Meet the United States’ possible rivals at this summer’s Gold Cup

The United States men’s national team, led by Mauricio Pochettino, is determined to move past the painful blow of losing their Nations League crown with recent defeats to Panama and Canada. Now, Pochettino’s focus is on rallying the squad for the Gold Cup - a tournament they are under immense pressure to win.

Pochettino understands the need to assemble a highly competitive team - one that is capable of delivering what would be the USMNT’s seventh title(they last lifted the trophy in 2021).

However, he is also aware that some of his star players may be unavailable due to their commitments in the Club World Cup. Despite these challenges, the expectation remains the same: to triumph in the upcoming Concacaf tournament.

When is the 2025 Gold Cup draw?

With the conclusion of the Gold Cup playoffs, the last seven vacant places have been filled, and Saudi Arabia’s inclusion as an invited nation has also been confirmed. Everything is now set for the draw on April 10 which gets underway at at 7:00 p.m. ET (6:00 p.m. CT, 4:00 p.m. PT) and will be broadcast live.

The 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup Draw will be carried out using a double-blind system involving eight pots. Pots 1-4 will contain balls with the names of the participating national teams based on their Concacaf Men’s National Team Rankings as of March 26, 2025.

Pot 1 will contain the defending champions Mexico and the three highest-ranked national teams: Canada, Panama and the United States.

Pot 2 will hold the four next highest-ranked national teams: Costa Rica, Jamaica, Honduras and Haiti.

Pot 3 will hold the next four highest-ranked national teams: Guatamala, Trinidad and Tobago, El Salvador and Suriname.

Pot 4 will contain the three lowest-ranked national teams: Guadeloupe, Curaçao, Dominican Republic plus guests Saudi Arabia

The teams in Pot 1 have all been assigned a group - Mexico to Group A, Canada to Group B, Panama to Group C and the USMNT to Group D. This positioning could pit the USMNT against tough and challenging opponents in the group stage.

The rivals which USMNT could face at the Gold Cup group stage

The road ahead looks anything but easy, with potentially formidable opponents awaiting Pochettino’s troops. From Pot 2, the USMNT could face Costa Rica, Jamaica, Honduras, or Haiti—all of whom bring solid experience and talent to the table.

Looking at Pot 3, potential matchups include Guatemala, El Salvador, or Trinidad and Tobago. Each of these teams presents unique challenges, making the group stage a crucial test for the US squad.

The final team joining the USMNT’s group in the Gold Cup will be drawn from Curaçao, Guadeloupe, the Dominican Republic, or the invited nation, Saudi Arabia. Each of these teams brings its own strengths and challenges, adding another layer of unpredictability to the group stage. It’ll be interesting to see how Poch’s team navigates this diverse lineup of potential opponents...

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.