2005 CONCACAF GOLD CUP™ SET TO BEGIN NEXT WEEK

The eighth edition of the CONCACAF Gold Cup™ will take place in a record seven stadiums in six cities across the USA from 6-24 July. The 2005 event features more games in more cities than ever before will once again crown the region’s top national team.



Group A, the first of three First Round Groups, which will be based in Miami’s Orange Bowl, contains Central American Qualifiers Honduras and Panama, Trinidad & Tobago from the Caribbean and one of two guest teams, Colombia.



In Group B, playing games in Seattle’s Qwest Field before moving to the Gillette Stadium in Foxboro near Boston, includes Central American champions Costa Rica, both Canada and the USA from North America and Cuba from the Caribbean.



The final group, Group C, will see games between the other guest team, South Africa, Central American qualifier, Guatemala, recently- crowned Caribbean champions, Jamaica and the reigning CONCACAF Gold Cup™ champions Mexico. Group C games take place in two venues in the Los Angeles Area, Carson’s Home Depot Center and the L.A. Memorial Coliseum, before moving to Reliant Stadium in Houston for the last day of first round play.



The quarterfinal matches, taking place on Saturday, 16 July (two games in Foxboro), and Sunday, 17 July (two games in Houston) will comprise of the first and second-placed team from each of the three groups



along with the two best-finishing third-place teams.



The 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup™ semifinals and final are scheduled for Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Thursday, 21 July and Sunday, 24 July, respectively.



SCOUTING THE TEAMS…



CANADA: Making their seventh appearance at the CONCACAF Gold Cup™ but first under the direction of Frank Yallop … Reached the semifinals in 2002, losing to the USA 4:2 on penalties, but then the maple leafs went on defeat Korea Republic 2:1 in the third-place match … Claimed their first international honour in over 100 years of football by winning the 2000 Gold Cup, defeating Colombia 2:0 in the finals.



COLOMBIA: One of the two invited teams competing, is taking part in their third Gold Cup event … Colombia reached the 2000 tournament final but fell 2:0 to Canada … After winning the 2001 Copa América, the cafeteros advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup™ but lost 2:0 against Brazil … Colombia is guided by technical director Reinaldo Rueda.



COSTA RICA: Winners of the UNCAF (Central America) Nations Cup in Guatemala this past February, Costa Rica are in their seventh Gold Cup tournament in 2005 … The five-time UNCAF champions earned their best Gold Cup performance in 2002 losing in the finals to the USA 2:0 … The ticos are the Central American team with the most appearances in the tournament’s semifinals (four) … Alexandre Guimaraes, who led Costa Rica to the 2002 FIFA World Cup™ in Korea/Japan, is once again back at the helm.



CUBA: One of three qualifiers from the Caribbean, Cuba is making their third consecutive and fourth overall trip to the Gold Cup … Cuba missed out on the 2000 tournament after finishing third to second-placer Haiti (on the head-to-head tiebreaker) in the CONCACAF Interzone Playoffs … The cubanos claimed their first tournament victory (2:0 against Canada) and a berth to the Gold Cup quarterfinals in 2003 … Technical director Armelio Luis Garcia has been in charge of Cuba since last year.



GUATEMALA: Under technical director Ramón Maradiaga, Guatemala hosted the 2005 UNCAF Nations Cup and finished third, while earning one of the four Central American berths to the CONCACAF Gold Cup™ … The chapines have made six previous appearances at the CONCACAF event, earning their best performance in 1996 claiming fourth-place.



HONDURAS: Were runners-up at the 2005 UNCAF Nations Cup held in Guatemala and earned their seventh berth to the CONCACAF Gold Cup™ … The catrachos best finish at the CONCACAF event was second-place, losing a 4:3 penalty kick thriller to the USA in the 1991 final … Honduras is once again guided by technical director Jose De La Paz.



JAMAICA: Won the 2005 CFU Digicel Cup and is one of the three qualifiers from the Caribbean at this year’s CONCACAF Gold Cup™ … The reggae boyz reached the tournament’s semifinals on two occasions (1993, 1998) … Jamaica’s best finish came in 1993 as they shared the bronze medal with Costa Rica after both played to a 1:1 draw in the third-place game … Technical director Wendell Downswell is in charge of the squad.



MEXICO: The defending champions are competing in their eighth CONCACAF Gold Cup™ … Mexico was the first team to capture four titles (1993, 1996, 1998, 2003) and is one of only two CONCACAF teams (other USA) to always advance out of the first round … The tricolor are the only team to capture two tournament crowns (1996, 2003) without conceding a goal … Mexico have also not allowed a goal in their last 601 minutes during the Gold Cup … Ricardo LaVolpe has been the technical director for the tricolor since 2003.



PANAMA: Are making their first appearance at the Gold Cup in more then a decade after going winless in 1993 tournament … Panana is one of four Central American nations to progress to the CONCACAF event after reaching the semifinals of the 2005 UNCAF Nations Cup in Guatemala … The canaleros are led by technical director Jose Hernández.



SOUTH AFRICA: Second guest team at the Gold Cup, South Africa is also the first African nation to compete at the event … Under the guidance of Stuart Baxter, South Africa’s participation in the CONCACAF tournament falls into the long term goal of building the squad as they prepare to stage the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ … Bafana Bafana also hosted and captured the 1996 African Nations Cup having become a member of FIFA four years earlier.



TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: One of the three qualifiers from the Caribbean are making their fifth overall appearance at the Gold Cup … Despite winning the Caribbean crown on eight occasions, Trinidad & Tobago’s best performance at the CONCACAF event was reaching the semifinals in 2000 … Leo Beenhakker is at the helm of the soca warriors.



USA: One of two nations (other Mexico) to have played in all seven previous Gold Cups but have only won the CONCACAF event twice (1991, 2002) … The stars & stripes have the most victories in tournament play with 24 and are the only CONCACAF team to win all their first round group matches for a perfect 16-0 since 1991 … Technical director Bruce Arena has been at the helm since 1998.