What to expect
Haiti are making their ninth Gold Cup appearance and have had some notable performances, in particular in 2019 when they knocked out Canada before going on to lose to eventual winners Mexico in extra time. With players predominantly based in the French leagues, Haiti bring athleticism and steel to their game. Fearless and committed in equal amounts they never give up until the final whistle – their intensity,
What to expect
El Salvador are playing in their 13th Concacaf Gold Cup, and ninth consecutive. In 2021 they made it through to the kickout rounds for the sixth time, but they have never progressed beyond the quarter finals. In a group with Costa Rica, Panama, and Martinique, they could find progress difficult. They have had a poor run of form into the finals, failing to win a game in the past year.
What to expect
Guadeloupe fulfilled their expectation of making it through the preliminary knock-out rounds in Fort Lauderdale. They will present an athletic and physical challenge in a group that contains Canada, Cuba and Guatemala. They have the ability to pull off big results with a team that is a mix of experience and new, younger players, with many drawn from the French leagues.
Coach
May 23 – National Independent Soccer Association has approved Irvine Zeta FC’s (IZFC) application to join US third tier professional league.
What to expect
In 2021 Guatemala, in the process of rebuilding with a young team, failed to make it through the knockout stages, only to be called back when the bulk of the Curacao squad tested positive for Covid. From that experience they have continued to improve and will participate in its 12th Gold Cup. They have not made the knockout stage since the 2011 edition but they will expect to do so this time.
NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas
NRG Stadium is a 71,995 capacity stadium in Houston, Texas, and is the home of the NFL’s Houston Texans. Built at a cost of $352 million, it was the first NFL facility to have a retractable roof.
NRG Stadium is part of the NRG Park stadium and event facilities that were brought under a $300 million naming rights deal in 2000.
It will be one of the host stadiums for the 2026 World Cup to be co-hosted in the US,
What to expect
Martinique qualified through the preliminary play-offs with a win over up and coming Puerto Rico. They are making their fourth consecutive Gold Cup appearance and eighth overall. In a group with Panama, Costa Rica and El Salvador they have the strength and ability to be the surprise package and cold make it into the knockout rounds. Crucial to that will be getting a result against El Salvador. Panama may be too strong but a rebuilding and physically smaller Costa Rica could offer that opportunity of progression.
What to expect
This is Qatar’s second appearance at a Concacaf Gold Cup as a guest team. In 2021, the Asian champions made it all the way to the semi-finals under coach Felix Sanchez before losing to the US. Carlos Queiroz is in charge now, having left Iran, and is bringing a young and developing team. They are in the toughest group with Mexico and Honduras and first opponents will be Haiti.
What to expect
Saint Kitts and Nevis are the first team from the third tier of Concacaf’s Nations League to make it to the Gold Cup final. Qualifying via two penalty shoot out wins in the preliminary knock out rounds, they are in a group with the US, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago. The Trinidad game will be their biggest opportunity to get a result but this is a team that has already played twice and will be starting to get weary.
What to expect
Trinidad and Tobago qualified for the group stage directly but only after Nicaragua were banned for fielding an illegible player. The team does not have the star players of the past or is anything like the team that qualified for the 1998 World Cup, but it is rebuilding, slowly, under a Normalisation Committee. Its leagues have restarted and although there is little funding for the players, they are at least playing again.
May 22 – The acquisition of the new San Diego franchise in the MLS by an ownership group led by Mohamed Mansour has already been followed up with a statement of business intent with a deal announced with Elite Performance Partners (EPP) – a high-performance business that supports teams in elite sport.
May 22 – At least 12 people have died after a crush at a football stadium in San Salvador, El Salvador, local authorities have said.
May 22 – The four nations in the Concacaf Nations League Finals to be played June 15-18 at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, have released preliminary rosters of up to 60 players.
Red Bull Arena, Harrison, New Jersey
The 25,000-capacity home to the New York Red Bulls of the MLS and the NJ/NY Gotham FC of the NWSL is situated in Harrison, New Jersey, seven miles west of Lower Manhattan, on the waterfront in the Riverbend district.
Originally planned to be built for the MetroStars in the MLS in 2004, various planning issues prevented the build from starting until the start of 2005 when drinks company Red Bull bought the MetroStars MLS franchise from Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) and renamed the club.
Shell Energy Stadium, Houston, Texas
Home to MLS side the Houston Dynamo and the Houston Dash in the National Women’s Soccer League, the 22,039-capacity Shell Energy (formerly the BBVA Compass Stadium) was built as a soccer-specific stadium but has been used for lacrosse, rugby, and concerts.
Architecturally, the stadium features a faceted facade of expanded metal mesh with orange polycarbonate enclosed entrances and spectator facilities that reflects the industrial heritage of the East Downtown location.
