What to expect
Unbeaten in the past year, Mexico enter the W Gold Cup as dark horses to lift the trophy. Ranked 30th in the FIFA world rankings, they haven’t made the list of tournament favourites but certainly have an outside shot at going all the way.
The qualified via winning League A Group A, dominating all four games versus Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago, conceding just once whilst scoring 12 of their own.
The Dominican Republic qualified for the preliminary knock-out stage as winners of Group B in Concacaf Nations League B, winning five games and losing just once, scoring 24 goals in the process.
El Salvador qualified for the preliminary play-off after topping Group B of League B in the Concacaf Nations League when they won all six of their matches, with 24 goals from a number of different players.
Panama qualified for the W Gold Cup by topping their League A Nations League group ahead of Guatemala and Jamaica.
Paraguay qualified as one of the Conmebol guests for the Concacaf W Gold Cup by finishing fourth in the 2022 Copa America Feminina.
Canada qualified for the Gold Cup as CONCACAF Olympic play-off winners, making them the first team to officially join hosts USA. The Canadians have a strong a footballing pedigree having won Gold at the 2020 Olympic Games in Japan.
Brazil qualified as 2022 Copa América Femenina winners which gave them automatic qualification to the W Gold Cup. As a result, they were seeded in pot 1 of the group stage draw alongside fellow favourites USA and Canada.
January 31 – Spanish police have released more detail of 23 arrests, including football players, as part of a probe into suspected match-fixing in lower league football in Spain, Andorra and Gibraltar. There are currently 30 matches under further investigation for fixing.
January 31 – As if their eye-watering spending wasn’t enough already, Chelsea are reported to be chasing Benfica’s Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernandez in the final hours of the January transfer window for a British record £105 million.
January 31 – The United States soccer federation is to introduce a more thorough vetting system for coaches and officials as part of reforms after an investigation found widespread misconduct in the top-flight women’s league (NWSL).
January 31 – Valencia have parted ways with their coach Gennaro Gattuso following a 1-0 defeat to Real Valladolid, leaving the club one point above the relegation zone.
January 31 – Bundesliga club Mainz 05 has renewed its main shirt sponsorship with Profine brand Kömmerling that will now run until 2027.
January 31 – Lionel Messi says he regrets the exchanges he had with the Netherlands team during their controversial World Cup quarter-final in Qatar.
January 31 – National Women’s Soccer League’s North Carolina Courage is moving its back of shirt sponsor Merz Aesthetics to the front of the club’s shirt in a deal starting with the upcoming season that kicks off in March.
January 31 – Cyber protection specialists Acronis has announced a three-year partnership with Premier League Fulham.