If the U.S. Men's National Team is to win a sixth CONCACAF Gold Cup title in July, it will need a good start in the Group Stage where Bruce Arena's side will take on Panama (July 8), Martinique (July 12) and Nicaragua (July 15).
Learn more about the USA’s history against each opponent:
July 8 - USA vs. Panama;
Nashville, Tenn. (4:30 p.m. ET; FOX, Univision & UDN)
It wouldn’t be the CONCACAF Gold Cup without a game between the U.S. and Panama. Los Canaleros have been the USA’s most common opponent at the confederation championship, playing nine matches since the first meeting in 1993. Two of those were finals, with the U.S. winning the 2005 championship 3-1 on penalties, then utilizing a Brek Shea winner to clinch the 2013 title.
WATCH: USA Clinches 2005 Gold Cup Title with Shootout Win vs. Panama
The teams have faced off at each of the past six CONCACAF Gold Cup tournaments. While the MNT has a decisive 5-1-3 advantage, Panama holds the distinction of being the only team to knock off the U.S. in the Group Stage, defeating the MNT 2-1 in 2011.
Most recently, the sides met twice in the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup, playing to two 1-1 draws – once in the group stage and again in the third place match where Panama prevailed 3-2 on penalty kicks.
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USA vs. Panama CONCACAF Gold Cup Results |
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Date |
Result |
U.S. Goal Scorers |
Round |
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July 14, 1993 |
2-1 W |
Dooley, Wynalda |
Group Stage |
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July 24, 2005 |
-- |
Final |
|
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June 16, 2007 |
Donovan, Bocanegra |
Quarterfinal |
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July 18, 2009 |
Beckerman, Cooper |
Quarterfinal |
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June 11, 2011 |
Goodson |
Group Stage |
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|
June 22, 2011 |
1-0 W |
Dempsey |
Semifinal |
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July 28, 2013 |
1-0 W |
Shea |
Final |
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July 13, 2015 |
Dempsey |
Group Stage |
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July 25, 2015 |
1-1 D (2-3 PKs) |
Dempsey |
Third Place Match |
July 12 – USA vs. Martinique; Tampa, Fla. (9 p.m. ET; FS1, UniMas & UDN)
Having qualified by advancing to the Semifinals of the 2017 Caribbean Cup, Martinique makes its fifth appearance at the CONCACAF Gold Cup this summer and will play the United States for the second time. The inaugural meeting between the teams came in the Group Stage of the 2003 competition, where the U.S. used a brace from Brian McBride to earn a 2-0 victory at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.
WATCH: McBride leads U.S. past Martinique in 2003 Gold Cup
The extra rub coming into this match is that the Caribbean island will be managed by former U.S. international David Regis. Born in La Trinite, Martinique, Regis is a two-time World Cup selection for the United States and won 22 of his 27 international caps during Bruce Arena’s first tenure in charge of the MNT.
As an overseas department of France, Martinique is not a member of FIFA and is thus ineligible to participate in the world governing body’s competitions. However, as a member of CONCACAF and the Caribbean Football Union, Martinique is able to participate in regional events and saw its greatest triumph come when they won the 1993 Caribbean Cup.
July 15 – USA vs. Nicaragua; Cleveland, Ohio (7 p.m. ET; FXX, Univision &UDN)
When the CONCACAF Gold Cup groups were unveiled in early March, the U.S. knew it would face Panama and Martinique in its first two matches, but would have to wait to find out the opponent in its third. That's because there was still a two-leg playoff to be held between the fifth-place team from UNCAF (Nicaragua) and CFU (Haiti).
Haiti ran out 3-1 winners during the first leg in Port-au-Prince on March 24, but the Nicaragua away goal would prove crucial. Playing in Managua four days later, Los Pinoleros Albiazules used three goals after the 82nd minute from Juan Barrera to win the match 3-0 and the aggregate series 4-3, booking a ticket to just its second CONCACAF Gold Cup in the process.
That win also sets up the first-ever meeting between the USA and Nicaragua on July 15 in Cleveland.