The most intriguing names and faces at the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup
The CONCACAF Gold Cup kicks off July 7, with the 12-team, biennial competition deciding the regional champion. Mexico and the USA have long dominated the competition, with El Tri's seven titles the most, followed by the USA's five. Canada is the only other nation to have won the trophy, doing so in 2000. Despite second-choice rosters, the USA and Mexico are favored to win it again, while a nearly full-strength Costa Rica should also contend for the title. Here are some of the most intriguing names and faces to watch at the Gold Cup.
Dom Dwyer - USA
Jim Rogash/Getty Images
Dwyer, an English-American dual-national, scored on his debut for the USA in a friendly vs. Ghana, and a breakout performance in the Gold Cup could put him firmly on Bruce Arena's World Cup radar (provided the USA qualifies, of course)
Dom Dwyer - USA
Dwyer, an English-American dual-national, scored on his debut for the USA in a friendly vs. Ghana, and a breakout performance in the Gold Cup could put him firmly on Bruce Arena's World Cup radar (provided the USA qualifies, of course)
Jim Rogash/Getty Images
Alphonso Davies - Canada
Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press/AP
At 16, Davies is the most intriguing Canadian prospect in some time. He's drawing eyes overseas, opening eyes in MLS for Vancouver and could be the Gold Cup's breakout star.
Alphonso Davies - Canada
At 16, Davies is the most intriguing Canadian prospect in some time. He's drawing eyes overseas, opening eyes in MLS for Vancouver and could be the Gold Cup's breakout star.
Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press/AP
Mark Geiger - Referee
Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images
Referees always play a huge part in Gold Cups. Always. It wouldn't be CONCACAF without a handful of "CONCACAF'd" moments, and Geiger was at the center of it all in 2015. The spotlight will be firmly on the accomplished American official.
Mark Geiger - Referee
Referees always play a huge part in Gold Cups. Always. It wouldn't be CONCACAF without a handful of "CONCACAF'd" moments, and Geiger was at the center of it all in 2015. The spotlight will be firmly on the accomplished American official.
Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images
Florent Malouda - French Guiana
Jody Amiet/AFP/Getty Images
CONCACAF has confirmed to SI.com that Malouda is ineligible to play, due to representing France for years in official competitions and a rule change that prevents players from playing for non-FIFA nations in official competitions. Nevertheless, Malouda may play anyway, meaning French Guiana will have to forfeit its matches. Stay tuned.
Florent Malouda - French Guiana
CONCACAF has confirmed to SI.com that Malouda is ineligible to play, due to representing France for years in official competitions and a rule change that prevents players from playing for non-FIFA nations in official competitions. Nevertheless, Malouda may play anyway, meaning French Guiana will have to forfeit its matches. Stay tuned.
Jody Amiet/AFP/Getty Images
Rodolfo Zelaya - El Salvador
Matthew Ashton/AMA/Getty Images
Zelaya was once banned in a match-fixing scandal that rocked El Salvador, but he's one of the region's most talented attacking players and could cause problems for the opposition.
Rodolfo Zelaya - El Salvador
Zelaya was once banned in a match-fixing scandal that rocked El Salvador, but he's one of the region's most talented attacking players and could cause problems for the opposition.
Matthew Ashton/AMA/Getty Images
Joel Campbell, Bryan Ruiz - Costa Rica
Moises Castillo/AP
No team boasts a dynamic duo quite like Costa Rica's veteran tandem. If Los Ticos are to become the first Central American team to win the competition, Campbell and Ruiz will be a big reason why.
Joel Campbell, Bryan Ruiz - Costa Rica
No team boasts a dynamic duo quite like Costa Rica's veteran tandem. If Los Ticos are to become the first Central American team to win the competition, Campbell and Ruiz will be a big reason why.
Moises Castillo/AP
Leandro Bacuna - Curacao
Neville Williams/Aston Villa FC/Getty Images
The Aston Villa midfielder is one of the more accomplished players in the competition at the club level, and if Curacao is to have a shot at pulling any surprises, it's on Bacuna to deliver.
Leandro Bacuna - Curacao
The Aston Villa midfielder is one of the more accomplished players in the competition at the club level, and if Curacao is to have a shot at pulling any surprises, it's on Bacuna to deliver.
Neville Williams/Aston Villa FC/Getty Images
Andre Blake - Jamaica
Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images
The Philadelphia Union goalkeeper has already shown he belongs on the club and international level, but without Wes Morgan marshaling the back line in front of him, he could be called on in a big way in hopes of leading Jamaica back to the final after its surprise 2015 showing.
Andre Blake - Jamaica
The Philadelphia Union goalkeeper has already shown he belongs on the club and international level, but without Wes Morgan marshaling the back line in front of him, he could be called on in a big way in hopes of leading Jamaica back to the final after its surprise 2015 showing.
Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images
Kevin Parsemain - Martinique
David Zalubowski/AP
Martinique's all-time leading scorer will be tasked with leading the minnow in a group with the USA, Panama and Nicaragua.
Kevin Parsemain - Martinique
Martinique's all-time leading scorer will be tasked with leading the minnow in a group with the USA, Panama and Nicaragua.
David Zalubowski/AP
Orbelin Pineda - Mexico
Aric Becker/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images
Pineda's Chivas de Guadalajara strike partner Alan Pulido is out of the competition with a broken arm, meaning it's on Pineda to lead the charge for El Tri's second-choice attack.
Orbelin Pineda - Mexico
Pineda's Chivas de Guadalajara strike partner Alan Pulido is out of the competition with a broken arm, meaning it's on Pineda to lead the charge for El Tri's second-choice attack.
Aric Becker/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images
Juan Carlos Osorio - Mexico
Omar Vega/LatinContent/Getty Images
Well, Osorio is suspended for the competition thanks to his outburst in the Confederations Cup third-place game vs. Portugal. All eyes will be on his replacement (likely Luis Pompilio Páez) and his staff – and how the reaction is in Mexico to his absence. There's never a dull moment on El Tri's hot seat.
Juan Carlos Osorio - Mexico
Well, Osorio is suspended for the competition thanks to his outburst in the Confederations Cup third-place game vs. Portugal. All eyes will be on his replacement (likely Luis Pompilio Páez) and his staff – and how the reaction is in Mexico to his absence. There's never a dull moment on El Tri's hot seat.
Omar Vega/LatinContent/Getty Images
