The CONCACAF Gold Cup is North America's major tournament in senior men's football and determines the continental champion. Until 1989, the tournament was known as CONCACAF Championship. It is currently held every two years. From 1996 to 2005, nations from other confederations have regularly joined the tournament as invitees. In earlier editions, the continental championship was held in different countries, but since the inception of the Gold Cup in 1991, the United States are constant hosts or co-hosts.
From 1973 to 1989, the tournament doubled as the confederation's World Cup qualification. CONCACAF's representative team at the FIFA Confederations Cup was decided by a play-off between the winners of the last two tournament editions in 2015 via the CONCACAF Cup, but was then discontinued along with the Confederations Cup.
Since the inaugural tournament in 1963, the Gold Cup was held 27 times and has been won by seven different nations, most often by Mexico (12 titles).
Costa Rica have won the inaugural CONCACAF Championship in 1963 and two more in 1969 and 1989. They are the third-most successful team behind CONCACAF's "big two", Mexico and the United States, both in terms of number of titles and ranking in the all-time table. Since 2000, they have reached the knockout stage eleven times in a row. Since the inception of the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 1991, Costa Rica only reached the final once, but were beaten 2–0 by the United States in 2002.
CONCACAF Championship & Gold Cup record | Qualification record | |||||||||||||||
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Year | Result | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | Squad | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | |
1963 | Champions | 1st | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 2 | Squad | Qualified automatically | ||||||
1965 | Third place | 3rd | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 4 | Squad | Automatically entered | ||||||
1967 | Did not enter | Did not enter | ||||||||||||||
1969 | Champions | 1st | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 2 | Squad | Qualified as hosts | ||||||
1971 | Third place | 3rd | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 5 | Squad | Qualified as defending champions | ||||||
1973 | Did not qualify | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | |||||||||
1977 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 6 | ||||||||||
1981 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 10 | ||||||||||
1985 | Third place | 3rd | 8 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 10 | 8 | Squad | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 9 | |
1989 | Champions | 1st | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 6 | Squad | Qualified automatically | ||||||
1991 | Fourth place | 4th | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 9 | Squad | Qualified as defending champions | ||||||
1993 | Third place | 3rd | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 5 | Squad | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 2 | |
1996 | Did not qualify | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | |||||||||
1998 | Group stage | 5th | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 4 | Squad | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 3 | |
2000 | Quarter-finals | 6th | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6 | Squad | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 13 | 3 | |
2002 | Runners-up | 2nd | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 5 | Squad | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 5 | |
2003 | Fourth place | 4th | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 8 | Squad | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | |
2005 | Quarter-finals | 6th | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 4 | Squad | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 2 | |
2007 | 7th | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Squad | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | ||
2009 | Semi-finals | 4th | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 6 | Squad | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 1 | |
2011 | Quarter-finals | 5th | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 6 | Squad | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 4 | |
2013 | 5th | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 2 | Squad | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | ||
2015 | 7th | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | Squad | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 3 | ||
2017 | Semi-finals | 4th | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | Squad | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | |
2019 | Quarter-finals | 5th | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 4 | Squad | Qualified automatically | ||||||
2021 | 5th | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | Squad | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 3 | ||
2023 | 7th | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 8 | Squad | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | ||
Total | 3 Titles | 22/27 | 104 | 45 | 29 | 30 | 167 | 109 | 82 | 38 | 28 | 16 | 125 | 64 |
As follows. [1] Head coach: Alfredo Piedra
Rank | Team | Pts | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | GD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Costa Rica | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
2 | Netherlands Antilles | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
3 | Mexico | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 7 |
4 | Jamaica | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 16 | −15 |
Results
Rank | Team | Pts | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | GD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Costa Rica | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 5 |
2 | El Salvador | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 1 |
3 | Netherlands Antilles | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 1 |
4 | Honduras | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 9 | −7 |
Costa Rica | 2–1 | Honduras |
---|---|---|
Córdoba Jiménez | Guerra |
In 1969, Costa Rica hosted the continental championship for their first and only time. The six qualified teams played each other once in a single group. Costa Rica won their first four matches, but were only one point ahead of Guatemala, which they faced directly in the last match. A 1–1 draw secured them the tournament victory in front of the home crowd.
Rank | Team | Pts | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | GD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Costa Rica | 9 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 2 | 11 |
2 | Guatemala | 8 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 8 |
3 | Netherlands Antilles | 5 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 12 | −3 |
4 | Mexico | 4 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | −1 |
5 | Trinidad and Tobago | 3 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 12 | −8 |
6 | Jamaica | 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 10 | −7 |
Costa Rica | 3–0 | Jamaica |
---|---|---|
Álvaro Cascante Roy Sáenz Edward Dawkins o.g.' |
Costa Rica | 2–0 | Mexico |
---|---|---|
Jaime Grant Roy Sáenz |
In the qualification for the tournament, Costa Rica were about to face the favored team from Mexico. However, before the matches were played, Mexico was disqualified and Costa Rica given a bye to the tournament stage.
In a group of five teams, home and away matches were played against each opponent. When Costa Rica were done with their eight matches in July, the United States still had four matches ahead of them, and were only trailing behind leaders Costa Rica by six points and three goals. However, the US team ended up drawing twice and only won the other two matches by one goal each. With that, Costa Rica won the tournament on account of better goal difference, four months after their own last match.
|
|
Guatemala | 1–0 | Costa Rica |
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Chacón 39' (pen.) |
Costa Rica | 2–1 | Guatemala |
---|---|---|
Flores 42' Coronado 78' | Rodas 51' |
Costa Rica | 1–0 | United States |
---|---|---|
Rhoden 14' |
United States | 1–0 | Costa Rica |
---|---|---|
Ramos 72' |
Trinidad and Tobago | 1–1 | Costa Rica |
---|---|---|
Jones | Coronado |
Costa Rica | 1–0 | Trinidad and Tobago |
---|---|---|
Cayasso 2' |
El Salvador | 2–4 | Costa Rica |
---|---|---|
Rodriguez 24' Rivas 63' | Cayasso 16' Hidalgo 46' Flóres 51', 75' |
Costa Rica | 1–0 | El Salvador |
---|---|---|
Fernández 55' |
Listed below are the dates and results for the 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for the North, Central American and Caribbean zone (CONCACAF).
The 1991 UNCAF Nations Cup was the inaugural UNCAF Nations Cup, the Central American championship for men's national association football teams. It was organized by the Unión Centroamericana de Fútbol or UNCAF, and it took place in Costa Rica from 26 May to 2 June 1991. All matches were played in the Costa Rican capital, San José at the Estadio Nacional. The top two teams, apart from Costa Rica, go on to participate in the 1991 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Costa Rica were given a bye due to their performance at the 1990 FIFA World Cup.
The CONCACAF Central American Zone of the CONCACAF zone of the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification was contested between 6 teams from the Central America zone. The teams were divided into 2 groups of 3 teams each. The teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winners advanced to the Semi-final round. The runners-up advanced to the Play-offs.
The CONCACAF final round of the CONCACAF zone of the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification, was contested between the 6 remaining teams of the qualification process. The teams were placed into a single group, with matches played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The top three teams would qualify for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Costa Rica topped the group with 23 points, and finished with the best record of any CONCACAF team in the history of the hexagonal.
The 1989 CONCACAF Championship was the tenth and final edition of the CONCACAF Championship held under the format of serving as qualification to the 1990 FIFA World Cup and having no host nation for the final round. The tournament would be succeeded by the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 1991.
The 1985 CONCACAF Championship was the ninth edition of the CONCACAF Championship. It also served as the qualification for the 1986 World Cup. A total of 18 CONCACAF teams entered the competition. The North, Central American and Caribbean zone was allocated 2 places in the final tournament. Mexico, the World Cup host, qualified automatically, leaving 1 spot open for competition between 17 teams. Canada earned their first major title and clinched qualification on 14 September 1985 to participate in their first World Cup after beating Honduras 2–1 at King George V Park in St. John's, Newfoundland.
The 1963 CONCACAF Championship was the first edition of the CONCACAF Championship, the football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean (CONCACAF). The tournament was held between 23 March to 7 April. Nine teams participated in the inaugural event.
The 1943 CCCF Championship was held in San Salvador, El Salvador from 5 to 19 December 1943. The tournament was the second edition of the CCCF Championship which was the championship tournament of the Football Confederation of Central America and the Caribbean (CCCF), the governing body of association football in Central America and the nations in the Caribbean prior to 1961, when it was replaced by CONCACAF.
The 1969 CONCACAF Championship was the fourth edition of the CONCACAF Championship, the football championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean (CONCACAF). The tournament was held between 23 November to 8 December. Six teams participated in the tournament.
The association football competition at the 2002 Central American and Caribbean Games was held between 23 November and 7 December 2007, although qualification took place beforehand. El Salvador, the tournament's host, drew with Mexico in the final 1–1, eventually defeating Mexico in a penalty shoot-out 4–3, winning its second title and the first title since 1954.
The 2013 Copa Centroamericana was the 12th Copa Centroamericana, the regional championship for men's national association football teams in Central America. It was organized by the Unión Centroamericana de Fútbol or UNCAF, and took place in Costa Rica from 18 January to 27 January 2013. The top five teams go on to participate in the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
The 2014 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup was the fourth edition of the youth association football tournament for women under the age of 17. The final tournament was hosted in Costa Rica.
In the CONCACAF fourth round of qualification for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the United States, Costa Rica, and Honduras finished in the top three places and qualified directly for the 2014 World Cup. Mexico finished in fourth place and defeated New Zealand in the CONCACAF – OFC play-off to gain a spot in the World Cup. Mexico finished in fourth place ahead of Panama after the United States scored two goals against Panama in stoppage time in the final match of qualifying; had Panama retained its 2–1 lead, they would have finished in fourth place and eliminated Mexico on goals scored, who had qualified for the previous five World Cups.
The football tournament at the 1935 Central American and Caribbean Games was held in San Salvador from 24 March to 3 April. The tournament was the second association football tournament held at the Central American and Caribbean Games, with the first tournament being held in 1930 in Havana. All matches were held at the Estadio Nacional Flor Blanca.
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The CONCACAF Gold Cup is North America's major tournament in senior men's football and determines the continental champion. Until 1989, the tournament was known as CONCACAF Championship. It is currently held every two years. In earlier editions, the continental championship was held in different countries, but since the inception of the Gold Cup in 1991, the United States are constant hosts or co-hosts.
The third round of CONCACAF matches for 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification, nicknamed the Octagonal, was played from September 2021 to March 2022. Canada, Mexico, and the United States qualified for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, while Costa Rica advanced to the inter-confederation play-offs. Panama, Jamaica, El Salvador, and Honduras were eliminated in this round.
The 2004 CONCACAF Women's Pre-Olympic Tournament was the first edition of the CONCACAF Women's Pre-Olympic Tournament, the quadrennial international football tournament organised by CONCACAF to determine which women's national teams from the North, Central American and Caribbean region qualify for the Olympic football tournament. The tournament was held in Costa Rica from 25 February to 5 March 2004.
The El Salvador–Honduras football rivalry is a sports rivalry between the El Salvador and Honduras national football teams. The rivalry between the two nations peaked in 1969 when both teams played each other in the 1970 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, and the matches they played between each other, which ultimately saw El Salvador advance to the 1970 FIFA World Cup, were a contributing factor which led to the outbreak of the Football War in July 1969.