One year ago the 15th edition of the CONCACAF Gold Cup kicked off to mark the beginning of what turned out to be an unforgettable tournament that concluded on July 7th as Mexico defeated the United States 1-0 in front of a sold-out Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois.
The 2019 Gold Cup was a historical one in many ways, first beginning with the expanded field, as the tournament was increased from 12 teams to 16 teams that included Bermuda.
The 2019 edition was also the first one to have taken place in both the Caribbean and Central America. Group B involving Costa Rica, Haiti, Bermuda and Nicaragua got its start at the Estadio Nacional in San Jose, Costa Rica, while Group C with Jamaica, Honduras, El Salvador and Curacao got the ball rolling at Kingston’s famed Independence Park.
There were plenty of Gold Cup debutants in the fold as well. By virtue of their top-10 finishes in 2019-20 CONCACAF Nations League Qualifying, both Bermuda and Guyana punched their tickets to a first ever Gold Cup. The two sides left the tournament with their heads held high, as Bermuda secured a group stage win versus Nicaragua, while Guyana recorded a first ever Gold Cup point in a draw with Trinidad and Tobago.
For Haiti, who came from behind to edge Bermuda 2-1, it was a first ever Gold Cup Semi-Final and they nearly foiled Mexico’s championship hopes, losing by the smallest of margins.
In the end, a Jonathan dos Santos goal in the second half would provide decisive for El Tricolor, earning Mexico a record eighth Gold Cup title to cap a tournament to remember.
