The U.S. women’s national soccer team learned its opponents for next year’s CONCACAF W Gold Cup.
This is the inaugural edition of the tournament.
The 12-team event will begin Feb. 17 with three preliminary round games, taking place at the Dignity Health Sports Park Track and Field Stadium in Carson.
The winners of those three games (Haiti vs. Puerto Rico, El Salvador vs. Guatemala and Guyana vs. the Dominican Republic) will advance into the group stage.
The USWNT is the top seed in Group A and will be joined by Mexico, Argentina and the winner of the Guyana-Dominican Republic game.
The Americans will play their three group games on the main field at Dignity Health Sports Park, starting Feb. 20 against either Guyana or the Dominicans, followed by Argentina (Feb. 23) and Mexico (Feb. 26). Argentina finished third in last year’s Copa America Femenina in South America. Argentina is ranked 31st in the FIFA World Rankings and Mexico is 36th. Mexico qualified through the Gold Cup group stage, winning Group A.
For the United States, this will be the first big tournament of the year, followed by the Olympics. Interim coach Twila Kilgore will lead the team because newly hired Emma Hayes will still be with Chelsea in the Women’s Super League.
Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Paraguay are “guests” for the tournament as part of the new partnership between the two soccer federations (CONCACAF and CONMEBOL), which is why next year’s Copa America (normally a South America-based tournament) is taking place in the U.S, with six CONCACAF teams in the field.
“This is a partnership to support the ongoing growth of men’s and women’s football in CONCACAF and CONMEBOL and will truly be of mutual benefit to both Confederations,” CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani said. “Working hand in hand with CONMEBOL, we will deliver elite competitions that will provide more opportunities for our federations, and that we know passionate fans want to see. We look forward to working together to ensure that football in both regions continues to thrive.”
Brazil, the winner of last year’s Copa America Femenina, is the top seed in Group B and will play at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego. Brazil will face Panama, Colombia and the winner of the preliminary game between Haiti and Puerto Rico.
Group C, led by top seed Canada, will be played at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston. Costa Rica, Paraguay and the winner of the El Salvador-Guatemala preliminary game will be based there.
At the end of the group stage, the top two teams in each group and the two best third-place finishers will advance to the quarterfinals, which will be played on March 2-3 at BMO Stadium, home of LAFC and Angel City Football Club. The semifinals (March 6) and final (March 10) will be played in San Diego.
Earlier this month, the United States and Mexico announced a joint bid to host the 2027 Women’s World Cup, which would take place one year after the joint men’s World Cup hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
2024 CONCACAF W GOLD CUP DRAW
Group A: United States, Mexico, Argentina, Prelims Winner 3 (Guyana or the Dominican Republic)
Group B: Brazil, Panama, Colombia, Prelims Winner 1 (Haiti or Puerto Rico)
Group C: Canada, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Prelims Winner 2 (El Salvador or Guatemala)
