The Gold Cup began on June 15th and all is looking business as usual. While Mexico beat Cuba with a whopping 7-0, and easily beat Canada with a 3-1 scoreboard, the USMNT scored 4 goals against Guyana. Other teams that performed as usual were Costa Rica, who beat Nicaragua 4-0, and Jamaica who beat Honduras by a scoreboard of 3-2.
@miseleccionmxThis year’s edition seems somewhat special, though. It is the first time the tournament plays with 16 teams. Group A includes Mexico, Cuba, Canada, and Martinique; Group B is made up of Costa Rica, Haiti, Bermuda, and Nicaragua; Group C includes Jamaica, El Salvador, Honduras, and Curaçao; Group D includes United States, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana. But no matter how they arrange the tournament or how many teams from the region they include, we know how the final match will be played: Mexico against the United States.
The Gold Cup is one of the most unequal soccer national team tournaments, which is why Mexico has been dubbed the “giant” of the CONCACAF for ages. CONCACAF is the abbreviation of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football. You’ll notice that it’s made up mostly of countries in which soccer isn’t the main sport, so it should come to no surprise that Mexico is by far the strongest team in the region, both historically and at the moment.
@usmntCompared to the other teams in the region, Mexico also has an enormous fanbase, capable of filling up stadiums on both sides of the border. They have won the cup seven times, while the US has won six. However, Mexico also has a habit of sending a “B” team to these games, deeming it unworthy of summoning its best players. Mexico cannot afford that anymore. They are no longer invited to the Copa América, and the Confederations Cup will no longer continue. This is the only international tournament Mexico can win. So now they must win it. Let me be clear: anything less than being champions will be a failure, considering the quality of teams they play against.
Truth be told, the gap between Mexico’s and the other teams’ games has been reducing over the decades and no other team embodies this like the USMNT. They have won the tournament 6 times, so this is finally a good chance to tie Mexico and fight for regional supremacy the next Gold Cup’s edition. The US also famously knocked Mexico out of the 2002 World Cup, a wound that is yet to heal for most of Mexico’s fans.
None of the other teams have a real chance of winning. Mexico plays at home, has better players, and is better prepared. But, in case you’re interested in watching the games, here’s the full list of the games, schedules, and locations.
Thursday, June 20Nicaragua vs. Haiti7 p.m. ETToyota Stadium, Frisco, TexasThursday, June 20Costa Rica vs. Bermuda9:30 p.m. ETToyota Stadium, Frisco, TexasFriday, June 21El Salvador vs. Jamaica7 p.m. ETBBVA Compass Stadium, HoustonFriday, June 21Honduras vs. Curacao9:30 p.m. ETBBVA Compass Stadium, HoustonSaturday, June 22Guyana vs. Panama5:30 p.m. ETFirstEnergy Stadium, ClevelandSaturday, June 22USA vs. Trinidad and Tobago8 p.m. ETFirstEnergy Stadium, ClevelandSunday, June 23Canada vs. Cuba6 p.m. ETBank of America Stadium, Charlotte, N.C.Sunday, June 23Mexico vs. Martinique8:30 p.m. ETBank of America Stadium, Charlotte, N.C.Monday, June 24Bermuda vs. Nicaragua6:30 p.m. ETRed Bull Arena, Harrison, N.J.Monday, June 24Haiti vs. Costa Rica9 p.m. ETRed Bull Arena, Harrison, N.J.Tuesday, June 25Jamaica vs. Curacao8 p.m. ETBanc of California Stadium, Los AngelesTuesday, June 25Honduras vs. El Salvador10:30 p.m. ETBanc of California Stadium, Los AngelesWednesday, June 26Trinidad and Tobago vs. Guyana6:30 p.m. ETChildren’s Mercy Park , Kansas City, Kan.Wednesday, June 26USA vs. Panama9 p.m. ETChildren’s Mercy Park, Kansas City, Kan.
@usmnt
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