CONCACAF Gold Cup Host Cities Announced

Note: This article was co-written by Multiplex featured writer Marco D’Onofrio, who also moonlights as our expert an all things Canadian soccer. 

Canada will participate in hosting the CONCACAF Gold Cup for the first time in football history. Last week, CONCACAF announced that Toronto would join  Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte,  Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia,  and Phoenix in holding matches among the elite in North and Central America.

When Group B visits Toronto’s BMO Field this summer. The home of Toronto FC is currently undergoing a massive renovation that will see additional seats and suites added in time for the Gold Cup

Canada has only won the Gold Cup once (2002) and it was back in 2000 when they defeated Colombia 2-0 in the final. A strong performance against Colombia at Red Bull Arena in October has many fans across the country reminiscing about 2000 and the potential of the current team.

BMO Field is also currently undergoing a major renovation project, the first phase of which will be completed on May 1st, 2015. The first phase will include increasing the seating from 20,000 to 30,000. You can see all of the nifty additions being made below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RElL3ww8iQ

Toronto will host the final round of matches in Group B with Costa Rica as the seeded team. Toronto is one of the most multicultural cities on the planet and even when Canada is playing at BMO Field, it doesn’t necessarily feel like a home game with opponents usually enjoying quite a bit of support as well.

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• Soccer in North America: A Battlefield Against Racism and Xenophobia
• The Inter-American Cup returns in grand style, promising thrilling clashes among the best in the Americas
• USMNT defender Auston Trusty moves to Sheffield United
• 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup: Where’s the squawking about the ball?

Aside from BMO Field, only four other MLS pitches will be used for the Gold Cup. Gillette Stadium in Foxborough (New England Revolution,)  the StubHub Center in Carson, California (Los Angeles Galaxy,) BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, Texas (Dynamo,) Toyota Park in Dallas, Texas (F.C. Dallas,) and Sporting Park in Kansas City (Sporting K.C.) The other stadiums (Georgia Dome in Atlanta, M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, Soldier Field in Chicago, MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, and University of Phoenix Stadium in Phoenix Stadium) are primarily football stadiums although they have all been used for Gold Cups in the past.

Although Toronto has been announced as a host city, what is still yet to be determined is if Canada will actually play in Toronto. Despite the United States (Group A,) Mexico (Group B,) and Costa Rica (Group C) being announced as the top seeds of the tournament, the other 8 nations (Canada, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica, Panama, and Trinidad and Tobago)  that have qualified have yet to be placed into a group.

There is also the matter of the final spot in the tournament at stake. Honduras will play French Guyana during the March 25-29 international window to determine who will be the last entrant into the Gold Cup. Once a winner has been determined between Guyana and Honduras, a draw will take place among the remaining teams.

The CONCACAF Gold Cup will begin on July the 7th at Toyota Stadium with Group A matches and the tournament ending on July the 27th at a venue to be determined.