The2021 CONCACAF Gold Cupmarks the16thCONCACAFGold Cup, an international, biennial, men’s soccer competition organized by the CONCACAF football governing body in North America, Central American, and the Caribbean.
Originally scheduled forJuly 2toJuly 25,2021, the internationalsoccertournamenthas now begun onJuly 10 and will end onAugust 1. The defending champions areMexico, who won the 2019 edition. The CONCACAF Gold Cup will be used for the first time with the video assistant (VAR) system.
The Gold Cupwill be held at 11 stadiums across eight metropolitan areas of theUnited Statesthis summer. Itis a major part of Concacaf’s 60th-anniversary celebration. The final match will be held on Sunday, August 1, atAllegiant Stadiumin Las Vegas.
Gold Cup 2021: Why is Guillermo Ochoa not playing for Mexico?
Guillermo Ochoa (right) is given the captain’s armband by Carlos Salcedo (left). (Getty)
The defending champions Mexico havecompeted in every Gold Cup so far and they havenever failed to advance to the knockout stages. El Tri haveappeared in nine finals, winning eight of them. They now head to theGold Cup 2021as favorites to claim a back-to-back title asGerardo Martinosubmitted a powerfullist of playersto seek thetrophy. However, Guillermo Ochoawon’t be part of thesquad to fight for another championship.
The Mexico boss Gerardo Martino has stated that, because of some minor recent injuries, Guillermo Ochoa, as well asHirving Lozano,AndresGuardado, and Hector Herrera would not be available, and thus they will miss the Gold Cup 2021. In addition, there were even previous rumors that theClub America shot-stopper would opt to play with the Mexico Olympic squadthis summer rather than featurein the Gold Cupwith the senior team.
Ochoa has previously won four Gold Cup tournaments with Mexico (2009, 2011, 2015, and 2019), and he was named Gold Cup Glove in 2019. Since Gerardo Martino was named Mexico’s new manager in 2019, Ochoaand has been the national team’s leading goalkeeper featuring in 13 of 28 games so far.
