The 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup is in the books, and the tournament had its successes along with some improvement points. Mexico claimed its 10th Gold Cup title, once again before a capacity crowd at a stadium in the United States.
The Gold Cup is Concacaf’s most important tournament, as it crowns the region’s true champion after a full tournament format. However, this year’s tournament was well criticized by many fans of team around the continent in several areas.
So, how can the Gold Cup’s profile increase
and give all teams - not just the United States, Mexico, or Canada - a chance to really make this tournament as great as it can be? There are some suggestions that can inject some energy into the tournament...here are a few of them:
The Gold Cup should rotate outside of the United States
It’s for the Gold Cup to move its home outside the borders of the United States. Since the Gold Cup came into existence replacing the Concacaf Championship in 1991, each tournament has been held in the United States. Mexico held some matches alongside the United States in 1993, 2003, and 2015, while Costa Rica and Jamaica co-hosted some matches in 2019. Canada has hosted at least one match in the past two Gold Cups, including Canada’s opener in Vancouver in June. However, the rest of the matches have been held within the United States as Concacaf aims to maximize revenues by hosting it in the region’s richest nation.
The Gold Cup has stagnated by being held in the same places every two years. There should be a bidding process and countries should be able to have the opportunity to either host the tournament on their own or partner with someone else. Canada and Mexico are each capable of hosting the tournament on their own, while Costa Rica, Panama, and Honduras could also host on their own or even partner together. Caribbean countries like Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Antigua & Barbuda, Puerto Rico, or Dominican Republic could band together to host a tournament and reinvigorate the tournament’s prestige. Also, playing in other nations could open up the tournament more, forcing the Concacaf powers like Mexico, the USMNT, or even Canada to have to adjust to playing in environments they don’t often get to experience.
The Gold Cup should be played every four years
Concacaf needs to strongly consider making the Gold Cup become a tournament that, like many of its counterparts around the world, are played every four years with a qualification process that includes every team. Of course, Concacaf Nations League can be used for that qualification process, which would allow for that tournament to take place every two years and allow Gold Cup to elevate its status. The tournament can take place in the summer after a World Cup (e.g. 2027, 2031, 2035) so that the year before the World Cup can remain available for Nations League, World Cup qualifying, and all important rest for each team’s main stars.
Concacaf could even use the date of the tournament - the year after a World Cup - to partner with CONMEBOL with a deal where the Gold Cup finalists would qualify to be guest nations in Copa América. Or have it set up where the winner goes and the runner-up plays the 3rd place winner in a playoff to add some drama. Giving the Gold Cup some real rewards will help teams bring its best players and take it seriously.
The schedule should be fixed and set prior to the start of the tournament
The past few tournaments, Concacaf has decided to not fully set the quarterfinal matches and locations until after the group stage has concluded. For fans of Mexico, they already have an idea where Concacaf want them to play, so they’re able to purchase tickets ahead of time. For USMNT fans - and other teams - they have to play the waiting game, as match results could dictate where they end up and they’re not fully sure until a few days before the match. The match schedule should be set in stone before the tournament so those venues can properly market the match and fans can plan their trips accordingly. It shouldn’t be a difficult ask, as Concacaf has done it before. But, Concacaf needs to consider that travel is not cheap, and fans would rather plan ahead of time and know a team’s potential paths as opposed to having to wait and book accommodations and travel with only a few days notice.
Tickets have to become more affordable
The final item to elevate the Gold Cup profile might be the most important: ticket prices have to reverse its recent path into the stratosphere and come back down to the earth where the tournament is played. Ticket prices for the final started at $175 for supporters and fans at the top of NRG Stadium, with dynamic pricing also lifting the prices into dangerous heights. Even during the group stage, attendance was down due to complaints about ticket prices exceeding $90-100 in some matches at the entry level price. Concacaf has to understand that the fans are speaking with their wallets, especially in the United States where tournament fatigue has become a real thing. Lowering the price point to get more stadiums full and bring in more fans who want the chance to see their team play will make for a better experience for all. Above all, full stadiums at full volume would create the increased importance that the Gold Cup seeks.
As it stands, the next Gold Cup is set for 2027. With the World Cup coming to North America in 11 months, Concacaf is preparing to host the world. However, they should take from that legacy that big moment can continue to be created in the region beginning with the elevation of the Gold Cup to a tournament that commands the respect it desires.
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