Gold Cup 2021 Match Previews – Inside World Football

USA vs Qatar: Will the guests spoil the host’s party?

Paul Nicholson — Thu, 29 Jul 2021 01:20:10 +0000

July 28 – The Asian Champions Qatar face the USA in the first semi-final of the Gold Cup tonight at the newly minted Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas.

It is a major inter-continental between showdown between the Asian Cup winners and the inaugural Concacaf Nations League winners.

The US will start as favourites in their own backyard but it is a very much a developmental team drawn primarily from the MLS (the US’s European-based stars were returned to their European clubs after the Nations League final) who collectively are short on international experience.

Honduras looking to upset Mexico; Qatar want to end El Salvador record run

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 23 Jul 2021 00:18:09 +0000

July 23 – The first Gold Cup quarter final double header takes place in Glendale, Arizona, on Saturday in front of a sell out crowd. El Salvador meet Qatar, followed by Mexico vs Honduras.

It promises to be an electric evening of football with three well-supported Latin American teams ready to rock. It could also fundamentally shake the old order of Concacaf football.

El Salvador vs Mexico

El Salvador are aiming for their first semi-final in the competition having previously reached the quarter final five times.

US face strong Reggae Boyz challenge; Canada could take next step up against Costa Rica

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 23 Jul 2021 00:07:31 +0000

July 23 –Sunday night will be the first big test of the USA’s gamble to send their European players back to their clubs Europe in favour of a majority MLS-recruited team. It will also see whether Canada have progressed enough to make the big tournament step up.

Arlington’s AT&T Stadium in Texas is the venue of the second of the Gold Cup quarter final double header. The USA face Jamaica and Costa Rica meet Canada.

Qatar’s Sanchez respectful of Honduras’ ‘personality’ and ready for a football culture clash

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 19 Jul 2021 11:13:48 +0000

July 20 – Honduras face Qatar in Houston tonight in a final Group D tie that will decide not just the group winners but who they meet in the next round. The winners will meet Group A runners-up El Salvador in the next round and avoid tournament favourites Mexico.

Honduras have already qualified for the next round but Qatar need to draw or win to guarantee their qualification above Panama who are expected to beat Grenada in the group’s other tie.

Reggae Boyz need to find a rhythm to knock Costa Rica off their well worn beat

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 19 Jul 2021 11:00:41 +0000

July 20 -The top spot in Group C is up for grabs with Costa Rica and Jamaica playing off.

Tonight (Tuesday) at the Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Florida. The winner will face Canada in the next round and the loser will face the USA.

Both teams have six points after two games and share the same goal difference but Costa Rica have an extra goal advantage.

Jamaica have recruited heavily and from the English top leagues in particular to find quality to alongside their mercurial talisman Leon Bailey.

Mexico need thee points from Guatemala to reboot Gold Cup campaign

Paul Nicholson — Tue, 13 Jul 2021 11:06:45 +0000

July 13 – Mexico face Guatemala in the second group stage match this Wednesday at the Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas, Texas.

Mexico, coming off a shock scoreless draw against Trinidad and Tobago in the opening match of their Gold Cup defence need to find a way of scoring goals and getting group points. This isn’t helped by being without one of their key players. Hirving ‘Chucky’ Lozano was stretchered off in the first game and will miss the rest of the Gold Cup.

Qatar readied for Gold Cup test with debut against Panama

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 12 Jul 2021 10:36:58 +0000

July 13 – Qatar will make its Concacaf Gold Cup debut tonight at the BBVA Stadium in Houston, Texas. Their opponents will be 2018 World Cup qualifiers Panama.

It is an interesting cross-confederation opener. Qatar are the AFC’s Asian Cup Champions and took notable scalps in the form of Japan and South Korea on the way to that title in 2019.

It was a surprise win but they were undoubtedly good for it with an exciting and dynamic young team led by the prodigious goal scoring talent of Almoez Ali and his almost telepathic partnership with mercurial winger Akram Afif.

Mexico primed and ready to fire up Gold Cup defense in front of packed house in Arlington

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 09 Jul 2021 10:21:43 +0000

July 9 – Saturday night will see reigning champions Mexico open the 2021 Gold Cup and the defence of their title in front of more than 60,000 fans at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

It will be the start of a hectic three week journey which for the Mexicans will be deemed to be a failure if they don’t end up at the final on August 1 in Las Vegas. Winning the Gold Cup in the US is always particularly sweet for El Tricolor and their US-based fans.

Guatemala bring the crowd and a possession game to Guadeloupe decider

Paul Nicholson — Tue, 06 Jul 2021 02:11:04 +0000

July 5 –Guatemala, once a regular name on Gold Cup final tournament fixture lists, are having to battle their way back to the top tier of confederation competition through the knock-out qualifying rounds for the Gold Cup group stages.

The Central Americans have been a regular at the Gold Cup but missed both 2017 and 2019 finals due to FIFA suspension. Their journey back to the top has been ardous but 8,000 fans in Fort Lauderdale on Friday night cheered them through the first knockout win in a high octane 4-0 win over Guyana.

Haiti vs Bermuda. Nazon vs Wells. Big guns in shoot out for Gold Cup group slot

Paul Nicholson — Tue, 06 Jul 2021 01:18:15 +0000

July 5 – The Haiti vs Bermuda play-off for a slot in the Gold Cup group stages is a return to hostilities between two nations that went head-to-head in 2019 with Haiti just coming out on top 2-1. It was the precursor of a run that took them to the semi-finals, leaving Bermuda rueing what might have been.

The match-up will also see two of the best goal scorers in the competition, Haiti’s Duckens Nazon,