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Gold Cup

The Gold Cup, officially the CONCACAF Gold Cup, is the main men’s international soccer tournament for national teams in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Gold Cup, officially the CONCACAF Gold Cup, is the main men’s international soccer tournament for national teams in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. It is organized by CONCACAF and has been held every two years since 1991. Mexico has won the most titles, followed by the United States and Canada.

History

The Gold Cup began in 1991 as the successor to the CONCACAF Championship. It has been staged every two years and serves as the region’s flagship men’s international competition.

Format

The tournament typically uses a group stage followed by knockout rounds. In 2025, the competition included 16 teams and was played in the United States and Canada, with Saudi Arabia invited as a guest team.

Champions

Only three national teams have won the Gold Cup: Mexico, the United States, and Canada. Mexico leads the tournament with 10 titles, while the United States has seven and Canada has one.

Venues and final

Gold Cup finals are typically played at a host stadium selected for the tournament edition. The 2025 final was held at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.

Key facts

  • The Gold Cup is CONCACAF’s premier men’s national-team tournament.
  • It replaced the CONCACAF Championship as the region’s top men’s competition.
  • Only three nations have won the tournament: Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
  • Mexico extended its record title total in 2025, winning its 10th Gold Cup.
  • The 2025 final was played at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
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Canadian context

Canada is one of the three Gold Cup champions, having won the tournament once, and co-hosted the 2025 edition with the United States.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Gold Cup in soccer?
The Gold Cup is CONCACAF’s main men’s national-team soccer tournament for North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.
Who won the Gold Cup 2023?
Mexico won the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
When is the next Gold Cup tournament?
The Gold Cup is held every two years; after the 2025 edition, the next tournament is expected in 2027.
How many Gold Cups has Mexico won?
Mexico has won 10 Gold Cup titles.
What teams are in the Gold Cup 2025?
The 2025 Gold Cup had 16 teams: the United States, Mexico, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Panama, Haiti, El Salvador, Curaçao, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Honduras, Bermuda, Guatemala, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Cuba, Martinique, Suriname, Nicaragua, and Guadeloupe.
Where is the Gold Cup final held?
The final is held at a host stadium chosen for that tournament edition; the 2025 final was at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CONCACAF_Gold_Cup
    Supports: Tournament definition, organizer, region, first edition, frequency, and all-time champions count.
  2. CONCACAF — https://www.concacaf.com/competitions/gold-cup
    Supports: Official competition page and 2025 final hosting at NRG Stadium.
  3. Fox Sports — https://www.foxsports.com/soccer/gold-cup
    Supports: 2025 Gold Cup final at NRG Stadium and 2025 tournament context.
  4. ESPN — https://www.espn.com/soccer/schedule/_/league/concacaf.gold
    Supports: 2025 final result and venue.
  5. Major League Soccer — https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/concacaf-2025-gold-cup-guide-teams-format-stadiums-schedule-more
    Supports: 2025 tournament dates, teams, and venues.