The European Championships and the Copa America may have come to an end over the weekend, but that doesn't mean international soccer is done for the summer.
Focus now shifts to North and Central America, as the U.S. look to win the Gold Cup for the first time in four years.
The 16th edition of the Gold Cup got underway on Saturday and the U.S. Men's National Team (USMNT) got off to a successful, if nervy, start beating Haiti 1-0 courtesy of a goal from Colorado Rapids defender Sam Vines.
Canada, who are in Group B along with the U.S., hit the ground running, coming back from 1-0 down to thrash Martinique 4-1. Meanwhile, defending champions, Mexico, were held to a stalemate draw by Trinidad and Tobago in Group A, and El Salvador needed two late goals to overcome Guatemala.
Group C and Group D will kick off on Monday and Tuesday, respectively.
Here's all you need to know.
When Is the 2021 Gold Cup?
Initially scheduled to be held between July 2 and July 25, the 16th edition of the tournament was postponed by a week and will now run from July 10 through to August 1.
Where Is the 2021 Gold Cup?
For the ninth time in 12 editions since the turn of the century, the U.S. plays the role of sole host, with games taking place across nine venues in eight cities.
The lion's share of games are to be played in six stadiums across Texas—the Dallas Cowboys' AT&T Stadium in Arlington, the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, the Q2 Stadium in Austin, the Toyota Stadium in Frisco, and the NRG Stadium and the BBVA Stadium in Houston.
Games will also be played at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Florida, Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, and Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada. The latter, the home of the Las Vegas Raiders, will host the final.
Which Teams Are at the 2021 Gold Cup?
Four only the second time in its history, the tournament features 16 teams split in four groups of four. Qatar is the only non-CONCACAF team taking part in the Gold Cup.
Originally invited to play in the Copa America in 2020, Qatar had to pull out of the postponed tournament in 2021 as it clashed with qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup.
- Group A: Mexico, El Salvador, Curacao, Trinidad and Tobago
- Group B: United States, Canada, Martinique, Haiti
- Group C: Costa Rica, Jamaica, Suriname, Guadeloupe
- Group D: Honduras, Panama, Grenada, Qatar
How to Watch the 2021 Gold Cup on TV
The entire tournament is broadcast exclusively across FOX channels in the U.S. FOX will carry one game, with 24 matches on FS1 and six matches on FS2. Univision and TUDN, meanwhile, will broadcast the tournament in Spanish.
How to Watch the 2021 Gold Cup Online
The tournament will be available online via FOX Sports, Univision and TUDN's digital platforms. Streaming services like fuboTV, Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV and Vidgo will also broadcast every game.
Gold Cup 2021 TV Schedule
The schedule for the remaining games in the first round is as follows (all times ET)
Monday, July 12
- Jamaica vs. Suriname—6:30 p.m., FS1, UniMas, TUDN
- Costa Rica vs. Guadeloupe—9 p.m. FS1, UniMas, TUDN
Tuesday, July 13
- Qatar vs. Panama—7 p.m., FS1, UniMas, TUDN
- Honduras vs. Grenada—9 p.m., FS1, UniMas, TUDN
How Does the Tournament Work?
The top two teams in each group go through to the quarterfinals. From then on the tournament follows a traditional knockout stage format.
2021 Gold Cup Odds
The U.S. are 5-4 favorite with William Hill, followed by Mexico at 11-8. Jamaica is a 12-1 outsider, while Canada, Costa Rica and Qatar are all 14-1.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Dan Cancian is currently a reporter for Newsweek based in London, England. Prior to joining Newsweek in January 2018, he ... Read more
