BC Pangie

It’s been hyped by the CONCACAF website on two different occasions in the past five days, so it must be important. Right? Either way it’s here. The groups for the CONCACAF Gold Cup were announced today.

The Gold Cup is one of the most important tournaments in CONCACAF’s line up. Typically the event has been held in the United States and or Mexico.  This year is no different as it will be held once again in the United States.  Through out the Gold Cup history, Mexico has won the cup four times, the current champions the US have won it three, as Canada has won once.

Group A:
Costa Rica
Haiti
Canada
Guadeloupe

Group B:
USA
Trinidad & Tobago
Guatemala
El Salvador

Group C:
Mexico
Panama
Honduras
Cuba

The tournament will kick off on 6 June in Miami Florida as Costa Rica take on Canada and Guadeloupe face Haiti.  The tournament will finish in Chicago on Soldier Field on 24 June.

The rest of the matches are as follows:

Group Stage:
7.6.2007 - Home Depot Center - USA v Guatemala; El Salvador v Trinidad & Tobago
8.6.2007 - Giants Stadium - Panama v Honduras; Mexico v Cuba
9.6.2007 - Orange Bowl - Canada v Guadeloupe; Haiti v Costa Rica; - Home Depot Center - Guatemala v El Salvador; Trinidad & Tobago v USA
10.6.2007 - Giants Stadium - Honduras v Mexico; Panama v Cuba
11.6.2007 - Orange Bowl - Costa Rica v Guadeloupe; Haiti v Canada
12.6.2007 - Gillette Stadium - USA v El Salvador; Trinidad & Tobago v Guatemala
13.6.2007 - Reliant Stadium - Cuba v Honduras; Mexico v Panama

Quarterfinals:
16.6.2007 - Gillette Stadium - A1 v B2; B1 v A3 or C3
17.6.2007 - Reliant Stadium - C1 v A3 or B3; C2 v A2

Semifinals:
21.6.2007 - Soldier Field - QF1 v QF2; QF3 v QF4

The competition doesn’t look too difficult.  Undoubtedly some of the Central American and Carribean countries will be looking to make an impression.  Keep an eye on Costa Rica and Panama. As Costa Rica will want to prove their trip to the 2006 World Cup wasn’t a joke, and Panama will hope to better their runner-up performance in the 2005 Gold Cup.

Of course Mexico and the United States will be looking to perform well as it will be the first tournament for new Coaches Hugo Sanchez and Bob Bradley of Mexico and the US respectivley.  Both coaches will be making appearances in the Copa América only days after the Gold Cup finishes.