The United States to Kick Off CONCACAF Gold Cup Campaign

The United States national soccer team is set to open their CONCACAF Gold Cup campaign against Trinidad and Tobago on June 15 at San Jose, California. The match schedule was announced by CONCACAF on Friday, following the draw that took place a day earlier.

Throughout the history of the Gold Cup, the U.S. has been a dominant force in the group stage, winning their group in 16 out of 17 tournaments. Their only second-place finish came in 2011 to Panama. With a remarkable group stage record of 40 wins, one loss, and five draws, the U.S. will be looking to continue their strong performance in this year’s competition.

Under the guidance of coach Mauricio Pochettino, the U.S. will be playing their last competitive matches before the 2026 World Cup opener on June 12. Despite sending a second-string team for the second consecutive Gold Cup, the U.S. will be aiming to improve on their semifinal exit in 2023, where they lost to Panama on penalty kicks.

Defending champions Mexico will kick off the tournament against the Dominican Republic on June 14 at Inglewood, California. Canada, Panama, and other top CONCACAF nations will also be vying for the prestigious Gold Cup title.

The tournament will feature quarterfinal doubleheaders on June 28 and 29, followed by the semifinals on July 2. The championship match will take place on July 6 in Houston. The competition will run concurrently with the FIFA Club World Cup, which has been prioritized by FIFA in terms of player availability.

With matches scheduled at 14 stadiums across 11 different locations, the Gold Cup promises to deliver exciting soccer action while showcasing the talent of teams from North and Central America and the Caribbean. Mexico leads the pack with nine Gold Cup titles, followed closely by the U.S. with seven championships. Canada also has a Gold Cup title to their name, having emerged victorious in 2000.