2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup Set to Kick Off in North America

The 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup, the 18th edition of the biennial men's soccer championship for North, Central America, and the Caribbean, is set to commence on June 14 and conclude on July 6. Co-hosted by Canada and the United States, the tournament will feature 16 teams, including guest nation Saudi Arabia, competing across 14 venues in 11 metropolitan areas. The final is scheduled for July 6 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.

The group stage will run from June 14 to 24, followed by quarterfinals on June 28 and 29, semifinals on July 2, and the final on July 6. Notably, five venues—AT&T Stadium in Arlington, BC Place in Vancouver, Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, NRG Stadium in Houston, and SoFi Stadium in Inglewood—are also slated to host matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

As of now, eight teams have qualified through the 2024/25 CONCACAF Nations League: Canada, Curaçao, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Mexico, Panama, and the United States. Seven additional teams will secure their spots through the Gold Cup Preliminary Round in March 2025. The official draw for the tournament took place on April 10, 2025, determining the groupings and matchups for the competition.

This edition marks the third time Canada has hosted Gold Cup matches, with Vancouver's BC Place serving as a venue for the first time. The tournament provides a competitive platform for regional teams ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The United States Men's National Team (USMNT) faces notable absences. Goalkeeper Zack Steffen will miss the tournament due to a knee injury sustained during training. Additionally, key attacker Christian Pulisic has been left off the roster to recover from an intense season in Europe. Defender Sergiño Dest is also excluded from the squad, joining a growing list of high-profile absences. Head coach Mauricio Pochettino announced a roster filled with new faces, including four players receiving their first call-ups. Despite the inexperience, Pochettino expressed confidence in the team's potential and ambition to win the Gold Cup.

Canada's coach Jesse Marsch acknowledged that some Canadian fans might be hesitant to travel to the U.S. for the Gold Cup, citing concerns over the current political climate and increased border scrutiny. Marsch hopes fans will still support the team despite the circumstances. Canada will open the Gold Cup at home in Vancouver on June 17 before heading to Houston for matches against Curaçao and El Salvador.

The inclusion of Saudi Arabia as a guest nation reflects CONCACAF's efforts to globalize the tournament and foster international relations. However, this decision has sparked discussions about the intersection of sports and politics, especially considering Saudi Arabia's human rights record.

The Gold Cup is expected to have significant economic implications for host cities, boosting local economies through tourism and related activities. Media rights for the tournament are held by major broadcasters, including Fox Sports (English) and TUDN (Spanish) in the United States, OneSoccer in Canada, and ESPN+ in the Caribbean and Central America.

As the tournament approaches, teams are finalizing their preparations, aiming to leverage the Gold Cup as a critical platform ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The competition promises to deliver high-quality soccer and serve as a testament to the sport's growth and development in the region.