient competitor in the Gold Cup, making 11 appearances as of 2023. Their best tournament finish came in 1996, when they reached the semi-finals and finished fourth.
Guadeloupe, known as ‘Les Gwada Boys’, have become a spirited and unpredictable presence in the CONCACAF Gold Cup, qualifying five times: 2007, 2009, 2011, 2021, and 2023. Their most memorable run came in 2007, when they stunned the region by reaching the semi-finals, defeating Canada and Honduras before narrowly falling 1-0 to Mexico to finish fourth.
The Dominican Republic have made history by qualifying for the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup for the first time. This is a landmark achievement for the men’s national team, as it is the first major tournament in their football history.
Curaçao’s involvement in the Gold Cup is a recent but notable story of rapid progress. Curaçao debuted in the Gold Cup in 2017. Although they did not win a match, they were competitive in all three group games.
Costa Rica have never won the Gold Cup. Their best finish was as a runner-up in 2002, however they have participated in 16 Gold Cups.
Canada have won the Concacaf Gold Cup once, in 2000. This remains their only championship and the only time they reached the final but in recent years they have threatened a breakthrough but always foundering on their Mexican and USA neighbours.
April 29 – Inter Miami’s unbeaten start to the Major League Soccer (MLS) season came to a dramatic end as FC Dallas rallied from a 3-1 deficit to secure a stunning 4-3 victory at Chase Stadium in Florida.
April 28 – The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) has formally applied to the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) to establish a new Division II league, further demonstrating the continued growth of women’s soccer in the United States.
April 25 – The new top tier women’s league in the US, the USL Super League, is changing its name after just a season, having sold its naming rights to financial services firm Gainbridge in a multi-year partnership.
April 25 – In an interview with the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) website, current United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) coach Mauricio Pochettino criticised his players’ mentality, prompting former USMNT coach Bruce Arena to respond with what could generously be called “constructive feedback”.