Gold Cup: Dates, Teams & Everything You Need to Know

Mexico City – Preparations are underway at the Estadio Azteca for the upcoming Concacaf Gold Cup, with the tournament set to showcase the region’s top national soccer teams. The competition, known officially as the Concacaf Gold Cup and popularly as Copa Oro, is the preeminent international soccer tournament for North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.

The Gold Cup’s history traces back to 1963, initially known as the Campeonato de Naciones de la Concacaf. It adopted its current name in 1991, replacing both the Copa CCCF, which focused on Central America and the Caribbean, and the Copa NAFC, which included North America and Cuba. From 1973 to 1989, the tournament was integrated with the final round of FIFA World Cup qualifying.

Mexico currently holds the distinction of being the most successful nation in the Gold Cup’s history, having secured the championship a record thirteen times. The United States follows with seven titles, while Costa Rica has won three. Canada has claimed victory twice, and Guatemala, Haiti, and Honduras have each been crowned champions once, according to historical records of the competition.

Landon Donovan holds the individual records for most goals scored (18) and most appearances (34) in the tournament’s history. The Concacaf Gold Cup features 16 national teams affiliated with the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football.

The tournament is organized by Concacaf, which too oversees other men’s national team competitions including the Nations League and World Cup Qualifying, as well as youth and beach soccer tournaments. A redesigned Gold Cup trophy was unveiled in June 2025, showcasing the evolution of the championship’s symbol.

The next scheduled event within the Gold Cup cycle is currently unconfirmed, with Concacaf maintaining silence regarding specific dates and participating nations beyond the general bi-annual schedule.