The 14th edition of the CONCACAF Gold Cup is set to kick off on July 7, 2017. The United States and Mexico – the two big favorites and winners of 12 of the first 13 editions – won’t have their strongest squads in this tournament. Can that open the door for the rest of the field to snatch the championship? Let’s find out by checking in on the top contenders, as well as a couple of teams to keep an eye on.
The USMNT will be far from full-strength with the absence of big stars such as Clint Dempsey, Jozy Altidore, and Christian Pulisic. But despite those key exclusions, manager Bruce Arena should still have a squad more than capable of improving upon 2015’s disappointing fourth-place performance.
Their defense will feature experienced internationals in Matt Besler and Omar Gonzalez. Arena will likely field a functional five-man midfield for extra stability. Meanwhile, debutant Dom Dwyer got his first international goal recently against Ghana.
Since 1991, the USMNT has won five Gold Cups in 13 attempts. It would be a big shock if they aren’t at least one of the last teams standing in this year’s competition.
Like the US, Mexico will be fielding a significantly weakened team after their big stars—Javier Hernandez, Giovani dos Santos, Andres Guardado—participated in an ultimately disappointing Confederations Cup campaign in Russia. Striker Alan Pulido, who was expected to be a key player, also had to pull out recently with a broken arm.
However, there’s still some good quality on this El Tri squad led by the up-and-coming Jesus Corona and midfielder Rodolfo Pizarro. The defending champions have won a record seven out of the 13 editions of the Gold Cup, and should be a top contender alongside the USMNT.
Apart from the historic Big Two, Costa Rica easily has the best odds to win the championship. Los Ticos have been quite a force in CONCACAF for some time now, and although star goalie Keylor Navas won’t be available, they should still have one of the strongest teams in the competition.
Star forwards Joel Campbell and Bryan Ruiz will lead a very capable attack, while defenders Christian Gamboa, Johnny Acosta, and Michael Umana are all veterans of their 2014 World Cup quarterfinal run. They should be able to top Group A, which would then set up a potential semifinal meeting with the USMNT.
The Reggae Boyz sent shockwaves across the confederation after they knocked out the US in the semifinals in 2015 en route to a first-ever Gold Cup final berth. That performance will take away the element of surprise this time around, but with the pace and power they possess, they will nevertheless remain an outside candidate to deliver another unexpected run deep in the tournament.
Curacao will head into the Gold Cup on a tremendous high after claiming their first-ever Caribbean Cup title by beating Jamaica 2-1 in the final. Coincidentally, the Reggae Boyz will be their first group game in this year’s Gold Cup.
It’s highly unlikely Curacao ends up overcoming much superior competition in the US and Mexico, but if you’re looking to place a bet on the tournament’s five-digit long shots, they might stand the best chance of pulling off a monumental upset.
Writer’s Prediction
The USMNT (+125) redeem themselves by claiming their sixth Gold Cup.
