CONCACAF Gold Cup 2025

With a bit of attention on the Club World Cup, another competition starting on Sunday in the US is the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Traditionally this is a straight fight between Mexico and USA - they have won 16 of the 17 tournaments. Mexico lead 9 to USA's 7 titles. Canada, in 2000, are the only other winners, and the only time neither of the confederations giants have made the final.

The format is 4 groups of 4 teams, with the top 2 in each group advancing to the quarter finals.


GROUP A
Defending champions Mexico headline this group, with Costa Rica second favourites. It isn't a peak Mexican squad, but Raul Jimenez and Santiago Gimenez offer goals. Luis Malagon seemingly has ended Gullermo Ochoa's run as starting 'keeper. Most of the squad is playing football in their home country, although West Ham fans will be cheering on Edson Alvarez.
38 year old Keylor Navas is one of the remaining names from a bit of a golden generation for Costa Rica. 21 year old Brandon Aguilera is the big hope for the future, Forest fans may or may not remember him for a short spell with them.
A heavy Dutch influence in the Suriname squad is not a surprise, led by Dutch manager Stanley Menzo. Jean-Paul Boetius is a familiar name for European football fans, and even played for the Netherlands senior side. His one cap hasn't stopped him switching to Suriname, debuting this week. Most of their squad is European based, with a couple of players from Surinamese champions Robinhood.
Leeds player Junior Firpo is one of the most recognisable names in the Dominican Republic squad, while Edgar Pujol is progressing at Real Madrid in their Castilla side.

GROUP B
Jesse March leads Canada as they look to add a second Gold Cup to their trophy cabinet. Jonathan David has a big summer, as he looks to find a new club, and is the obvious star name in the squad.
Honduras are always seen as a decent outside bet, but 4 semi finals between 2005 and 2013 is the best they have done (although they did win the precursor tournament in 1981). Anthony Lozano had a decent career in Spain, with time at both Valencia and Barcelona in his younger days.
El Salvador are one of the teams who feel they can benefit from the expanded World Cup and feel a return to the big one for the first time since 82 is in their reach. Brayan Gil is one of their big hopes, while 100 cap Darwin Ceren is a mainstay in their team.
Dick Advocaat manages another team with a lot of Dutch links in Curacao . Juninho Bacuna and Cuco Martina are recognisable names from English football, while Rayvien Rosario and Livano Comencia are 2 youngsters Curacao are hoping can establish themselves.

GROUP C
Panama have established themselves as a consistent challenger to Mexico and USA. The three times runners-up also qualified for the World Cup in 2018 and are favourites to get one of the 3 places on offer for next year.
Steve McClaren's Jamaica could be a threat to Panama here. With a host of lower English league players, they have suffered the disappointment of not getting Mason Greenwood to play. Leon Bailey and Demarai Gray are attacking threats, while the likes of Pinnock, Bell and Holgate are in defence.
Guatemala and Guadeloupe make up the group. Don't know a lot about either. Guadeloupe have French influence with Jocelyn Angloma in charge and former French youth international Thierry Ambrose joining Matthias Phaeton in attack. Tairyk Arconte could be one to watch.

GROUP D
USA are the main feature in this group, but Mauricio Pochettino will have to turn around poor recent form. 4 defeats in a row, including Nations League losses to Panama and Canada, don't lend much optimism.
Haiti will hope to be challengers, and will lean of legendary striker Duckens Nazon to get them through. He has 39 goals in 67 caps, and had a brief spell in England with Wolves, who loaned him to Oldham and Coventry.
Dwight Yorke hasn't been able to manage his son Harvey very well, but he will hope to do better with Trinidad and Tobago here. I don't recognise any of the names in the squad, but Real Gill is a good name.
Making up the group are guests Saudi Arabia. It isn't the best of times for Saudi, having failed to qualify for the World Cup this week (they do get another chance, and then if needed possibly another!). Unable to call upon Al-Hilal players, this is a bit of a shadow squad with 5 key players absent.


The tournament kicks off at 3:15am (English time, they are not nutters who play in the early hours), as Mexico play Dominican Republic. The final is midnight on Sunday 6th/Monday July 7th.

Can anyone disrupt the Mexican/US stranglehold? Will we get first time winners? Does anyone care?