Not even a day has passed since the Copa America 2015 concluded with Chile winning the title for the first time ever, the football action now shifts to the USA and Canada for the prestigious CONCACAF Gold Cup, which will start on 7 July and end on 26 July.
Football fans across the world must put their seat belts on for another 20 days, as the action is expected to be full of energy amongst the participating nations. Though the competition may not match up to the standards of the Copa America which comprised teams such as Brazil, Argentina, Chile etc, the participating teams from North and Central America as well as the Caribbean nations will bring a different flavour and spice to the game.
Twelve teams are going to battle it out in the tournament, which has been divided into three groups of 4 teams each.
Group A – United States, Panama, Haiti and Honduras.
Group B – Costa Rica, El Salvador, Jamaica and Canada.
Group C- Mexico, Gautemala, Trinidad and Tobago and Cuba.
The top two teams from each group directly enter the quarter-finals of the competition and the remaining two slots will be awarded to the two best third placed teams from the three groups.
Amongst all the groups in the competition, Group A seems to be the toughest with the USA being the favourites, but take nothing away from Panama and Honduras, who have it in them to come up with some good performances as well in the competition.
The first match of Honduras against the USA will help us understand the nature of competition in the group A. The US have been one of the strongest teams in the competition and with them being hosts as well, they are going to be a tough team to beat. They have won the competition five times so far, including the last edition in 2013.
But the most successful team in the competition since its inception in 1991 has been Mexico, who have won the competition six times. Mexico are the second highest ranked team in the competition as they lie 23rd in the FIFA standings. Without a shadow of doubt, Mexico, the USA and Costa Rica are the three biggest teams in the competition.
Placed 14th in the latest FIFA standings, Costa Rica are the highest ranked team in the competition. They have not won the competition even once and this edition could be their biggest chance to win their maiden title. Costa Rica had finished runners up in 2002.
CONCACAF Gold Cup 2015 Schedule
July 7 - Panama vs. Haiti at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. 7pm
July 7 - USA vs. Honduras at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. 9:30pm
July 8 - Costa Rica vs. Jamaica at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. 8:00 pm
July 8 - El Salvador vs. Canada at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. 10:30pm
July 9 - Trinidad vs. Guatemala ay Soldier Field in Chicago 7:00pm
July 9 - Mexico vs. Cuba at Soldier Field in Chicago 9:30pm
July 10 Honduras vs. Panama at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. 6:00pm
July 10 - USA vs. Haiti at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, 8:30pm
July 11 - Jamaica vs. Canada at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, 6:30pm
July 11 - Costa Rica vs. El Salvador at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, 9pm
July 12 - Trinidad vs. Cuba at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz, 6:30pm
July 12 - Guatemala vs. Mexico at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz, 9pm
July 13 - Haiti vs. Honduras, at Sporting Park in Kansas City, Mo, 7:00pm
July 13: Panama vs. USA at Sporting Park in Kansas City, 9:30pm
July 14: Jamaica vs. El Salvador, 6:00pm
July 14: Canada vs. Costa Rica, at BMO Field in Toronto, 8:30pm
July 15: Cuba vs. Guatemala, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C, 6:00pm
July 15: Mexico vs. Trinidad, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C, 8:30pm
July 18 - Quarter Final 1
July 18 - Quarter Final 2
July 19 - - Quarter Final 3
July 19 - - Quarter Final 4
July 22 – Semi Final 1
July 22 – Semi Final 2
July 25- Third Place Playoff
July 26 – Final
All times given above are ET.
Live TV Information
US - Fox Sports
UK - BT Sport 2
Portugal - Sport TV1
