📆👀 What 2025 will bring in the Concacaf region
Part preview, part predictions
Even when it started, 2024 felt like it would be a defining year for Concacaf. I had a premonition the 2024 Copa América would be a tournament people would remember forever. It certainly will be remembered, though most fans south of Canada and north of Costa Rica would prefer to forget.
While 2024 felt like the start of the ride, 2025 feels almost unwanted in a soccer sense. Attention is beginning to focus on the 2026 men’s World Cup that will take place in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
Yet, there’s still work to be done and trophies to be won for top teams in the region, plus some critical matches that will help decide which Concacaf teams aside from the hosts will be at the big showcase in 2026.
Yes, ready or not, the new year is here. Resolutions are being adhered to or ignored. MLS teams are making moves. Liga MX starts back tonight (finally giving us the answer tonight to whether Club América’s B team can beat Queretaro) with James Rodriguez rumored to be arriving soon as León’s big offseason, and Miguel Herrera is now the manager of Costa Rica.
Oh, man. It may be a weird year.
Here’s what I’ve got on the big-picture radar. Let me know what I missed or what you’re most eagerly anticipating as well!
A Gold Cup that gets more hype than anticipated
The Gold Cup literally has gotten out of the way of FIFA’s big, inaugural expanded Club World Cup. While that tournament takes place largely on the East Coast of the U.S., Concacaf will temporarily take up residence west of the Mississippi River.
FIFA desperately wants the Club World Cup to be a success, and it shows in the roster regulations, which say clubs aren’t required to release players for their national teams during the competitions.
Players like Alphonso Davies of Canada, Weston McKennie of the United States or any of the Rayados, Seattle Sounders or Pachuca players will have to decide which summer tournament they’re playing.
The professional incentives, both in terms of boosting their positioning at their club and winning prize money, mean that even if those players would rather be representing their country and enjoying the California sun, they’ll likely be representing their club and enjoying the … Florida sun.
While that tournament will draw the attention of media outlets in North America, Europe and South America, don’t be surprised if there’s a bit of buzz for the Gold Cup as well. After all, it’s the last big tournament for Mexico and the U.S. - both of them popular teams whose fans are eager to see progress under a new manager - before the World Cup.
There also is the intrigue of a team other than those North American powers potentially making a run. Canada, Jamaica and Panama all feel good about their teams.
Is this country big enough - or soccer hungry enough - for two tournaments at the same time? Maybe so. Or maybe it’s not the flashier tournament that ends up surprising with the number of fans who turn up and digital numbers enjoying videos, articles and, of course, newsletters about the tournament.
…and how will that Club World Cup go?
Pachuca’s run to the final of FIFA’s ‘definitely-not-the-old-Club-World-Cup’ Intercontinental Cup
One, because Pachuca was horrible, winning just three matches in the Liga MX Apertura before heading off to beat the champions of South America and Africa.
Two, because the teams are definitely taking things seriously. While the inconvenience of Pachuca and León sharing the same ownership, explicitly against the competition’s rules, is yet to be cleared up, both clubs appear to be stocking up talent. The Sounders, too, in their traditionally pragmatic way are adding depth and looking to be in top form by the summer.
While teams in the region often have struggled against the big boys from Europe, perhaps the four Concacaf representatives can continue to earn some respect for the club game in the region with strong showings.
Are the stakes getting higher for the Concacaf Champions Cup?
At its launch, Leagues Cup was seen as a threat to the Concacaf Champions Cup. If fans were constantly seeing MLS v. Liga MX showdowns, would they still tune in for the CCC, where there are less frequent MLS v. Liga MX contests but also matchups between North American teams and rivals from Central America or the Caribbean.
But with MLS teams dominating the first two editions of the full tournament and changes coming to the format, the CCC stands as perhaps the most ‘authentic’ measure of teams from different leagues against each other.
Mix in the rivalry, the two-legged matchups (until the final … yes, still the single leg this year), the shocks like Herediano toppling Toluca or Real Esteli beating Club América in the first leg of their series, plus the Club World Cup ticket that goes to the winer, and you have a tournament gathering steam rather than losing it.
Like the Club World Cup, MLS and Inter Miami’s preseason tour, having Lionel Messi present doesn’t hurt either.
MORE: Thoughts on the CCC draw and Messi’s path to a revenge spot
More and more clubs are expressing their desire to win the international title, and the bracket sets up for plenty of interesting matches and fun narratives around them.
The best thing this tournament could do is continue to do exactly what it’s been doing: Put together great matchups, clearly explain the stakes and convince teams to give their best. (OK, and go back to the two-legged final).
The World Cup dream ends for most - and becomes reality for some
Don’t forget that in addition to the Nations League and Gold Cup - plus the qualification round that sees traditional Gold Cup regulars like Jamaica, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Trinidad and Tobago needing to win two-legged series to reach the Gold Cup, there’s also World Cup qualification matches in 2025.
These matches will see 18 nations eliminated from the 2026 World Cup. Some teams currently struggling, like Montserrat, Aruba or Anguilla, never realistically felt they’d get past this stage. However, Group E remains a bit of a minefield for Guatemala and Jamaica as the Dominican Republic tries to knock down the door to the third round.
And, in Group F, upstart Puerto Rico will try to spoil El Salvador’s summer - though the Huracán Azul start with a tough trip to Suriname.
With the North America teams hosting and the field expanded, many countries have circled this World Cup for years as the chance to get in and make history. The majority of those dreams - however realistic or foreign they felt - will die in June.
Then, it’s a flurry of games for the top two teams in each of those groups. Matches will take place in September 2025, October 2025 and November 2025 - meaning three additional Concacaf teams will qualify for the World Cup this year. The rest will head to the playoff.
Canada’s changes continue
Finally, let’s look at an individual country that merits plenty of attention this year. Canada made it all the way to the semifinals of Copa América in 2024. Can it keep the positive momentum going this year?
The first-place finish in standings for 2022 World Cup qualification marked a high point for Canada, but the Reds are still yet to lift a major men’s trophy since their 2000 Gold Cup triumph.
Not only is another Gold Cup a realistic goal (though those Club World Cup absences will hit hard) for Jesse Marsch and his squad, but Canada is in the Nations League semifinals after a one-year hiatus caused by a quarterfinal loss to Jamaica in the 2023-24 edition.
Marsch said at MLS media days that he’d hoped to have a January camp like the United States is currently conducting but budgetary reasons met that wasn’t possible. It may be in the cards ahead of the 2026 World Cup, and good results this year will only speed the process of finding more funding for the team.
Also a traditional powerhouse on the women’s side, Canada is looking to find its footing again after the spying scandal led to the dismissal of Bev Priestman. The Athletic reported today that former San Diego Wave boss Casey Stoney has agreed to take over the national team.
It’s another good hire, though if the resources still aren’t there to put players in the best position to succeed, it may not matter who is in the dugout.
The hope is the club game looks stronger than ever, though. The plan is for the Northern Super League to begin play in April with six clubs.
It’s a big year for Canada when it comes to soccer (and when it doesn’t). It will be worth paying attention to their progress throughout 2025.
Of course, I’ll be looking to tell these stories and more, plus keep you updated on everything happening around the region all year.
Next week, I’ll have the results of the reader survey, a few announcements about what Getting CONCACAFed will look like and include in 2025, and an interview with a manager who made a big move this year. Tell a friend. Go premium. The rest.
Canada need not worry. Once Trump annexes the country, the budget problems will all go away.
#sarcasm