International Gold Cup Soccer
The International Gold Cup, often abbreviated as the Gold Cup, is a biennial international men’s football championship contested by the member nations of CONCACAF, the governing body for football in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. It is the premier tournament for national teams in the region and serves as a qualifier for the FIFA Confederations Cup.
History
The Gold Cup was first held in 1991 as the CONCACAF Gold Cup. The inaugural tournament was won by the United States, who defeated Mexico 1-0 in the final. The tournament was originally held every two years, but it was changed to a biennial format in 2007.
Format
The Gold Cup features a 16-team format. The tournament is divided into three stages: the group stage, the knockout stage, and the final.
* Group stage: The 16 teams are divided into four groups of four. Each team plays the other three teams in its group once. The top two teams from each group advance to the quarterfinals.
* Knockout stage: The eight teams that advance to the knockout stage compete in a single-elimination format. The quarterfinals, semifinals, and final are played over two legs.
* Final: The two teams that win their respective semifinals meet in the final to determine the Gold Cup champion.
Winners
The United States has won the Gold Cup a record seven times, followed by Mexico with six titles. Costa Rica and Jamaica each have three titles.
Qualification
Teams qualify for the Gold Cup through the CONCACAF Nations League, a tournament that was introduced in 2019. The top teams from each division of the Nations League earn automatic qualification. Additional teams can qualify through a qualifying tournament.
Significance
The Gold Cup is a prestigious tournament that provides an opportunity for national teams in CONCACAF to compete against each other and earn international recognition. It also serves as a stepping stone to the FIFA Confederations Cup and the FIFA World Cup.
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