Gold Cup 2015: Groups, Venues, Schedule and Preview
The details for the 2015 Gold Cup were announced on Thursday with teams getting placed in groups and schedules being set. The United States is the tournament's defending champion having won the 2013 edition with a 1-0 victory over Panama in the final.
This year's event, which serves as the championship competition for the CONCACAF region, marks the 13th time the Gold Cup has been held. It will be held jointly by the United States and Canada, which will be a host for the first time.
Below are all the key details for the tournament, including the three groups and the paths the participating teams will face, followed by a preview. The event is slated to kick off on July 7.
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2015 Gold Cup Groups
| A | United States | Panama | Haiti | Honduras/French Guiana |
| B | Costa Rica | El Salvador | Jamaica | Canada |
| C | Mexico | Guatemala | Trinidad and Tobago | Cuba |
Tournament Schedules
Group A
| July 7 | Panama | Haiti | Toyota Stadium |
| July 7 | United States | TBA | Toyota Stadium |
| July 10 | TBA | Panama | Gillette Stadium |
| July 10 | United States | Haiti | Gillette Stadium |
| July 13 | Haiti | TBA | Sporting Park |
| July 13 | Panama | United States | Sporting Park |
Group B
| July 8 | Costa Rica | Jamaica | StubHub Center |
| July 8 | El Salvador | Canada | StubHub Center |
| July 11 | Jamaica | Canada | BBVA Compass Stadium |
| July 11 | Costa Rica | El Salvador | BBVA Compass Stadium |
| July 14 | Jamaica | El Salvador | BMO Field |
| July 14 | Canada | Costa Rica | BMO Field |
Group C
| July 9 | Trinidad and Tobago | Guatemala | Soldier Field |
| July 9 | Mexico | Cuba | Soldier Field |
| July 12 | Trinidad and Tobago | Cuba | University of Phoenix Stadium |
| July 12 | Guatemala | Mexico | University of Phoenix Stadium |
| July 15 | Cuba | Guatemala | Bank of America Stadium |
| July 15 | Mexico | Trinidad and Tobago | Bank of America Stadium |
Knockout Stages
| July 18 | 1A vs. 3B/C | M&T Bank Stadium |
| July 18 | 2A vs. 1B | M&T Bank Stadium |
| July 19 | 1C vs. 3A/B | Met Life Stadium |
| July 19 | 2C vs. 2B | Met Life Stadium |
| July 22 | SF No. 1 Winner vs. SF No. 2 Winner | Georgia Dome |
| July 22 | SF No. 3 Winner vs. SF No. 4 Winner | Georgia Dome |
| July 25 | Third-Place Match | PPL Park |
| July 26 | Championship Match | Lincoln Financial Field |
Event Preview
As mentioned, the United States won the Gold Cup two years ago. That triumph punched the Americans' ticket to a playoff to determine which country will represent CONCACAF in the 2017 Confederations Cup, a warm-up event one year before the World Cup.
It also means if the U.S. is able to repeat as champions it can avoid having to participate in a playoff to earn that berth. The team would qualify directly. So there's definitely plenty of incentive for Jurgen Klinsmann's group beyond wanting to retain its spot atop the region.
Ives Galarcep of Goal highlighted the road the team will travel to the knockout rounds:
Grant Wahl of Sports Illustrated notes it should be a good team for the Americans:
El Tri struggled in the tournament two years ago. They finished second in their group behind Panama and barely escaped a quarterfinal clash with Trinidad and Tobago. They were then eliminated in the semifinals in a rematch with Panama.
Mexico did find better form in time for the World Cup last summer. It advanced from a tough group and had the Netherlands on the ropes before two late goals by the Dutch side ended the run. The increased level of play continued in the friendlies that followed.
Paul Carr of ESPN points out El Tri are a very strong bet to advance and should top Group C in the Gold Cup:
Although it would be no surprise if the United States and Mexico meet in the final for the sixth time, other contenders are emerging in the region. Costa Rica made a run to the World Cup quarterfinals last year and Panama made the last Gold Cup finals.
At the very least, the margin for error is shrinking for the Americans and Mexicans. All of the sides should call up strong squads for the event, too. The Confederations Cup spot is coveted and this is the last chance to earn a spot in the playoff.
It should result in some great action throughout the United States and Canada in July.
