Over 57 players from 24 of 27 MLS clubs will represent their home countries again during the league’s brief second international break in the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup.
This year’s calendar was jam-packed amidst international competition with the 2021 Concacaf Nations League Finals, World Cup qualifiers, and international friendlies. Including delayed fixtures like the UEFA Euro 2020 due to the pandemic.
Now the Gold Cup is upon us!
The Confederation of North, Central America, and Caribbean Association Football, or better known as Concacaf, organizes the biennial international men’s football championship. Originally scheduled to be held from July 2 – 25, 2021, the 16th edition of the tournament was later rescheduled to late summer, July 10 – August 1.
Eight cities across the U.S. will serve as host cities: Kansas City, Glendale, Paradise, Frisco, Arlington, Dallas, Austin, Houston, and Orlando – with the final taking place on August 1st at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada.
The U.S. and Mexico are the only two countries to have won the title consistently since 1991 – with Canada winning in 2000. Mexico has eight titles and is the current reigning champion. And again they will compete against fifteen teams to protect their crown.
Concacaf Gold Cup
Group A: (Curaçao, El Salvador, Mexico, Trinidad & Tobago)*
Group B: (Canada, Haiti, Martinique, United States)
Group C: (Costa Rica, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Suriname)
Group D: (Grenada, Honduras, Panama, Qatar)
This year the video assistant referee (VAR) system is to be used for the first time in the tournament’s history. Additionally, Qatar will make its debut in the famed tournament as the invited guest. The 2022 World Cup hosts are set to participate in the 2021 and 2023 campaigns.
Shortly after the competition concludes, teams will have a short amount to rest before resuming World Cup qualifiers. It is unclear yet if players from the Gold Cup or the Olympics will be on the roster.
Concacaf announced on Friday evening that multiple positive COVID-19 tests among players and staff, Concacaf and Curaçao will not participate in the 2021 Gold Cup. Guatemala, the next highest-ranked team from the Gold Cup Preliminary Round, will take their place.
MLS Players on International Duty
Canada
- Ayo Akinola (Toronto FC)
- Tajon Buchanan (New England Revolution)
- Lucas Cavallini (Vancouver Whitecaps)
- Maxime Crepeau (Vancouver Whitecaps)
- Liam Fraser (Columbus Crew)
- Alistar Johnston (Nashville SC)
- Mark-Anthony Kaye (LAFC)
- Richie Laryea (Toronto FC)
- Kamal Miller (CF Montreal)
- Jonathan Osorio (Toronto FC)
- Tyler Pasher (Houston Dynamo)
- Samuel Piette (CF Montreal)
- Dayne St. Clair (Minnesota United)
Costa Rica
- Francisco Calvo (Chicago Fire FC)
- Allan Cruz (FC Cincinnati)
- Giancarlo Gonzalez (LA Galaxy)
- Ariel Lassiter (Houston Dynamo)
- Ronald Matarrita (FC Cincinnati)
Curacao
- Eloy Room (Columbus Crew SC)
El Salvador
- Darwin Cerén (Houston Dynamo)
- Alex Roldan (Seattle Sounders)
- Eriq Zavaleta (Toronto FC)
Haiti
- Derrick Etienne Jr. (Columbus Crew)
Honduras
- Bryan Acosta (FC Dallas)
- Maynor Figueroa (Houston Dynamo)
- Boniek Garcia (Houston Dynamo)
- Romell Quioto (CF Montreal)
Jamaica
- Andre Blake (Philadelphia Union)
- Cory Burke (Philadelphia Union)
- Oniel Fisher (LA Galaxy)
- Kemar Lawrence (Toronto FC)
- Powell (Philadelphia Union)
Mexico
- Efran Alvarez (LA Galaxy)
- Alan Pulido (Sporting Kansas City)
- Jonathan Dos Santos (LA Galaxy)
Panama
- Anibal Godoy (Nashville SC)
Suriname
- Kevin Leerdam (Inter Miami CF)
Trinidad & Tobago
- Kevin Molino (Columbus Crew SC)
United States of America
- Kellyn Acosta (Colorado Rapids)
- Paul Arriola (D.C. United)
- George Bello (Atlanta United)
- Gianluca Busio (Sporting Kansas City)
- Daryl Dike (Orlando City)
- Brad Guzman (Atlanta United)
- Sean Johnston (New York City FC)
- Jonathan Lewis (Colorado Rapids)
- Sebastian Lleget (LA Galaxy)
- Donovan Pines (D.C. United)
- Miles Robinson (Atlanta United)
- Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders)
- James Sands (New York City FC)
- Matt Turner (New England Revolution)
- Sam Vines (Colorado Rapids)
- Erky Williamson (Portland Timbers)
- Jackson Yueill (San Jose Earthquakes)
- Gyasi Zardes (Columbus Crew SC)
- Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC)