CONCACAF Gold Cup begins with many top players missing

The 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup is set to begin with many top players absent due to injuries, personal reasons, and club commitments, including Canada's Alphonso Davies and the U.S.'s Christian Pulisic. Canada coach Jesse Marsch emphasized the opportunity the tournament presents to give young players valuable playing time and to broaden the national team’s talent pool. Defending champions Mexico, coached by Javier Aguirre, are favored to win again but will miss key forwards Hirving Lozano and Henry Martín due to hamstring injuries. The United States enters the tournament amid a four-game losing streak, facing challenges with a roster missing multiple star players. The competition features 16 teams across 14 venues in 11 locations, with the final scheduled for July 6 in Houston. While the Gold Cup often sees B and C teams due to overlapping commitments like the Club World Cup, it remains a key event for regional soccer development and competition.