The 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup now knows all of the teams that will fight to become the first champions. Group A will continue the action at the Dignity Health Sports Park on Tuesday evening, with the kick-off of the group stage.
Mexico vs. Argentina
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Mexico and Argentina will be the first teams to take the field to start the matchday in the first clash of Group A.
They are familiar with each other, having shared the pitch at the Pan American games, the latest encounter being the 2023 semifinals, with Mexico getting a 2-0 win to improve to an overall record of 4W-0D-1L against Argentina.
Under Head Coach Pedro Lopez, Mexico had a record of 4W-0L-0D in the Road to W Gold Cup, winning Group A of League A. As they were not part of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the team has a mission to take advantage of any chance to grow and show their game.
Players like FW Maria Sanchez, who scored two goals and had the most shots (13), and FW Natalia Mauleon, who made an impression with the U-17 and U-20 National Teams, will be ready to make an impact as they did in the Road to W Gold Cup.
Argentina will debut after having been part of the 2023 WWC and finishing third at the CONMEBOL Copa America Femenina in 2022, recording a 4W-0D-2L record. Head Coach German Portanova will try to replicate their style of play to get a win on North American soil.
La Albiceleste has generational talent in players like FW Yamila Rodriguez, who was the top scorer of the 2022 Copa America with six goals. Another Argentinian sensation is DF Sophia Braun, who knows what it means to be present in the area as well as scoring, having one goal at the 2023 WWC.
United States vs. Dominican Republic
On Saturday, the Dominican Republic became one of the winners of the Prelims and will face the four-time World Champions and current Concacaf W Championship champions, the United States, on Tuesday.
The most decorated team in the world qualified to the W Gold Cup after lifting the CWC trophy in 2022 with a 5W-0D-0L overall record. They’re returning to the main stage after leaving the 2023 WWC in the Round of 16 and will be under interim coach Twila Kilgore, who will manage the side until new Head Coach Emma Hayes takes over afterward.
With this new leadership, the USWNT will try to get another Concacaf trophy under their belt, having the help of game-changing players like FW Sophia Smith, who has 15 goals within major tournaments like the WWC and the CWC.
They’ll also have goals in midfield in the form of MF Lindsey Horan, who captained the team in Australia/New Zealand, scoring two goals, and being one of the difference-makers at the CWC, having played in all five matches.
The Dominican Republic will make their debut in the group stage after getting through the Prelims, downing Guyana 1-0 on Saturday afternoon.
The Quisqueyanas have been putting on a show since they were part of the Road to W Gold Cup, amassing a record of 5W-0D-1L in six games played, with 24 goals to their name to win their group in League B.
Players like FW Kathrynn González, who scored the banger against Guyana in the Prelims, and FW Mia Asenjo, who had nine shots on Saturday, are responsible for finding the back of the net.
Another key component of their success in the Prelims was GK Paloma Pena, who made key saves against Guyana to keep a clean sheet going into the group stage.
