Concacaf Gold Cup Prelims Set for March, 14 Teams Compete

MIAMI, FL — Concacaf announced today that the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup Preliminary Round will take place on March 21 and 25, featuring 14 national teams vying for the last seven spots in the tournament’s Group Stage.

The Prelims will determine which teams join the eight nations already qualified for the Gold Cup. The 14 participating teams include Belize, Bermuda, Costa Rica, Cuba, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, Nicaragua, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.

The first leg of the matchups is scheduled for March 21, while the second leg will occur on March 25. Matches will take place in each participating nation, with the lowest-ranked teams hosting the first leg and the highest-ranked teams hosting the second leg.

Qualification for the Gold Cup is based on results from the Concacaf Nations League and the Concacaf Rankings. The Prelims format allows each matchup to be determined by aggregate score; the team with the most goals over the two legs will advance.

The seven matchups for the Prelims are: (1) Costa Rica vs. Belize, (2) Jamaica vs. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, (3) Honduras vs. Bermuda, (4) Guatemala vs. Guyana, (5) Trinidad and Tobago vs. Cuba, (6) Martinique vs. Suriname, and (7) Nicaragua vs. Guadeloupe.

“This preliminary round is crucial for these teams as they fight for a spot in one of the most prestigious football tournaments in the region,” said Concacaf President and CEO, Victor Montagliani. “We look forward to some exciting matches ahead.”

The Gold Cup will officially kick off this summer from June 14 to July 6. The tournament will feature 16 men’s national teams, with reigning champions Mexico, alongside 15 other teams from Concacaf and guest nation Saudi Arabia. The final will be held on July 6 in Houston, Texas—the first time it will take place in that state.

The preliminary round aims to provide competitive opportunities for the best regional teams, expanding interest in soccer across North America, Central America, and the Caribbean as the FIFA World Cup approaches in 2026.

Concacaf also confirmed that the draw for the 2025 Gold Cup will occur on April 10 at 7:00 p.m. ET, as a live event showcasing the tournament’s format and the participating teams.

With the increasing popularity of soccer in the region, the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup promises to be an excellent showcase of talent and national pride.