The 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup was originally scheduled to be held from July 2 through July 25 2021, but will now be played from July 10 through August 1. Mexico are the defending champions.
In the past, Concacaf hand-picked its Gold Cup groups based on commercial and competitive considerations. This year, however, in advance of the 16th regional championship, a proper draw was conducted for the first time. And for the USA, it delivered a tantalizing matchup with Alphonso Davies and Canada.
It’s is a big year for the United States men’s national team. With new coach Gregg Berhalter leading the way, the team will play friendlies, the 2019 Gold Cup this summer and also the CONCACAF Nations League in the second half of the year.
The MNT will open the tournament against Gold Cup debutantes Guyana at the already sold-out Allianz Field on June 18 in Saint Paul, Minn.
Ahead of the massive USA v Mexico showdown on October 10 at the Rose Bowl, both coaches have announced their 35 and 32-man rosters
For the United States, there’s nothing too out of the ordinary in Klinsmann’s selections. Familiar faces such as Michael Bradley, Clint Dempsey, and Jozy Altidore are present as is the New England Revolution’s Lee Nguyen, who is one of MLS’s hottest players at the moment.
In addition to Dempsey, who missed this month’s friendlies versus Peru and Brazil as he recovered from a hamstring injury, Fabian Johnson and DeMarcus Beasley have also been recalled after missing the two friendlies also.
The Gold Cup got underway last with a doubleheader in front of a sold-out crowd at the Cowboys Stadium. The fans got what they came for as they saw ten combined goals and blowout victories by two of the tournament favorites.
Costa Rica opened the Gold Cup with a 5-0 rout of Cuba. Los Ticos took an early lead as Marco Urena scored his first of two goals on the day in the seventh minute of the Group A match. Heiner Mora, Joel Campbell and Real Salt Lake’s Alvaro Saborio also found the back of the net in the win that kept Costa Rica undefeated against Cuba in four Gold Cup meetings.