February 27 – The next edition of the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the confederation’s blue riband national team tournament held every two years, will be expanded from 12 to 16 teams in 2019.
CONCACAF has also said that the tournament will explore formats for making the tournament, played in the US, pan-regional “including the possibility of matches in Central America and the Caribbean.”
“The expansion of the Gold Cup and the upcoming launch of the CONCACAF Nations League are key steps in delivering on the ONE CONCACAF Vision, to make the region’s most competitive football more accessible to more of our Confederation’s teams, players and fans,” said CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani.
The qualifying process for the 16-team 2019 Gold Cup will be announced on March 7 in Miami at the CONCACAF Nations League launch event.
The criteria for the selection of host sites in the CONCACAF region, will be outlined by in the coming months, said the confederation in a press statement.
2019 will be the 15th edition of the Gold Cup which was first played in 1991. Predominantly played in the US with every edition, matches have also been played in Canada (2015) and Mexico (1993, 2003).
“Next year, with matches involving more national teams to be played in multiple countries across the region, more teams and fans than ever will have the chance to experience the Gold Cup first hand,” said CONCACAF.
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