Concacaf Gold Cup: U.S. and Mexico are the clear favorites

The most prestigious soccer tournament in North and Central America kicks off this Saturday with the inaugural game between the USMNT and Jamaica.

This Saturday marks the start of the 27th edition of the CONCACAF Gold Cup, in which the best North and Central American national teams will fight to be crowned champions of the region's most prestigious soccer tournament. The competition will be played in 15 stadiums in the United States and Canada and this year Qatar will be a guest participant.

United States opens the CONCACAF Gold Cup

The opening match will be played between the United States and Jamaica at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. In addition, State Farm Stadium in Glendale (Arizona), AT&T Stadium in Arlington (Texas), NRG Stadium and Shell Energy Stadium in Houston (Texas), Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas (Nevada), DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale (Florida), SoFi Stadium in Inglewood (California), Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara (California), Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego (California), Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte (North Carolina), TQL Stadium in Cincinnati (Ohio), Red Bull Arena in Harrison (New Jersey), Citypark in St. Louis (Missouri), and BMO Field in Toronto (Canada) will be the remaining Gold Cup venues.

The USMNT is one of the favorites to win the title. Before being able to move on to the quarterfinals, the U.S. team will face Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and St. Kitts and Nevis in the group stage. The U.S. should have no trouble advancing to the next round.

The Mexican national team and its new coach, Jaime Lozano, will have to go up against Haiti, Honduras and Qatar in the first phase, the toughest group of the four. Mexico is one of the favorites to win the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Click here to consult the rosters of the 16 participants.

Group stage

The two teams in each group with the most points will move on to the next phase. The 16 teams are divided into four groups:

- Group A: United States, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and St. Kitts and Nevis.

- Group B: Mexico, Haiti, Honduras and Qatar.

- Group C: Costa Rica, Panama, El Salvador and Martinique.

- Group D: Canada, Guatemala, Cuba and Guadeloupe.