đź‘€ How it works
The W Gold Cup is CONCACAF’s new premier tournament for women’s national teams in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean (CONCACAF) along with guest teams from South America (CONMEBOL).
The CONCACAF Gold Cup for men’s soccer has been around since 1991, but the women’s tournament was only approved in 2020.
Initially, 15 CONCACAF and CONMEBOL teams qualified for the W Gold Cup, but now the tournament has moved on to the 12-team group stage.
The group stage follows a round-robin format where each team plays every other team in their group once. The top two teams from each group advance to the quarter-finals along with the two best third-place teams, leading to a traditional single-elimination tournament.
The games will take place in four venues: Dignity Health Sports Park (Carson, California), Snapdragon Stadium (San Diego, California), Shell Energy Stadium (Houston, Texas), and BMO Stadium (LA, California).
Aside from the World Cup and Olympics, these continental tournaments are crucial in international soccer. The expanded format of the new W Gold Cup is a significant investment for CONCACAF women’s soccer, bringing the tournament in line with similar competitions worldwide.
With four of the 15 teams already securing their spots in Paris, the W Gold Cup is a vital opportunity for players to prove their worth for their country’s limited Olympic squads.
🇺🇸 USWNT
The GIST: The USWNT has a strong record in CONCACAF competitions, winning 14 out of 15 regional championships, but is undergoing a roster transition following a disappointing exit at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The team is currently under the guidance of interim coach Twila Kilgore as head coach Emma Hayes finalizes her commitments in England. The squad features many young players given a chance to showcase their talent while veterans like Alex Morgan are left out. This reflects a generational shift for the USWNT.
Key players to watch include Lindsey Horan and Sophia Smith, who are expected to take on leadership roles. Mal Swanson, who is recovering from injury, is also a player to keep an eye on.
🇨🇦 CanWNT
The GIST: CanWNT is on a three-game win streak but faces challenges following their disappointing performance at the WWC and the retirement of captain Christine Sinclair.
The team, led by head coach Bev Priestman, is focused on building depth and stability, particularly with young players. The squad is looking ahead to the 2027 WWC while preparing for the upcoming Olympics.
Players like Jessie Fleming, Kadeisha Buchanan, Ashley Lawrence, and others are expected to step up in the absence of Sinclair. Young talents like Simi Awujo and Jade Rose are also set to make an impact.
đź“ş How to watch
Watch all the action on CBS or Paramount+ in the U.S. and OneSoccer in Canada. The USWNT’s first match is tonight against the Dominican Republic, while CanWNT debuts against El Salvador on Thursday.
