The Gold Cup is set to begin this week, and three members from Atlanta United will be representing their home countries in the tournament. Miles Robinson (United States), Derrick Etienne Jr. (Haiti), and Jay Fortune (Trinidad and Tobago) have been called up for the competition.
The tournament runs June 24-July 16. Here are a few things to know about the Gold Cup and how to follow along with our Atlanta United players:
About the Concacaf Gold Cup
- The Gold Cup is a competition for men's national teams from North America, Central America and the Caribbean. Qatar was invited to the tournament this year, making it the only nation to qualify outside of those regions.
- Thirteen teams were announced earlier in the spring. Guadeloupe, Martinque, Saint Kitts and Nevis were the last three teams added, qualifying in a preliminary round held at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
- The total 16 slots were divided into four groups of four teams. Each side will play its group opponents. The top two teams from each group will each advance.
- Matches will be hosted in fifteen stadiums across 14 cities in the U.S. and Canada.
- The final is scheduled for July 16 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.
Fresh off winning the Concacaf Nations League, the United States enters the Gold Cup looking to add another title as defending champions of the tournament. Robinson was called up to join the U.S. men's national team again, and the center back has been known to make magic happen in the tournament. In 2021, Robinson scored the game-winning goal against Mexico that secured the Gold Cup title for the United States.
Robinson didn't play in the Nations League final due to hamstring tightness, but he'll be at training camp with the U.S. and will have a few days recovery before the group stage begins. The United States has Jamaica, St. Kitts & Nevis, and Trinidad and Tobago in their group with the first match scheduled for June 24.
Semifinals
United States 🇺🇸 vs. 🇵🇦 Panama
- Date: Wednesday, July 12
- Time: 7:30 p.m.
- Venue: Snapdragon Stadium - San Diego, California
- TV: Fox Sports 1
Quarterfinals
United States 🇺🇸 2 (3) - 2 (2) 🇨🇦 Canada
The United States earned a massive win on penalty kicks after a back-and-forth match with Canada on Sunday, July 9. After remaining scoreless for nearly the entire match, four goals were scored after the 88th minute, including a Canada own goal that proved to be a lifeline for the U.S. after losing the lead. Goalkeeper Matt Turner saved Canada's first two penalty kicks to help send the U.S. to the semifinals.
Group Stage
United States 🇺🇸 1-1 🇯🇲 Jamaica
The United States started out group play with a nail-biting 1-1 draw against Jamaica on Saturday, June 24. After conceding an early goal from Jamaica's Damion Lowe, the U.S. fought back and scored the equalizer in the 88th minute. Brandon Vasquez got on the end of a rebound right outside the 6-yard box and smashed the ball into the back of the net to earn a point for the U.S.
St. Kitts & Nevis 🇰🇳 0-6 🇺🇸 United States
The U.S. continued group play with a 6-0 rout over St. Kitts & Nevis on Wednesday, June 28. A hat trick from Jesus Ferreira, a brace from Dorde Mihailović and an early goal by Bryan Reynolds helped the U.S. to their first win of the tournament. The Stars and Stripes took 34 shots to St. Kitts & Nevis' two, 15 of which were on target.
United States 🇺🇸 6-0 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago
Robinson made his first appearance of the tournament when the U.S. earned another 6-0 victory to close out group play on Sunday, July 2. Ferreira scored three more goals to become the first USMNT to score a hat trick in back-to-back matches. Cade Cowell, Gianluca Busio and Brandon Vasquez also got on the scoresheet for the win.
Derrick Etienne Jr. has been called up to the Haiti men's national team. The winger has earned 38 caps and tallied eight goals and nine assists since making his international debut as a substitute in a Caribbean Cup qualifier against French Guiana on Nov. 9, 2016. For the Gold Cup, Haiti is in a group with Qatar, Mexico and Honduras.
Group Stage
Haiti 🇭🇹 2-1 🇶🇦 Qatar
Etienne Jr. started in the midfield for Haiti as they began group stage play with a 2-1 win over Qatar on Sunday, June 25. Qatar got on the board first in the 20th minute, but Haiti grabbed the equalizer right before the half with a penalty kick. In the seventh minute of second half stoppage time, Frantzdy Pierrot found the back of the net for the go-ahead goal for Haiti.
Haiti 🇭🇹 1-3 🇲🇽 Mexico
Haiti fell to 2021 Gold Cup runner-up Mexico 3-1 on Thursday, June 29 in the second match of group play. Etienne Jr. was substituted on in the 72nd minute, and he assisted Haiti's lone goal six minutes later to cut Mexico's lead to one goal. However, Mexico sealed the win in the 83rd minute with a goal from striker Santiago Giménez.
Honduras 🇭🇳 2-1 🇭🇹 Haiti
Etienne Jr. returned to the starting XI for Haiti, but the group suffered a hard-fought loss to Honduras on Sunday, July 2. Haiti scored first in the 20th minute with another goal from Pierrot, but Honduras found the equalizer right before halftime. José Pinto scored the game-winner for Honduras in the 50th minute, eliminating Haiti from the tournament.
After making his second career MLS start Wednesday in the 2-2 draw with New York City FC, the 20-year-old will join Trinidad and Tobago for the group stage of the Gold Cup. The Homegrown midfielder made his debut on Feb. 1, 2021 in a friendly against the United States. He'll be in the same group as his club teammate Miles Robinson, and the two will compete in the group stage match on Sunday, July 2.
Group Stage
Trinidad and Tobago 🇹🇹 3-0 🇰🇳 St. Kitts & Nevis
Entering the game as a second-half sub, Fortune scored in Trinidad and Tobago's group stage opener to help them to a 3-0 win over St. Kitts & Nevis on Sunday, June 25. After taking the lead a few minutes before the half, Fortune extended Trinidad's lead with a stunning strike from right outside the box. The win marked Trinidad's first Gold Cup group stage win since 2015.
Jamaica 🇯🇲 4-1 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago
Fortune started on the left wing for Trinidad and Tobago in it's 4-1 loss to Jamaica on Wednesday, June 28. Jamaica jumped out to a three-goal lead in the first 30 minutes of the match with goals from Leon Bailey and Demarai Gray. Trinidad got one back to start the second half, but Jamaica put the final touch on the win with another goal in the 94th minute.
United States 🇺🇸 0-6 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago
In an Atlanta United face-off, Fortune and Trinidad failed to make it out of the group stage after falling 6-0 to Robinson and the U.S. on Sunday, July 2. The Soca Warriors finished third in Group A with one win and two losses.
