The 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup will start Friday with 15 groups on a journey to say the inaugural trophy. The primary-ever iteration of a flagship senior ladies’s competitors for the area will function eight Concacaf groups and 4 invited Conmebol nations to the event. The Conmebol company are the highest 4 Copa America Femenina groups, together with 2022 title holders Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, and Paraguay.
The USA and Canada acquired direct byes to the Gold Cup after qualifying for the Olympics whereas different Concacaf squads claimed their spot throughout highway to Gold Cup qualifiers. Six remaining groups — Dominican Republic, Haiti, Guyana, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Puerto Rico — will compete in preliminary matches to find out the ultimate three groups.
With 15 squads every eyeing the identical prize, which facet is greatest positioned to take the title? Let’s check out the place the nationwide groups landed on our energy rankings forward of the event:
2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup Energy Rankings
1. |
United States |
The winningest crew in Concacaf historical past (males or ladies’s) and favorites for the Gold Cup. This system at present finds itself navigating a brand new period with incoming supervisor Emma Hayes, and interim head coach Twila Kilgore may have a possibility so as to add a little bit of {hardware} to her resume. |
2. |
Colombia |
The CONMEBOL company might be with out Mayra Ramirez however are nonetheless high rivals for a deep run on the cup. Carolina Arias, Catalina Usme, Manuela Vanegas, and Linda Caicedo will maintain opposing groups on their toes. |
3. |
Brazil |
The squad will navigate the first-ever W Gold Cup with out the long-lasting Marta. Additionally they have eight members taking part in in NWSL, who’re in preseason and are in Group B with CONMEBOL rivals Colombia. New supervisor Arthur Elias may have a tricky take a look at in entrance of him. |
4. |
Canada |
Reigning Olympic gold medalists and sure favorites to advance from their Gold Cup group. Coach Bev Preistman has a brand new contract and will use the group stage to guage totally different participant models, however issues may get elevated come knockout rounds. |
5. |
Mexico |
Missed out on a second consecutive World Cup, this system appointed Pedro Lopez, and the squad went undefeated throughout all competitions in 2023. Gold medalists throughout the Pan Am Video games and Central American and Caribbean Video games, Tri Femenil will face their largest competitors of their new period on the Gold Cup. |
6. |
Argentina |
They’re going to have an enormous problem towards the USWNT however will maintain issues attention-grabbing towards Mexico within the group. Aldana Cometti, Nina Nicosia, and Sophie Braun may make issues troublesome on any day. |
7. |
Panama |
Their inclusion in Group B makes it the group of loss of life. This system’s profile has risen during the last cycle, they usually’ve capped off an eventful 2023 with a debut look on the World Cup. Marta Cox and Lineth Cedeño can produce within the last third, and goalkeeper Yenith Bailey can frustrate opposing assaults. |
8. |
Paraguay |
Fourth-place finishers within the 2022 Copa America Femenina, the squad missed out on the 2023 World Cup and settled for a fifth-place end on the Pan Am Video games. May very well be a darkish horse of their Gold Cup group. |
9. |
Costa Rica |
Presumably the streakiest crew within the Gold Cup with solely 4 wins in its final 20 video games. New supervisor Benito Rubido might depend on Rocky Rodriguez and Daniella Cruz for expertise whereas Priscila Chinchilla generates assault. |
10. |
Haiti |
The group finds themselves coping with accidents to key gamers forward of preliminaries they usually’re with out Melchie Dumornay and Amandine Pierre-Louis. Nonetheless, there’s sufficient expertise on the roster with Batcheba Louis, Dnielle Etienne, and Sherly Jeudy for an prolonged event run. |
11. |
Dominican Republic |
With 18 twin nationals on the roster, this squad has shaken up the competitors on its approach to a preliminary match within the event. All eyes might be on Jaylen Vallecillo — the 18-year-old midfielder is the second youngest participant on the squad alongside 17-year-old defender Renata Mercedes. |
12. |
El Salvador |
In the event that they defeat Guatemala in prelims the roster can shake issues up in Group C. Undefeated of their final six video games, they’re one other squad with a number of twin nationals. Victoria Meza and Danielle Fuentes may play vital roles. |
13. |
Guyana |
Maybe a sleeper decide, one other program that is rising with twin nationals, Guayana may present an upset throughout the prelim stage. Otesha Charles solely wants one likelihood on purpose to alter a recreation. |
14. |
Puerto Rico |
A crew that may generally punch above its weight however may have a tricky problem throughout prelims towards Haiti. |
15. |
Guatemala |
They have been round because the 90s however this system nonetheless hasn’t elevated its profile. They may in all probability profit essentially the most from expanded Concacaf event play however should get previous rivals El Salvador in prelims first. |
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