CONCACAF Announces 14 Venues For 2017 Gold Cup

CONCACAF announced on Monday the 14 stadiums in 13 cities that will serve as venues for next summer’s 2017 Gold Cup, which the U.S. will host from July 7-26.

CONCACAF Announces 14 Venues For 2017 Gold Cup

Four of the venues will host matches from the biennial championship for the first time, while the other 10 have previously hosted at least one Gold Cup game over the previous 13 editions of the tournament.

The first-time hosts are the Alamodome (San Antonio), FirstEnergy Stadium (Cleveland), Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, California) and Nissan Stadium (Nashville, Tennessee).

“We’re excited to bring the Gold Cup to new markets across the country. These cities have all proved ready and eager to host our region’s marquee soccer championship, and welcome world class international soccer next summer,” CONCACAF general secretary Philippe Moggio said in a statement. “With matches also set for some of our more popular venues over the years, such as Dallas, Los Angeles and New York, next year’s Gold Cup will highlight the top-tier sporting status of international soccer across the nation.”

CONCACAF also announced the U.S. and Mexico’s group schedules. They will headline Group B and C, respectively.

The USMNT will open their tournament at Nissan Stadium on July 8, play their second group game at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium on July 12 and conclude group play on July 15 at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Mexico will begin on July 9 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, then on July 13 at Sports Authority Field in Denver and on July 16 at the Alamodome.

MLS venues, including Red Bull Arena, the Houston Dynamo’s BBVA Compass Stadium and FC Dallas’ Toyota Stadium, will serve as venues for all three rounds of Group A games.

NFL stadiums AT&T Stadium, Levi’s Stadium, Lincoln Financial Field, the Rose Bowl and University of Phoenix Stadium will host Knockout Round matches.

Thus far, seven teams (Canada, Curacao, French Guiana, Jamaica, Martinique, Mexico and the U.S.) have qualified for the competition, with four more entrants to be determined by January’s Central American championship. The final Gold Cup spot will be determined by a playoff between a Caribbean team and a Central American country.

The winner of the tournament will be guaranteed a spot in the next CONCACAF Cup, a single knockout game to qualify for the 2021 FIFA Confederations Cup, unless that same team claims the 2019 edition of the Gold Cup.

Group stage dates and venues
July 7, Group A: NY/NJ – Red Bull Arena (Harrison, New Jersey)
July 8, Group B: Nashville – Nissan Stadium (Nashville, Tennessee)
July 9, Group C: San Diego – Qualcomm Stadium (San Diego)
July 11, Group A: Houston – BBVA Compass Stadium (Houston)
July 12, Group B: Tampa Bay – Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
July 13, Group C: Denver – Sports Authority Field (Denver)
July 14, Group A: Dallas – Toyota Stadium (Frisco, Texas)
July 15, Group B: Cleveland – FirstEnergy Stadium (Cleveland)
July 16, Group C: San Antonio – Alamodome (San Antonio)

Knockout round venues (alphabetical order by metropolitan area)
Bay Area – Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, California)
Dallas – AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas)
Los Angeles – Rose Bowl (Pasadena, California)
Philadelphia – Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia)
Phoenix – University of Phoenix Stadium (Glendale, Arizona)

CHESTER, PA – JULY 25: Armando Cooper #11 of Panama holds off Joe Corona #24 of the United States in the second half during the CONCACAF Gold Cup Third Place Match at PPL Park on July 25, 2015 in Chester, Pennsylvania. Panama won in a penalty shootout. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)