November 9 – Concacaf has unveiled a new format for the 2027 Gold Cup, replacing four groups of four with two groups of eight.
The tournament runs from June 17 to July 11, with the draw on April 8. It keeps the number of teams at 16, but each will now play four group games against four different opponents instead of three.
The teams will be divided into eight pots of two according to the Concacaf rankings, with one from each pot in each group. Within each group, teams are placed in four qualifying bands and play one opponent from each, using a fixed fixture matrix. The top four from each eight-team table advance to the quarter-finals, followed by the semi-finals and the final.
“Our fans want to see the best teams in our region compete against each other, and this format will create more opportunities for those matches to happen earlier in the competition,” said Concacaf president Victor Montagliani.
“At the same time, every game will be important, with teams facing a balanced mix of opponents and competing for a place in the knockout rounds.”
The change is the latest in a period of significant growth for Concacaf under Montagliani, who has led the confederation since 2016 and is also FIFA vice-president. During his tenure, he has launched the Nations League, expanded the Champions Cup, built a comprehensive women’s competition structure that includes the W Gold Cup, W Champions Cup and a new W Nations League, and helped deliver the first 48-team World Cup to the United States, Canada and Mexico this summer.
The commercial side has grown with it. Concacaf held its first Commercial Upfront for brands and agencies last month, unveiling a schedule of nearly 2,000 matches, and is bringing domestic partnership sales after finalizing its deal with Soccer United Marketing.
The Gold Cup change follows the same thinking: more competitive games, bigger games earlier and more for broadcasters and sponsors.
Qualifying for the Gold Cup continues this week with the Nations League providing four direct slots for the 2027 Gold Cup.
The four quarterfinal losers will get a second chance at Gold Cup qualifying where they will join the third and fourth teams in the groups just played: Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Honduras and Suriname.
Saudi Arabia will play the Gold Cup as a guest nation.
Calendar of the quarter-finals of the Concacaf Nations League
*Departure times shown in ET (local time)
First Stages
Thursday, November 12 – Curaçao vs Panama – Stadion Ergilio Hato, Willemstad, Curaçao – 19:00 (20:00)
Friday, November 13 – Guatemala vs Canada – Estadio Manuel Felipe Carrera, Guatemala City, Guatemala – 21:00 (20:00)
Saturday November 14
Haiti vs. United States – Nu Stadium, Miami, FL – 4:30 p.m. (4:30 p.m.)
Jamaica vs Mexico – National Stadium, Kingston, Jamaica – 20:00 (20:00)
According to Stages
Sunday, November 15 – Panama vs Curaçao – Rommel Fernández Stadium, Panama City, Panama – 18:00 (18:00)
Monday, November 16 – Canada vs Guatemala – BMO Field, Toronto, ON, Canada – 20:00 (20:00)
Tuesday, November 17
USA vs Haiti – TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, OH, USA – 19:00 (19:00)
Mexico vs Jamaica – Monterrey Stadium, Monterrey, Mexico – 21:30 (20:30)
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