The 12th edition of the CONCACAF Gold Cup begins on Sunday at the Rose Bowl in California. Before the rebrand in 1991, the continental championship consisted of only one group phase that decided the winner, beginning with the inaugural event 50 years ago.
Here is a breakdown of the participating nations for this year’s competition.
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Mexico
Manager: Jose Manuel de la Torre
Best result: Champions (1965, 1971, 1977, 1993, 1996, 1998, 2003, 2009, 2011)
Synopsis: The defending Gold Cup champions will begin the tournament in a troubled state. El Tri are fresh off a less than impressive showing at the Confederations Cup, having crashed out in the group stages, barely exiting with a little dignity following a 2-1 victory over Japan in their last game. The squad heading to the United States is comprised heavily of domestic talent and is drastically changed from the group which fell out in Brazil, the most notable absentees being Javier Hernandez and Giovani dos Santos. However, despite recent struggles, Mexico has historically thrived in this continental tournament. Overall, the Mexicans have won nine continental titles, making four of the last five finals and winning three. Should they succeed in raising the trophy in Chicago on July 28, it would be the second time El Tri has secured a three-peat in the competition. Judging by their group opponents, getting to the next round should be an automatic conclusion, although, the ultimate prize might be overly ambitions considering Mexico’s inexperienced roster.
Player to watch: Marco Fabian (C.D. Guadalajara)
Schedule: Panama (July 7), Canada (July 11), Martinique (July 14)
Prediction: First in Group A
Panama
Manager: Julio Dely Valdes
Best result: Runner-up (2005)
Synopsis: World Cup qualifying has been rather disappointing for Panama, who currently sits second last in the final group, one point behind Honduras for a playoff spot and two points back of Mexico for automatic qualification. Coincidentally, Los Canaleros will kick off the Gold Cup against group favourites Mexico. Both are expected to reach the next round, but a strong performance and favourable result would theoretically provide Panama with an easier path to the semifinals. Two years ago, a spot in the final was extinguished by the hosts, as the Americans avenged a 2-1 loss to Panama in the first round with a 1-0 victory in the semis. It was a tough pill to swallow, considering Panama’s great start that earned them top spot in the group, which was followed by a thrilling shootout quarter-final victory over El Salvador. The minimum expectation this time around will be a quarter-final appearance.
Player to watch: Blas Perez (FC Dallas)
Schedule: Mexico (July 7), Martinique (July 11), Canada (July 14)
Prediction: Third in Group A
Canada
Manager: Colin Miller (interim)
Best result: Champions (2000)
Synopsis: It’s hard to forget, no matter how hard Canadians try, the humiliating result in San Pedro Sula last October. The 8-1 loss to Honduras resulted in the resignation of Stephen Hart as manager after failing to reach the final group stage of CONCACAF World Cup qualification. Thankfully, the lowest of lows in Canadian soccer history has ushered in much needed change to the country’s soccer program. It definitely won’t be a quick and easy fix. Development is a major issue that will only get better through time – the Gold Cup is just the starting point. The absence of veterans Kevin McKenna, Andrew Hainault and Dwayne De Rosario is a perfect example of a new era beginning. Doneil Henry, Russell Teibert and Jonothan Osario are just some of the new generation of players that will carry the torch moving forward. Unfortunately, results have continued to go south, with Canada suffering four defeats and one draw in 2013. Having crashed out in the group stages two years ago, inexperience and a lack of goal production will make progression once again quite challenging, especially by a team void of confidence.
Player to watch: Jonathan Osario (Toronto FC)
Schedule: Martinique (July 7), Mexico (July 11), Panama (July 14)
Prediction: Second in Group A
Martinique
Manager: Patrick Cavelan
Best result: Quarter-finals (2002)
Synopsis: With a population of just over 400,000, the bare minimum is to be expected from the overseas French region of Martinique. More than half of the roster is made up of amateurs, despite the domestic league being associated with the French Football Federation. The island region is independently a member of CONCACAF, but not FIFA, and therefore unable to participate in the World Cup or any tournament organized by the sport’s governing body. This will be Martinique’s fourth Gold Cup appearance, having once progressed past the group stage in 2002, losing to Canada in a quarter-final penalty shootout. Avoiding embarrassment is enough of a challenge, and anything more would be a bonus.
Player to watch: Yoann Arquin (Notts County)
Schedule: Canada (July 7), Panama (July 11), Mexico (July 14)
Prediction: Fourth in Group A
Honduras
Manager: Luis Fernando Suarez
Best result: Runner-up (1991)
Synopsis: The Hondurans’ record in the tournament in the last decade has been somewhat successful: three semifinal appearances in last four, adding more credence to their dark horse status. Winning the ultimate prize would be overly ambitious, as Los Catrachos are capable of causing the odd upset. Its biggest obstacles have proven to be the top-tier CONCACAF nations in Mexico and the United States, who have has tripped up Honduras continuously at the same hurdle. Reversing the trend of failure against the region’s best teams might be a little optimistic at this point in time. But positive strides forward are being made, and Honduras could surprise.
Player to watch: Andy Najar (Anderlecht)
Schedule: Haiti (July 8), El Salvador (July 12), Trinidad and Tobago (July 15)
Prediction: First in Group B
El Salvador
Manager: Agustin Castillo
Best result: Runner-up (1963, 1981)
Synopsis: Unlike their hated group rival Honduras, El Salvador has produced very little at this event in the last couple of decades. The glory years happened before the tournament was rebranded 22 years ago, finishing second at the inaugural CONCACAF Championship in 1963 and again in 1981. Other achievements included a third place medal in 1977, and more recently a fourth place showing in 1985. Since then, El Salvador has made seven appearances, only managing to make it out of the group stage three times before a swift exit at the quarter-final stage. A somewhat lucky group draw has provided La Selecta with a decent opportunity to earn a spot in the next round, though anything more is predictably out of reach.
Player to watch: Rodolfo Zelaya (Alianza)
Schedule: Trinidad and Tobago (July 8), Honduras (July 12), Haiti (July 15)
Prediction: Second in Group B
Trinidad and Tobago
Manager: Stephen Hart
Best result: Runners-up (1973)
Synopsis: Former Canadian coach Stephen Hart has been handed the reins and responsibility of resurrecting the national program. The Trinidadian hopes to guide his home nation to a strong showing, as the Soca Warriors have failed to qualify for three of the last five tournaments. Unfortunately, their last two performances both ended in the group stage on the final day: humiliated 1-0 by lowly Martinique in 2002, and a 2-0 defeat to Colombia three years later. Trinidad suffered an unexpected elimination in the second round of World Cup qualifying, failing to top a group that included Bermuda, Bahamas and Guyana. To make matters worse, the Soca Warriors have lost four of their last five friendlies in 2013, failing to score in each match. Hart will have his hands full getting Trinidad back to respectability in CONCACAF.
Player to watch: Kenwyne Jones (Stoke City)
Schedule: El Salvador (July 8), Haiti (July 12), Honduras (July 15)
Prediction: Third in Group B
Haiti
Manager: Israel Blake Cantero
Best result: Champions (1973)
Synopsis: The golden age of Haitian football is long gone. Les Grenadiers’ best days came during the late 60s and 70s, having finished second-best at the continental championship in 1971 and 1977. Haiti won the tournament in 1973, and followed that feat by qualifying for the 1974 World Cup. Nothing of note has happened since. The gulf in class is evident, and Haiti’s chances of progressing past the group stage are improbable at best. In the 22 years since the Gold Cup rebranding, Haiti has twice qualified for the second round the first happening via a coin-toss in 2002 after a three-way tie with Canada and Ecuador in the group phase. The journey ended with a 2-1 quarter-final loss to Costa Rica. Seven years later, a 2-0 victory over lowly Grenada provided a route into the knockout round, but the end result was a 4-0 thrashing by Mexico. The Haitians are clear favourites to finish bottom of the group.
Player to watch: Peterson Joseph (Sporting Kansas City)
Schedule: Honduras (July 8), Trinidad and Tobago (July 12), El Salvador (July 15)
Prediction: Fourth in Group B
United States
Manager: Jurgen Klinsmann
Best result: Champions (1991, 2002, 2005, 2007)
Synopsis: The hosts received a favourable draw by being placed in the weakest group, and will kick off the competition with back-to-back games against minnows Belize and Cuba. Jurgen Klinsmann has selected a strong squad with a great blend of youth and experience, making the U.S. odds on favourites to be crowned champions. The minimum requirement is a spot in the final, having contested for the title in five out of the last six tournaments, only missing out three times since 1991. Full of confidence after an inspiring 4-3 friendly win over an under-strength Germany in June, the U.S. is in peak form and used the momentum to secure three straight victories in World Cup qualifying to take control of their group with 13 points — five clear of an automatic place in Brazil next summer with four games remaining. It’s shaping up to be a highly successful summer for the Stars and Stripes.
Player to watch: Jack McInerney (Philadelphia Union)
Schedule: Belize (July 9), Cuba (July 13), Costa Rica (July 16)
Prediction: First in Group C
Costa Rica
Manager: Jorge Luis Pinto
Best result: Champions (1963, 1969, 1989)
Synopsis: Los Ticos arrive in the U.S. with a little added swagger and strong belief that an extended run in the tournament can be achieved. Costa Rica has only lost once in their last 15 matches, with 10 wins. One problem: the lone defeat happened against the hosts, who were drawn in the same group. However, Costa Rica should have no issues easing into the second round, as they are undefeated in 17 matches combined against Belize and Cuba. In 2011, a heartbreaking penalty shootout loss to Honduras sent the Costa Ricans crashing out at the quarter-final stage. Two years before that, it was Mexico that ended their hopes of contesting the final, succumbing 5-3 in the dreaded shootout. Despite having a fairly even overall record against their hosts, Costa Rica seems to capitulate in the more important matches against the Americans, most notably losing the 2002 Gold Cup final 2-0. Keeping focus in the later rounds has always been a constant struggle.
Player to watch: Alvaro Saborio (Real Salt Lake)
Schedule: Cuba (July 9), Belize (July 13), USA (July 16)
Prediction: Second in Group C
Belize
Manager: Ian Mork
Best result: First appearance
Synopsis: It’s been 18 years since Belize debuted on the international scene, having gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1980 — the football program didn’t officially get up and running for another 15 years. It’s safe to assume their inaugural trip to the Gold Cup will be quick and rather painful. A fourth place finish at this year’s Copa Centroamericano earned Belize an astonishing entry into the Gold Cup, previously never having qualified for any major international competition. An injury-time match winner by Deon McCaulay in Belize’s final group match against Nicaragua booked their ticket to the U.S.. Enjoy the occasion and soak up the scenery, nothing more can be expected.
Player to watch: Deon McCaulay (Belmopan Bandits)
Schedule: USA (July 9), Costa Rica (July 13), Cuba (July 16)
Prediction: Fourth in Group C
Cuba
Manager: Walter Benitez
Best result: Quarter-finals (2003)
Synopsis: Barring any unforeseen slip up, the Cubans should finish ahead of Belize in this group. Cuba has made six appearances in the Gold Cup, only once progressing past the initial group phase in 2002. Unfortunately, it ended with a 5-0 quarter-final loss to the United States. The prospect of sneaking into the second round is highly unlikely, given the strength of the competition.
Player to watch: Alexei Zuásnabar (FC Cienfuegos)
Schedule: Costa Rica (July 9), USA (July 13), Belize (July 16)
Prediction: Third in Group C
KNOCKOUT ROUND
Quarter-finals: Canada defeats El Salvador; Mexico defeats Trinidad & Tobago; Honduras defeats Costa Rica; United States defeats Panama
Semifinals: Mexico defeats Canada; United States defeats Honduras
Final: United States defeats Mexico
Golden Boot: Jake McInerney (USA)