MIAMI, Florida – It is crunch time in the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup, with just the semifinals and Final remaining, while the action in the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 kicks off this week, including a Champions Cup debut for Argentine superstar Lionel Messi and Inter Miami.

W Gold Cup

Just four teams remain in the inaugural edition of the Concacaf W Gold Cup, with the semifinals set for this Wednesday, followed by the Final on Sunday.

Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California, will be the venue for all three matches, beginning with what should be a tantalizing encounter between Brazil and Mexico. The reigning CONMEBOL Copa America Femenina champions have been breathtaking thus far in the tournament. Brazil posted a perfect group stage campaign with three wins from three matches and no goals conceded, and then backed that up with a commanding 5-1 win versus Argentina in the quarterfinals.

Mexico have been a revelation in this W Gold Cup. El Tricolor finished first in their group thanks to a historic 2-0 victory against rivals the United States and then soared to a 3-2 triumph over Paraguay in the quarterfinals. Two teams overflowing with confidence and spirit should make for a scintillating opening match on Wednesday.

The nightcap will see long-time North American rivals United States and Canada get together for a spot in the Final. There is a very long history between the two with the U.S. having a decisive edge, but in recent years it has been very even, with Canada collecting a 1-0 win against the U.S. in the semifinals of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The U.S. then returned the favor in the Final of the 2022 Concacaf W Championship in a 1-0 final. Margins are sure to be thin once again in the latest chapter of this great rivalry.

Champions Cup

The next phase of the 2024 Champions Cup begins this week with the first leg matches of the Round of 16, meaning eight matches are on the docket and will include some of the biggest stars in world football.

Tuesday will begin with an intriguing affair in Costa Rica between Herediano of Costa Rica and 2023 Concacaf Caribbean Cup winners Robinhood of Suriname. Herediano completed one of the greatest comebacks in Champions Cup history to eliminate Liga MX side Toluca in Round One, while Robinhood will appear in their first Champions Cup since 1994.

Another match to watch on Tuesday will be a Champions Cup rematch between Tigres of Liga MX and MLS side Orlando City SC in Orlando. These two sides met in last year’s Round of 16 in what was a Tigres victory, and now they find themselves again squaring off.

The third match of the night on Wednesday promises to be a memorable one, as Mexican domestic rivals Chivas and Club America tangle in Guadalajara. While their meetings in Liga MX are numerous, this will mark their third clash in Concacaf play.

The second match of the night on Thursday should provide another unforgettable spectacle, as 2022 FIFA World Cup winner Lionel Messi and Inter Miami travel to Nashville, Tennessee, to face Nashville SC in their first leg. This is a rematch of the 2023 Leagues Cup Final won by Inter Miami and will be the first ever Champions Cup match for Messi, who will be joined by other great stars of world football like Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.