SOCCER
Why the Gold Cup is losing status in international football
The Gold Cup, which is losing status, will be held next year in the United States, along with the new Club World Cup.
The Gold Cup, CONCACAF’s standout tournament, is losing its appeal. With the introduction of the Nations League—a competition dominated by the United States, who are now three-time champions—the Gold Cup has taken a backseat within the region.
In 2025, there was speculation that high-profile guest teams, such as France, Spain, and even Argentina (the two-time Copa América champions), might participate. However, scheduling conflicts have made this impossible. Further diminishing the Gold Cup’s prominence, it will coincide with the expanded Super Club World Cup, which will feature 32 clubs for the first time and also be held in the United States.
“There may be some overlap in the group stages. We have to coordinate start times carefully. If done right, it can work. It’s up to us and FIFA to ensure that our teams align, and I foresee no issues,” said CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani in January, noting that he doesn’t expect overlapping match times.
The East Coast is shaping up to host the Super Club World Cup, with cities like Miami, Atlanta, Baltimore, and New York being considered. These cities were notably not selected as Gold Cup venues, hinting at their priority for the world tournament.
The overlap between the two competitions may result in top players such as Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich), Timothy Weah, Weston McKennie (both Juventus), and Giovanni Reyna (Borussia Dortmund) missing the Gold Cup in favor of the Super Club World Cup.
The United States, since the inception of the CONCACAF Nations League, has sent alternate squads to the Gold Cup, winning in 2021 and reaching the semifinals in 2023, where they lost to Panama. This strategy allowed their star players to rest following the Nations League’s Final Four.
From the U.S. roster at the Qatar 2022 World Cup, only seven players featured in the last Gold Cup: Jesús Ferreira, Aaron Long, Jordan Morris, Cristian Roldan, DeAndre Yedlin, Sean Johnson, and Matt Turner.
Notably, Christian Pulisic has not played in the Gold Cup since 2019, when the U.S. lost 1-0 in the final to Mexico. However, with AC Milan not qualifying for the Super Club World Cup, Pulisic may return to the Gold Cup roster. The Gold Cup will serve as the final major test for Mexico, the United States, and Canada ahead of their joint hosting of the 2026 World Cup.