CONCACAF has announced a new format for the 2027 Gold Cup, which will run from June 17 through July 11. The tournament will still feature 16 teams, but the group stage will be restructured into two eight-team groups instead of the previous four groups of four. Fifteen teams will qualify through the Gold Cup preliminary round and will be joined by guest nation Saudi Arabia.
Group stage format
The change aims to make the group stage more exciting by adding an extra match — each team will play four group opponents instead of three — and by allowing four teams from each group to advance to the knockout rounds. Matchups will be determined by organizing the eight teams into ranking bands of two teams each, with a predetermined fixture matrix ensuring a balanced schedule of opponents.
Knockout stage format
The knockout phase remains unchanged. The four qualifiers from each group will enter a single bracket, with the highest-finishing teams facing the lower-finishing teams from the opposite group. There will be no reseeding; the quarterfinal pairings will determine the semifinal matchups on the road to the final.
Key dates
Gold Cup draw: April 8
Gold Cup kickoff: June 17
Quarterfinals: July 3 and 4
Semifinals: July 7 and 8
Final: July 11
"The Gold Cup is our region's premier men's national team competition, and we are really excited about what this new format will bring to the tournament's Group Stage," said CONCACAF president and FIFA vice president Victor Montagliani. "Our fans want to see the best teams in our region compete against each other, and this format will create more opportunities for those matchups to happen earlier in the competition. At the same time, every match will matter, with teams facing a balanced mix of opponents and competing for a place in the knockout rounds. We believe this will make for a more competitive and exciting Gold Cup from the very first match through to the final."
