Concacaf Sets Stage for 2027 Gold Cup with Exciting New Format and Dates

Concacaf's flagship tournament will kick off on June 17, 2027.

• Tournament will take place from June 17 to July 11, 2027
• Revamped format will feature two groups of eight teams, creating more compelling matchups earlier in the competition
• Each team will play four Group Stage matches, with every result counting toward qualification for the Knockout Phase
• Official Draw scheduled for April 8, 2027

Miami, FL – Concacaf has today announced the dates and an exciting new competition format for the 2027 Concacaf Gold Cup, the Confederation’s flagship men’s national team tournament.

The 2027 Concacaf Gold Cup will kick off with the opening match on Thursday, June 17, and conclude with the Final on Sunday, July 11, 2027. The tournament’s Official Draw will take place on Thursday, April 8, 2027.

The Gold Cup will continue to feature 16 participating teams but will introduce two groups of eight teams for the Group Stage, replacing the traditional format of four groups of four. Under the new format, each team will play four Group Stage matches against four different opponents, rather than three matches as in previous editions.

Building on the continued growth of men’s national team football across the region, the new format has been designed to deliver more meaningful matches and matchups between the top-ranked teams earlier in the competition, bringing greater excitement for fans and national teams.

“The Gold Cup is our region’s premier men’s national team competition, and we are really excited about what this new format will bring to the tournament’s Group Stage,” said Concacaf President and FIFA Vice President Victor Montagliani. “Our fans want to see the best teams in our region compete against each other, and this format will create more opportunities for those matchups to happen earlier in the competition. At the same time, every match will matter, with teams facing a balanced mix of opponents and competing for a place in the knockout rounds. We believe this will make for a more competitive and exciting Gold Cup from the very first match through to the Final.”

HOW THE NEW GOLD CUP FORMAT WILL WORK

The 16 participating teams will be divided into eight pots of two teams based on the Concacaf Men’s National Team Rankings, with one team from each pot drawn into each of the two groups.

Once the two groups are set, teams within each group will be organized into four ranking bands, with each team facing one opponent from each band. A predetermined fixture matrix will determine the specific Group Stage matchups, ensuring every team faces a balanced mix of opponents across the rankings.

All eight teams in each group will compete in a single group table, with the top four advancing to the Knockout Phase.

The eight advancing teams will then compete in a single-match Knockout Phase, comprising three rounds: Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Final. Group Stage performance will determine the Quarterfinal matchups, with higher-placed teams facing lower-placed opponents, while the tournament bracket will determine the Semifinal pairings.

To learn more about the new 2027 Gold Cup format, watch Concacaf’s explainer video available below.

2027 CONCACAF GOLD CUP QUALIFICATION

Of the 16 participating teams, 15 Concacaf Member Associations will qualify through the 2026/27 Concacaf Nations League and the Gold Cup Preliminary Round (Prelims), alongside guest nation Saudi Arabia.

Eight Concacaf national teams will qualify directly through the Nations League in November 2026, while the remaining seven places will be determined through the Gold Cup Prelims in March 2027.

Click here for full details on the 2027 Gold Cup qualification pathway.

2027 CONCACAF GOLD CUP DATES AND NEXT STEPS

The 2027 Concacaf Gold Cup will kick off on Thursday, June 17, with the Group Stage taking place from June 17 to 30.

The Knockout Phase will begin with the Quarterfinals on July 3 and 4, followed by the Semifinals on July 7 and 8, and the Final on Sunday, July 11, when the next Concacaf Gold Cup champion will be crowned.

The tournament’s Official Draw will take place on Thursday, April 8, 2027, with further details to be announced in the coming months.

Additional information regarding the tournament’s match schedule, host venues, and ticketing will be announced in due course.

For more information on the Concacaf Gold Cup, visit GoldCup.org.