Date and Format of 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup
The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) recently announced that the 2023 Gold Cup will be played between June 16 and July 16. This tournament will crown the best national team in the region. The tournament will follow a similar format to previous editions. Twelve teams have already advanced to the 16-team group stage, which includes Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, and the United States. Invited guests Qatar will also compete in the Gold Cup along with a play-in winner comprising Curaçao, St. Kitts & Nevis, French Guiana or Sint Maarten.
Fifteen Stadiums Chosen to Host
The Confederation selected 15 stadiums across 14 cities in the United States and Canada for hosting the tournament. These stadiums have a remarkable track record of hosting elite football events. Notably, four of these stadiums are the newest ones in the U.S.: SoFi Stadium, CITYPARK Stadium, Snapdragon Stadium, and TQL Stadium.
San Diego Hosts Confedertion’s Tournament for Fourth Time
Notably, San Diego comes into focus as they will host this confederation’s tournament for a fourth time in its history. In addition to their selection as host city for three previous editions of the Concacaf Gold Cup (1996; 2005; 2017), San Diego also hosted the Copa America Centenario matches at Qualcomm Stadium in 2016.
Soldier Field (Chicago) & NRG Stadium (Houston) Record Holders
Soldier Field (Chicago) and NRG Stadium (Houston) hold joint records, as the tournament will return to these venues for the seventh time in 2023. This marks the most of any stadium in the tournament’s history.
Tournament Returns to Toronto
The Gold Cup will return to Canada for the second time and first since 2015, when BMO Field, in Toronto hosted a group stage doubleheader.
SoFi Stadium to Host Final
The quest to lift the trophy on July 16 will lead to SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, California. The final match will be held there.
Format of Group A, USMNT’s Group
In Group A, US Men’s National Team (USMNT) will participate along with Jamaica, Nicaragua, and another team awaiting qualification. Curaçao, French Guiana, Sint Maarten or St. Kitts and Nevis stand a chance of qualifying for this spot. USMNT head coach Anthony Hudson is pleased with the draw but acknowledges that every game is complicated.
Group C Tough for Costa Rica
Group C is expected to be challenging for Costa Rica because they are far from their glory days but know how to play in tournaments.
13 Cities in Different Countries Selected as Hosts
Thirteen cities from different countries have been selected as hosts along with Toronto. Thus, making it a truly regional tournament enjoyed by football fans across various countries of North America.
Complete Schedule Yet to be Announced
A complete match schedule, including specific match assignments and other details such as ticketing information are yet to be announced. This information will be available soon after the official draw of the 2023 Gold Cup scheduled for Friday, April 14 at SoFi Stadium. The event will include the participation of Concacaf President and FIFA Vice President Victor Montagliani along with the head coaches of national teams participating in the event.
In conclusion, the 2023 Gold Cup tournament promises to be an exhilarating event that will witness the crowning of regional football champions. With world-class stadiums selected, football fans anticipate a memorable tournament in June and July next year.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
