The CONCACAF Cup (officially the CONCACAF Cup presented by Scotiabank for sponsorship reasons) was an international soccer play-off match to determine CONCACAF's entry into the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup. The 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup winner United States played against the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup winner Mexico on October 10, 2015, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, United States.

2015 CONCACAF Cup
After extra time
DateOctober 10, 2015
VenueRose Bowl, Pasadena, California
RefereeJoel Aguilar (El Salvador)
Attendance93,723
Weather97 °F (36 °C)

CONCACAF decided that its representative team in the Confederations Cup would be defined in a single match, in which an official title would also be awarded. Mexico won the match 3–2 after extra time, winning the title and also qualifying for the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup.[1]

Background

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Even though the CONCACAF Gold Cup takes place on a biennial basis, under previous guidelines prior to 2013, only the champions of the Gold Cup that was held two years before the FIFA Confederations Cup qualified as CONCACAF's representative. The decision to face the champions of the two previous editions was made to give the same importance to each edition of the Gold Cup.[2]

CONCACAF announced the introduction of a playoff and super cup match on April 5, 2013,[3] where a trophy would also be awarded. Starting from the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup, the CONCACAF representative would be decided by a playoff between the two CONCACAF Gold Cup champions prior to the Confederations Cup. Then CONCACAF President Jeffrey Webb stated this "will allow the champion of every single Gold Cup edition to have the same competitive opportunity to represent CONCACAF in the worldwide competition."[3][failed verification] In the case where the same national team wins both Gold Cup editions, the playoff would not be played and the team qualifies directly to the Confederations Cup.[3]

Following CONCACAF's decision to end their affiliation with Traffic Sports USA due to the 2015 FIFA corruption case, Major League Soccer's sister company Soccer United Marketing was chosen as commercial representative for the match.[4]

Qualification

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Format

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CONCACAF originally announced on July 23, 2015, that the playoff would be played as a single match on October 9, 2015, in the United States.[5] After the conclusion of the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup on July 26, CONCACAF announced the Rose Bowl in Pasadena as the venue.[6] The date was later amended to October 10 in order "to allow fans in attendance to enjoy a day-long of festivities, including Futbol Fiesta, a free, interactive fan zone outside the Rose Bowl."[7][8]

Ticketing

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On August 27, 2015, CONCACAF announced the ticket allocation process for the match.[9] Both the United States Soccer Federation and the Mexican Football Federation received 30% of the tickets each, which was distributed through supporter groups. Another 30% was sold through a lottery where the general public could apply. The final 10% was given to local teams and sponsors. This system was to prevent the crowd being dominated by either team's supporters despite being on U.S. soil similar to previous Gold Cup finals.[10]

Squads

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Each team could select up to 23 players for their squads. On September 15, 2015, CONCACAF announced the provisional team lists.[11] The final 23-player squads were announced by CONCACAF on October 5, 2015.[12]

Mexico

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On October 1, the final squad was announced.

Head coach:    Ricardo Ferretti

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Club
1 1GK Alfredo Talavera (1982-09-18)September 18, 1982 (aged 33)   Toluca
2 2DF Israel Jiménez (1989-08-13)August 13, 1989 (aged 26)   UANL
3 2DF Jose Rivas (1984-10-18)October 18, 1984 (aged 30)   UANL
4 2DF Rafael Márquez (1979-02-13)February 13, 1979 (aged 36)   Hellas Verona
5 2DF Diego Reyes (1992-09-19)September 19, 1992 (aged 23)   Real Sociedad
6 2DF Jorge Torres Nilo (1988-01-16)January 16, 1988 (aged 27)   UANL
7 2DF Miguel Layún (1988-06-25)June 25, 1988 (aged 27)   Porto
8 3MF Jonathan dos Santos (1990-04-26)April 26, 1990 (aged 25)   Villarreal
9 4FW Raúl Jiménez (1991-05-05)May 5, 1991 (aged 24)   Benfica
10 3MF Jesús Corona (1993-01-06)January 6, 1993 (aged 22)   Porto
11 4FW Carlos Vela (1989-03-01)March 1, 1989 (aged 26)   Real Sociedad
12 1GK Moisés Muñoz (1980-02-01)February 1, 1980 (aged 35)   América
13 1GK Jonathan Orozco (1986-05-12)May 12, 1986 (aged 29)   Monterrey
14 4FW Javier Hernández (1988-06-01)June 1, 1988 (aged 27)   Bayer Leverkusen
15 2DF Héctor Moreno (1988-01-17)January 17, 1988 (aged 27)   PSV Eindhoven
16 3MF Héctor Herrera (1990-04-19)April 19, 1990 (aged 25)   Porto
17 3MF Javier Güémez (1991-10-17)October 17, 1991 (aged 23)   América
18 3MF Andrés Guardado (1986-09-28)September 28, 1986 (aged 29)   PSV Eindhoven
19 4FW Oribe Peralta (1984-01-12)January 12, 1984 (aged 31)   América
20 3MF Javier Aquino (1990-02-11)February 11, 1990 (aged 25)   UANL
21 3MF Carlos Esquivel (1982-04-10)April 10, 1982 (aged 33)   Toluca
22 2DF Paul Aguilar (1986-03-06)March 6, 1986 (aged 29)   América
23 3MF Elías Hernández (1988-04-29)April 29, 1988 (aged 27)   León

United States

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On October 3, the final squad was announced. On October 9, it was announced that Bobby Wood would replace Alejandro Bedoya due to illness.

Head coach:   Jürgen Klinsmann

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Club
1 1GK Brad Guzan (1984-09-09)September 9, 1984 (aged 31)   Aston Villa
2 3MF DeAndre Yedlin (1993-07-09)July 9, 1993 (aged 22)   Sunderland
3 2DF Brad Evans (1985-04-20)April 20, 1985 (aged 30)   Seattle Sounders FC
4 3MF Michael Bradley (1987-07-31)July 31, 1987 (aged 28)   Toronto FC
5 2DF Matt Besler (1987-02-11)February 11, 1987 (aged 28)   Sporting Kansas City
6 2DF Tim Ream (1987-10-05)October 5, 1987 (aged 28)   Fulham
7 2DF DaMarcus Beasley (1982-05-24)May 24, 1982 (aged 33)   Houston Dynamo
8 4FW Clint Dempsey (1983-03-09)March 9, 1983 (aged 32)   Seattle Sounders FC
9 3MF Gyasi Zardes (1991-09-02)September 2, 1991 (aged 24)   LA Galaxy
10 3MF Danny Williams (1989-03-08)March 8, 1989 (aged 26)   Reading
11 4FW Bobby Wood (1992-11-15)November 15, 1992 (aged 22)   Union Berlin
12 1GK Tim Howard (1979-03-06)March 6, 1979 (aged 36)   Everton
13 3MF Jermaine Jones (1981-11-03)November 3, 1981 (aged 33)   New England Revolution
14 2DF Ventura Alvarado (1992-08-16)August 16, 1992 (aged 23)   América
15 3MF Kyle Beckerman (1982-04-23)April 23, 1982 (aged 33)   Real Salt Lake
16 2DF Michael Orozco (1986-02-07)February 7, 1986 (aged 29)   Tijuana
17 4FW Jozy Altidore (1989-11-06)November 6, 1989 (aged 25)   Toronto FC
18 4FW Chris Wondolowski (1983-01-28)January 28, 1983 (aged 32)   San Jose Earthquakes
19 3MF Graham Zusi (1986-08-18)August 18, 1986 (aged 29)   Sporting Kansas City
20 2DF Geoff Cameron (1985-07-11)July 11, 1985 (aged 30)   Stoke City
21 2DF Jonathan Spector (1986-03-01)March 1, 1986 (aged 29)   Birmingham City
22 1GK Nick Rimando (1979-06-17)June 17, 1979 (aged 36)   Real Salt Lake
23 3MF Fabian Johnson (1987-12-11)December 11, 1987 (aged 27)   Borussia Mönchengladbach

Match summary

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Mexico  3–2 (a.e.t.)  United States
Report
Attendance: 93,723
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mexico
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
United States
GK 12 Moisés Muñoz
RB 22 Paul Aguilar   21'
CB 15 Héctor Moreno   43'
CB 5 Diego Reyes
LB 7 Miguel Layún
DM 4 Rafael Márquez (c)   76'
CM 16 Héctor Herrera
CM 18 Andrés Guardado   80'
RF 9 Raúl Jiménez
LF 19 Oribe Peralta   35'
CF 14 Javier Hernández   98'
Substitutes:
GK 1 Alfredo Talavera
GK 13 Jonathan Orozco
DF 2 Israel Jiménez
DF 3 José Rivas   76'
DF 6 Jorge Torres Nilo
MF 8 Jonathan dos Santos
MF 10 Jesús Corona   98'
MF 17 Javier Güémez   95'   80'
MF 20 Javier Aquino
MF 21 Carlos Esquivel
MF 23 Elías Hernández
FW 11 Carlos Vela
Manager:
   Ricardo Ferretti
 
GK 1 Brad Guzan
RB 23 Fabian Johnson   111'
CB 20 Geoff Cameron
CB 5 Matt Besler   52'
LB 7 DaMarcus Beasley
DM 15 Kyle Beckerman
RM 13 Jermaine Jones
LM 9 Gyasi Zardes   78'
AM 4 Michael Bradley (c   87'
CF 17 Jozy Altidore   98'
CF 8 Clint Dempsey
Substitutes:
GK 12 Tim Howard
GK 22 Nick Rimando
DF 3 Brad Evans   111'
DF 6 Tim Ream
DF 14 Ventura Alvarado
DF 16 Michael Orozco
DF 21 Jonathan Spector
MF 2 DeAndre Yedlin   78'
MF 10 Danny Williams
MF 19 Graham Zusi
FW 11 Bobby Wood   98'
FW 18 Chris Wondolowski
Manager:
  Jürgen Klinsmann

Assistant referees:[13]
Juan Francisco Zumba (El Salvador)
Leonel Leal (Costa Rica)
Fourth official:
  Marlon Mejía (El Salvador)

Match rules

  • 90 minutes of regular time.
  • 30 minutes of extra time if necessary.
  • Penalty shoot-out if scores still level.
  • Twelve named substitutes, of which up to three may be used.

Match notes

Abolition of the Confederations Cup

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A 2019 edition was initially planned, featuring the winners of the 2017 and 2019 Gold Cups. In November 2016, CONCACAF announced that the television rights for the 2019 edition have been sold to Fox Sports.[14] On July 26, 2017, with their victory in the final of the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup, the United States ensured they would participate at a minimum in the 2019 CONCACAF Cup should they fail to win the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[15]

However, on March 15, 2019, FIFA announced that the Confederations Cup would be abolished, with an expanded FIFA Club World Cup taking place instead.[16] This therefore also meant there would be no future editions of the CONCACAF Cup.

References

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  1. ^ "Mexico claim CONCACAF's spot at Confederations Cup". FIFA.com. October 11, 2015. Archived from the original on October 12, 2015. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
  2. ^ "2013, 2015 Gold Cup winners will meet for 2017 Confederations Cup spot". Reuters. April 5, 2013.
  3. ^ a b c "2013, 2015 Gold Cup winners will meet for 2017 Confederations Cup spot". USA Today. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  4. ^ Thomas, Ian (August 31, 2015). "SUM To Serve As Commercial Rep For CONCACAF Cup Match". sportsbusinessdaily.com. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
  5. ^ "Match-ups Set for CONCACAF Gold Cup 2015 Finals Weekend in Philadelphia July 25-26". CONCACAF.com. July 23, 2015. Archived from the original on July 25, 2015. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  6. ^ "Playoff match for the FIFA Confederations Cup 2017 to be played between USA and Mexico on Oct. 9 at the Rose Bowl". CONCACAF.com. July 26, 2015.
  7. ^ "Confederations Cup playoff game between USMNT and Mexico moved to October 10". MLSsoccer.com. August 7, 2015.
  8. ^ "Playoff Match between USA and Mexico for FIFA Confederations Cup 2017 Berth to Be Played on Saturday, Oct. 10 at the Rose Bowl". CONCACAF.com. August 7, 2015.
  9. ^ "Ticket Lottery Details Announced for CONCACAF Cup Match between USA and Mexico on October 10 at the Rose Bowl". CONCACAF.com. August 27, 2015.
  10. ^ Wahl, Grant (August 27, 2015). "CONCACAF sets USA-Mexico Rose Bowl tickets split". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  11. ^ "CONCACAF Cup 2015 Provisional 35-Player Rosters Announced". September 15, 2015. Archived from the original on September 20, 2015. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  12. ^ "Final 23-Player Rosters for CONCACAF Cup 2015 Chosen by Mexico and United States". CONCACAF.com. October 5, 2015. Archived from the original on June 5, 2017. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
  13. ^ "CONCACAF Cup Game Notes: Mexico v USA". CONCACAF.com. October 10, 2015. Archived from the original on October 14, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
  14. ^ "CONCACAF Extends Gold Cup Deal with FOX through 2019 Championship". CONCACAF.com. November 11, 2016. Archived from the original on November 29, 2016. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
  15. ^ "Stars and Stripes close gap on El Tri". FIFA.com. July 27, 2017. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  16. ^ "FIFA Council votes for the introduction of a revamped FIFA Club World Cup". FIFA.com. March 15, 2019. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
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