2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup: Knockout Rounds Preview
The group stage of the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup has concluded, setting the stage for an exciting knockout phase. The U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) has navigated through the early rounds and is now primed for a quarterfinal clash against Costa Rica on Sunday, June 29 at 7 p.m. ET, a game that will be broadcast on FOX.
Path to the Quarterfinals
Throughout the group stage, the anticipation around a potential U.S. vs. Mexico quarterfinal match lingered heavily in the air. It would have marked a historic early meeting between these fierce rivals in the Gold Cup. However, both teams successfully advanced without facing each other, meaning they can only clash in the tournament final on July 6 in Houston.
Quarterfinal Matchup Details
In the quarterfinals:
- U.S. Men’s National Team vs. Costa Rica
Date: Sunday, June 29
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: TBD
This matchup will be pivotal for the USMNT as they look to assert their dominance and secure a spot in the semifinals, where they will take on either Canada or Guatemala.
Summary of Group Stage Performances
The journey toward the knockout rounds has shown some thrilling performances across all groups:
Group A
Mexico claimed the top spot with 7 points, finishing ahead of Costa Rica on goal difference, thanks to their strong offensive showing.
- Mexico: 2 Wins, 1 Draw, 0 Losses, Goal Difference: +3
- Costa Rica: 2 Wins, 1 Draw, 0 Losses, Goal Difference: +2
- Dominican Republic and Suriname both struggled and were eliminated, each accruing just 1 point.
| Team | GP | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | +3 | 7 |
| Costa Rica | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | +2 | 7 |
| Dominican Rep | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -2 | 1 |
| Suriname | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -3 | 1 |
Group B
Canada topped the group with 7 points, followed closely by Honduras with 6 points.
- Canada: Demonstrated remarkable form, displaying their offensive capabilities.
- Honduras: A resilient team that secured important victories.
| Team | GP | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | +8 | 7 |
| Honduras | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | -3 | 6 |
| Curaçao | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | -1 | 2 |
| El Salvador | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -4 | 1 |
Group C
Panama won Group C with a perfect record, bagging 9 points. Guatemala managed to secure their spot in the next round, finishing second.
- Panama: Undefeated with comprehensive wins.
- Jamaica surprised many with an early exit.
| Team | GP | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panama | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | +7 | 9 |
| Guatemala | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | +1 | 6 |
| Jamaica | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -3 | 3 |
| Guadeloupe | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -5 | 0 |
Group D
The U.S. team dominated Group D, going unbeaten to secure all 9 points.
- USA: Showcased their skill and depth with three consecutive wins.
- Saudi Arabia, the tournament’s sole invited team from outside the region, puts up a competitive fight with 4 points.
| Team | GP | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | +7 | 9 |
| Saudi Arabia | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Trinidad & Tobago | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | -5 | 2 |
| Haiti | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -2 | 1 |
Upcoming Knockout Round Schedule
With the exciting knockout rounds approaching, here’s the schedule to keep an eye on:
Quarterfinals
-
Saturday, June 28
- Honduras vs. Panama (1-1, Honduras advances 5-4 on penalties)
- Mexico vs. Saudi Arabia (2-0)
- Sunday, June 29
- Canada vs. Guatemala (4 p.m. ET)
- United States vs. Costa Rica (7 p.m. ET)
Semifinals
- Wednesday, July 2
- Canada/Guatemala vs. USA/Costa Rica (7 p.m. ET)
- Mexico vs. Honduras (10 p.m. ET)
Final
- Sunday, July 6
- TBD vs. TBD (7 p.m. ET)
Conclusion
The upcoming knockout rounds promise to deliver some thrilling matches as national pride and spots in the Copa Mundial 2026 hang in the balance. Whether it’s the rising force of Canada, the historical implications of a U.S.-Mexico final, or the resilience of Costa Rica and Honduras, football fans are in for an exciting ride.
