Gold Cup 2015: Dates, Odds, TV Schedule and Tournament Predictions
The best of North America, Central America and the Caribbean are set to face off at the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup starting on Tuesday.
Reigning champions the USA will be hoping to defend their title and equal Mexico's record of six wins in the tournament but will face stiff competition from El Tri as well as Costa Rica and co-hosts Canada.
Read on for the full schedule, the latest odds and some predictions for the tournament.
| Date | Fixture | Group | Time (ET/BST) | TV | Live Stream |
| Tuesday 7 July | Panama vs. Haiti | A | 7 p.m./12 a.m. | FOX Sports 2, BT Sport 2 | BT Player, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Tuesday 7 July | United States vs. Honduras | A | 9:30 p.m./2:30 a.m. | FOX Sports 1, BT Sport 2 | BT Player, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Wednesday July 8 | Costa Rica vs. Jamaica | B | 8 p.m./1 a.m. | FOX Sports 2, BT Sport 2 | BT Player, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Wednesday July 8 | El Salvador vs. Canada | B | 10:30 p.m./3:30 a.m. | FOX Sports 2, BT Sport 2 | BT Player, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Thursday July 9 | Trinidad vs. Guatemala | C | 7 p.m./12 a.m. | FOX Sports 2, BT Sport 2 | BT Player, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Thursday July 9 | Mexico vs. Cuba | C | 9:30 p.m./2:30 a.m. | FOX Sports 1, BT Sport 2 | BT Player, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Friday July 10 | Honduras vs. Panama | A | 6 p.m./11 p.m. | FOX Sports 2, BT Sport 2 | BT Player, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Friday July 10 | USA vs. Haiti | A | 9:30 p.m./1:30 a.m. | FOX Sports 1, BT Sport 2 | BT Player, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Saturday July 11 | Jamaica vs. Canada | B | 6:30 p.m./11:30 p.m. | FOX Sports 2 | FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Saturday July 11 | Costa Rica vs. El Salvador | B | 9 p.m./2 a.m. | FOX Sports 2 | FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Sunday July 12 | Trinidad vs. Cuba | C | 6:30 p.m./11:30 p.m. | FOX Sports 2 | FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Sunday July 12 | Guatemala vs. Mexico | C | 9 p.m./2 a.m. | FOX Sports 2, BT Sport 1 | BT Player, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Monday July 13 | Haiti vs. Honduras | A | 7 p.m./12 a.m. | FOX Sports 1, BT Sport 1 | BT Player, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Monday July 13 | Panama vs. USA | A | 9:30 p.m./2:30 a.m. | FOX Sports 1, BT Sport 1 | BT Player, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Tuesday July 14 | Jamaica vs. El Salvador | B | 6 p.m./11 p.m. | FOX Sports 1, ESPN UK | ESPN Player, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Tuesday July 14 | Canada vs. Costa Rica | B | 9:30 p.m./1:30 a.m. | FOX Sports 1, ESPN UK | ESPN Player, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Wednesday July 15 | Cuba vs. Guatemala | C | 6 p.m./11 p.m. | FOX Sports 2, BT Sport 2 | BT Player, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Wednesday July 15 | Mexico vs. Trinidad | C | 9:30 p.m./1:30 a.m. | FOX Sports 2, ESPN UK | ESPN Player, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Saturday July 18 | Quarter-final 1 | N/A | 5 p.m./10 p.m. | FOX Sports 2, BT Sport 2 | BT Player, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Saturday July 18 | Quarter-final 2 | N/A | 8 p.m./1 a.m. | FOX Sports 2, BT Sport 2 | BT Player, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Sunday July 19 | Quarter-final 3 | N/A | 4:30 p.m./9:30 p.m. | FOX Sports 1, BT Sport 2 | BT Player, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Sunday July 19 | Quarter-final 4 | N/A | 7:30 p.m./12:30 a.m. | FOX Sports 1, BT Sport 2 | BT Player, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Wednesday July 22 | Semi-final 1 | N/A | 6 p.m./11 p.m. | FOX Sports 1, BT Sport 1 | BT Player, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Wednesday July 22 | Semi-final 2 | N/A | 7 p.m./12 a.m. | FOX Sports 2, BT Sport 1 | BT Player, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Saturday July 25 | Third-place Play-off | N/A | 4 p.m./9 p.m. | FOX Sports 2, BT Sport 2 | BT Player, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Sunday July 26 | Final | N/A | 7:30 p.m./12:30 a.m. | FOX Sports 1, BT Sport 2 | BT Player, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Mexico | 6-4 |
| USA | 11-8 |
| Costa Rica | 6-1 |
| Panama | 20-1 |
| Honduras | 25-1 |
| Canada | 66-1 |
| Jamaica | 66-1 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 100-1 |
| Guatemala | 100-1 |
| El Salvador | 100-1 |
| Haiti | 250-1 |
| Cuba | 1000-1 |
Clint Dempsey to Be Tournament Top Scorer
The award for tournament top scorer would likely have gone to Mexico's Javier Hernandez, but as ESPN Tri confirm on Twitter, the striker will miss the Gold Cup with a broken clavicle.
Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl will miss Chicharito's exciting presence.
The Manchester United man, who spent last season on loan at Real Madrid, is a cut above most of the players set to feature in the tournament and could have ran riot against the defences of Guatemala and Cuba.
However, former Premier League star Clint Dempsey will be present for the USA, and he can enjoy a similarly strong run of form.
The 32-year-old appears to be full of confidence, if his recent penalty against Guatemala is anything to go by:
Further, Dempsey has already scored seven goals in 12 appearances for the Seattle Sounders in the MLS this season, so he's primed to have a good competition in front of goal.
Mexico's Carlos Vela and Costa Rica's Joel Campbell could run him close, but Dempsey's class and experience can shine through here.
Costa Rica to Win the Tournament for the First Time
Costa Rica have arguably enjoyed their best-ever spell over the last 18 months and can certainly be considered genuine contenders to win the Gold Cup.
La Sele stunned the world in Brazil last year, reaching the quarter-finals and pushing the Netherlands all the way before some Tim Krul heroics sent them out on penalties.
Since the start of 2014, Costa Rica have lost just four times.
Though Paulo Wanchope's side have lost three of their last four matches heading into the competition, two of those defeats came at the hands of Colombia and Spain, both of whom are considerably stronger than the teams present at the Gold Cup.
Wanchope admits Costa Rica's excellent run brings added pressure. Per Rob Woollard of Agence-France Presse (via Yahoo Sports) he said: "It will be a big challenge for us. Everyone will now expect Costa Rica to play great football and win against any team."
If La Sele can cope with the unfamiliar pressure, they have an excellent chance of winning the tournament.
A semi-final clash with the USA will be a daunting challenge, but Costa Rica have enjoyed success against Uruguay and Italy in recent times, so a place in the final is certainly achievable.
Should they make it to the final, they will almost certainly face Mexico. Costa Rica drew 2-2 with El Tri in June, and Mexico will be missing one of their goalscorers in that match, Hernandez.
It will be a big ask for Wanchope's side, but after the 18 months they've had, they have no reason to fear anyone. Costa Rica can win the Gold Cup for the first time.
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