The 2027 CONCACAF Gold Cup will run from 17 June to 11 July 2027, with 16 teams and a brand-new format. Announced by CONCACAF on 5 November 2026, the tournament will replace the traditional four groups of four with two groups of eight teams, and every team will play four group matches instead of three. Mexico are the defending champions after beating the United States in the 2025 final, and Saudi Arabia return as the invited guest nation.
This guide covers everything confirmed so far about Gold Cup 2027: dates, the new format, how qualification works, the guest team, hosting, the favourites and the full history of Gold Cup winners.
Gold Cup 2027 at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Edition | 19th CONCACAF Gold Cup |
| Dates | 17 June – 11 July 2027 |
| Teams | 16 (15 CONCACAF nations + guest Saudi Arabia) |
| Format | Two groups of eight; top four in each group reach the quarter-finals |
| Official draw | 8 April 2027 |
| Final | Sunday 11 July 2027 |
| Host venues | To be announced |
| Defending champions | Mexico (2025) |
| Most titles | Mexico, 10 |
Gold Cup 2027 dates and schedule
| Stage | Dates |
|---|---|
| Official draw | Thursday 8 April 2027 |
| Opening match | Thursday 17 June 2027 |
| Group stage | 17–30 June 2027 |
| Quarter-finals | 3 and 4 July 2027 |
| Semi-finals | 7 and 8 July 2027 |
| Final | Sunday 11 July 2027 |
Earlier versions of the international calendar listed the tournament as starting on 19 June 2027. CONCACAF’s official announcement in November 2026 confirmed an earlier start on 17 June, with the final unchanged on 11 July. The Gold Cup overlaps with AFCON 2027, which runs from 19 June to 17 July 2027 in East Africa.
The new Gold Cup 2027 format explained
The biggest change for 2027 is the group stage. Instead of four groups of four, the 16 teams will be split into two groups of eight. The key points are:
- Two groups of eight: teams are drawn from eight pots of two, based on the CONCACAF Men’s National Team Rankings, with one team from each pot going into each group.
- Four group matches each: every team plays four different opponents in its group, one more match than in the old format.
- Ranking bands: within each group, the eight teams are divided into four bands. Each team plays one opponent from each band, following a fixed fixture plan. This means every team faces a mix of stronger and weaker opponents.
- One table per group: all eight teams share a single league table, and the top four teams in each group qualify for the knockout stage.
- Knockout rounds: single-match quarter-finals, semi-finals and final. The quarter-final pairings depend on group position, so the higher-placed teams face lower-placed teams from the other group.
CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani said the new format is designed to create earlier matches between the top teams and to keep every game meaningful, because fans want to see the region’s best teams play each other more often.
What the new format means for teams
In the old format, a strong team could often qualify for the knockouts after two group games. With four matches against opponents from different ranking bands, the top teams are more likely to meet each other in the group stage, and smaller nations get an extra match against high-level opposition. Half of the 16 teams still reach the quarter-finals, so the format gives most teams a realistic chance of progressing while making the group tables more competitive.
How to qualify for Gold Cup 2027
Fifteen CONCACAF nations will qualify, joined by guest Saudi Arabia. Qualification runs through the 2026–27 CONCACAF Nations League and a Gold Cup Preliminary Round:
| Route | Places | When |
|---|---|---|
| CONCACAF Nations League (direct qualification) | 8 | Decided in the November 2026 international window |
| Gold Cup Preliminary Round (“Prelims”) | 7 | March 2027 |
| Invited guest | 1 | Saudi Arabia (confirmed in December 2024) |
The eight direct places are being settled in the current November 2026 window, so the first confirmed qualifiers will be known shortly. The remaining seven places will be decided in the Prelims in March 2027, just a few weeks before the draw on 8 April. For a general explanation of how international qualification works, see our guide to how World Cup qualification works.
Saudi Arabia: the guest team
CONCACAF announced in December 2024 that Saudi Arabia would be invited to both the 2025 and 2027 Gold Cups. On their Gold Cup debut in 2025, Saudi Arabia reached the quarter-finals, their best result in the competition. The 2027 tournament will be their second appearance.
Inviting a team from Asia gives CONCACAF sides different opposition, while Saudi Arabia gain competitive matches as they prepare to host the 2034 World Cup. Guest teams have a long history at the Gold Cup: Brazil, South Korea, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, South Africa and Qatar have all taken part in past editions.
Where will Gold Cup 2027 be played?
CONCACAF has not yet announced the host country, cities or stadiums for 2027. It has said that the match schedule, host venues and ticketing details will be announced at a later date.
Most recent Gold Cups have been played mainly in the United States, sometimes with a few matches in Canada or Mexico. After the 2026 World Cup, the US has a large number of modern stadiums ready for international football, which would make it the natural choice again, but this has not been officially confirmed. You can read about the 2026 World Cup venues in our FIFA World Cup 2026 guide.
Gold Cup 2025 recap: Mexico win again
Mexico are the defending champions after winning the 2025 Gold Cup. They beat the United States 2–1 in the final at NRG Stadium in Houston on 6 July 2025, coming from behind after Chris Richards gave the USA an early lead. Raúl Jiménez equalised and Edson Álvarez scored the winner, giving Mexico their 10th title and extend their record as the competition’s most successful team. Saudi Arabia, on their debut, reached the quarter-finals.
Panama’s Ismael Díaz won the Golden Boot with six goals. The 2025 final was the latest chapter in the rivalry between Mexico and the United States, who have met in many Gold Cup finals since the 1990s.
Gold Cup winners list
| Year | Winner | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | United States | Honduras |
| 1993 | Mexico | United States |
| 1996 | Mexico | Brazil |
| 1998 | Mexico | United States |
| 2000 | Canada | Colombia |
| 2002 | United States | Costa Rica |
| 2003 | Mexico | Brazil |
| 2005 | United States | Panama |
| 2007 | United States | Mexico |
| 2009 | Mexico | United States |
| 2011 | Mexico | United States |
| 2013 | United States | Panama |
| 2015 | Mexico | Jamaica |
| 2017 | United States | Jamaica |
| 2019 | Mexico | United States |
| 2021 | United States | Mexico |
| 2023 | Mexico | Panama |
| 2025 | Mexico | United States |
Gold Cup titles by country
| Country | Titles |
|---|---|
| Mexico | 10 |
| United States | 7 |
| Canada | 1 |
Only three nations have won the Gold Cup. Canada’s 2000 title, when they beat Colombia in the final, remains the biggest surprise in the competition’s history.
Favourites for Gold Cup 2027
The draw will not take place until April 2027, but the usual contenders are clear:
- Mexico: defending champions and record 10-time winners. Mexico were also co-hosts of the 2026 World Cup and will want to build on that experience.
- United States: seven-time champions and beaten finalists in 2025. As 2026 World Cup co-hosts, they reached the round of 16 and will be looking to finally end Mexico’s run.
- Canada: the third World Cup co-host, with a stronger squad than ever before and the only other country to have won the Gold Cup.
- Panama: finalists in 2005, 2013 and 2023 and one of the most consistent teams in the region.
- Jamaica and Costa Rica: both former finalists and always capable of causing upsets.
- Saudi Arabia: quarter-finalists in 2025, and an unpredictable opponent as the guest team.
Players to watch
Squads will not be named until shortly before the tournament, but several players are likely to be central to their teams’ hopes:
- Mexico: Raúl Jiménez and Edson Álvarez, the two scorers in the 2025 final, alongside a new generation of attacking players who gained experience at the 2026 World Cup.
- United States: Christian Pulisic remains the team’s most important attacking player, supported by a squad with plenty of European club experience.
- Canada: Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David are the leaders of the strongest Canadian generation in history.
- Panama: Ismael Díaz, the 2025 Golden Boot winner with six goals.
- Saudi Arabia: a squad built largely around players from the Saudi Pro League, with experience from recent World Cups.
Final squads may change because of injuries and club commitments, especially as the 2026–27 European club season ends only a few weeks before the tournament.
Gold Cup records
| Record | Holder |
|---|---|
| Most titles | Mexico, 10 |
| Most finals | United States |
| All-time top scorer | Landon Donovan (USA), 18 goals |
| First tournament | 1991, won by the United States |
| Only winner outside Mexico and the USA | Canada (2000) |
Landon Donovan’s 18 goals across several tournaments in the 2000s and early 2010s make him the leading scorer in Gold Cup history, and he won the competition four times with the United States.
A short history of the Gold Cup
The Gold Cup was launched in 1991 to replace the old CONCACAF Championship as the region’s main international tournament. The United States won the first edition, and Mexico then won three of the next four, starting a rivalry that has dominated the competition ever since. Between them, Mexico and the USA have won 17 of the 18 Gold Cups played so far.
Over the years, the tournament has experimented with guest teams from South America, Africa and Asia, and changed its size several times before settling on 16 teams. Since 2005, it has been held every two years in odd-numbered years, usually in the United States. The 2027 change to two groups of eight is one of the biggest format changes in its history.
Gold Cup and the CONCACAF Nations League
The CONCACAF Nations League, launched in 2019, now acts as the main qualifying route for the Gold Cup. Teams play in leagues A, B and C, and results in the Nations League decide who qualifies directly and who must go through the Preliminary Round. This gives every match in the Nations League extra importance, because a poor run can mean extra qualifying matches or missing the Gold Cup altogether.
A busy summer of football in 2027
The Gold Cup will be one of several major tournaments in summer 2027:
| Tournament | Dates | Hosts |
|---|---|---|
| CONCACAF Gold Cup | 17 June – 11 July 2027 | To be announced |
| Africa Cup of Nations | 19 June – 17 July 2027 | Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda |
| FIFA Women’s World Cup | 2027 | Brazil |
Read more in our 2027 Women’s World Cup guide. Looking further ahead, the next Copa América is expected in 2028; see our Copa América 2028 guide.
Key dates for Gold Cup 2027
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| December 2024 | Saudi Arabia confirmed as guest for 2025 and 2027 |
| 5 November 2026 | CONCACAF announces 2027 format and dates |
| November 2026 | Eight direct qualifiers decided through the Nations League |
| March 2027 | Preliminary Round decides seven more places |
| 8 April 2027 | Official draw |
| 17 June 2027 | Opening match |
| 11 July 2027 | Final |
How to watch Gold Cup 2027
Broadcast deals for the 2027 tournament are expected to follow the pattern of recent editions. Current listings name the following broadcasters:
| Market | Broadcaster |
|---|---|
| United States | Fox Sports (English), Univision (Spanish) |
| Canada | OneSoccer, TSN (English), RDS (French) |
| Mexico | Netflix |
| Other markets | YouTube |
Broadcast arrangements can change before the tournament, so check official CONCACAF channels closer to June 2027. Ticket sales will open after host venues are announced.
What makes Gold Cup 2027 special
Gold Cup 2027 is the first major CONCACAF tournament after the 2026 World Cup, which was co-hosted by three of the region’s biggest nations. Many of the players who featured in North America in 2026 will want to show they can deliver again, while younger players will be looking to establish themselves in their national teams before qualification for the 2030 World Cup begins.
The new group format also adds intrigue. With eight teams in each group and four matches per team, every result will affect a single league table, and goal difference could become crucial. Teams from the Caribbean and Central America will get more matches against Mexico, the United States and Canada, which should help raise standards across the region.
For smaller nations, simply qualifying is a major achievement. The Gold Cup is often the only tournament where countries such as Haiti, Guatemala or Curaçao can play top-level opponents in front of large crowds.
Gold Cup vs World Cup: what’s the difference?
The Gold Cup is CONCACAF’s regional championship, similar to the European Championship or Copa América. It does not give qualification to the World Cup, but it decides the champions of North and Central America and the Caribbean. The World Cup is FIFA’s global tournament, held every four years. In 2026, the men’s World Cup expanded to 48 teams for the first time; see our World Cup 2026 winner article for how that tournament ended.
FAQs about Gold Cup 2027
When is the 2027 Gold Cup?
The 2027 CONCACAF Gold Cup runs from 17 June to 11 July 2027. The official draw is on 8 April 2027.
Where will Gold Cup 2027 be played?
CONCACAF has not yet announced the host country or venues. It has said the schedule, venues and ticketing details will be announced later.
How many teams play in Gold Cup 2027?
Sixteen teams: 15 CONCACAF nations and the invited guest, Saudi Arabia.
What is the new Gold Cup format?
Teams are split into two groups of eight. Each team plays four group matches, and the top four in each group reach the quarter-finals, followed by single-match semi-finals and the final.
Who won the 2025 Gold Cup?
Mexico won the 2025 Gold Cup, beating the United States 2–1 in the final in Houston for their 10th title.
Which country has won the most Gold Cups?
Mexico have won the most Gold Cups, with 10 titles. The United States have won seven and Canada one.
Will the USA host Gold Cup 2027?
It has not been confirmed. Most recent Gold Cups have been played mainly in the United States, but CONCACAF has said the host venues for 2027 will be announced later.
Is Saudi Arabia playing in the 2027 Gold Cup?
Yes. Saudi Arabia were invited for both the 2025 and 2027 tournaments. They reached the quarter-finals on their debut in 2025.
Who scored in the 2025 Gold Cup final?
Chris Richards gave the United States an early lead, but Raúl Jiménez and Edson Álvarez scored for Mexico, who won 2–1 at NRG Stadium in Houston.
When is the Gold Cup 2027 draw?
The official draw takes place on Thursday 8 April 2027, after the Preliminary Round has decided the final qualifiers in March 2027.
How do teams qualify for Gold Cup 2027?
Eight teams qualify directly through the 2026–27 CONCACAF Nations League in November 2026, and seven more through the Preliminary Round in March 2027.
