PREVIEW: 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup set to kick off June 14; U.S. looking to rebound
- Dan Stickradt
- Jun 13
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 15
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
The 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup kicks off Saturday, marking the 18th edition of the region’s premier men’s soccer championship.
The tournament runs from June 14 through July 6 across 14 venues in the United States and Canada, culminating with the final at NRG Stadium in Houston.
Sixteen teams — 15 from North America, Central America and the Caribbean, along with guest nation Saudi Arabia — will compete for the continental crown.
The United States enters the tournament under new leadership and with plenty of questions. After a string of poor performances in recent friendlies, the U.S. men’s national team looks to regroup on home soil. Several regular starters are missing from the roster, including Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Timothy Weah, opening the door for younger players such as Brenden Aaronson, Diego Luna and Malik Tillman to step up.
The Americans are drawn into Group D alongside Trinidad and Tobago, Haiti and Saudi Arabia. The U.S. will open group play Sunday against Trinidad and Tobago in San Jose, California.
Mexico, the tournament’s most successful team with nine titles, will once again be among the favorites. El Tri headlines Group A alongside Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic and Honduras.
Panama and Jamaica highlight Group C, while Group B features Canada, El Salvador, Guatemala and Curaçao.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals. The knockout stage will run from June 28 through the final on July 6.
This year’s Gold Cup also serves as a key tune-up for the region’s teams ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the U.S., Mexico and Canada.
USMNT HAS SHOT AT REDEMPTION
The U.S. Men’s National Team is coming off its rare 0-4 stretch where they were outscored 9-2, including the 4-0 debacle against Switzerland last week in a friendly match where all four goals were score in the first 36 minutes of play.
The loss was the most goals the USMNT had allowed in the first half since a game with Mexico some 45 years ago in 1980.
Since switching coaching staff last summer, the USMNT has gone 5-5 in games played between October 2024 to June of this year. The U.S. has a narrow 15-14 edge on the scoreboard in those 10 games and have been shut out three times.
A rebound win or two could help restore some faith in the USMNT – at least for the time being.
The U.S. opens Sunday against Trinidad & Tobago in Group D play at Say Jose’s PayPal Park.
2025 CONCACAF GOLD CUP SCHEDULE
Group Stage
Saturday, June 14
Mexico vs. Dominican Republic
Costa Rica vs. Honduras
Sunday, June 15
United States vs. Trinidad and Tobago
Haiti vs. Saudi Arabia
Panama vs. Nicaragua
Jamaica vs. St. Kitts and Nevis
Thursday, June 19
United States vs. Saudi Arabia
Mexico vs. Honduras
Costa Rica vs. Dominican Republic
Friday, June 20
Haiti vs. Trinidad and Tobago
Jamaica vs. Nicaragua
Panama vs. St. Kitts and Nevis
Sunday, June 22
United States vs. Haiti
Saudi Arabia vs. Trinidad and Tobago
Mexico vs. Costa Rica
Dominican Republic vs. Honduras
Monday, June 23
Panama vs. Jamaica
Nicaragua vs. St. Kitts and Nevis
Knockout Stage
Quarterfinals
June 28-29
Semifinals
July 2
Concacaf Gold Cup Finals
July 6 — NRG Stadium, Houston
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