2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup Group A

Group A of the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup took place from 10 to 18 July 2021 in Arlington's AT&T Stadium, Dallas' Cotton Bowl and Frisco's Toyota Stadium.^[1] The group consisted of El Salvador, Guatemala, defending champions Mexico, and Trinidad and Tobago.^[2]

Originally, Curaçao would have played in this group. On 9 July 2021, Curaçao was removed as a participant due to close contacts with those tested positive to COVID-19 and replaced by Guatemala.^[3]

Teams

Draw position	Team	Pot	Method of qualification	Date of qualification	Finals appearance only Gold Cup era (since 1991)	Last appearance	Previous best performance only Gold Cup era (since 1991)	CONCACAF Rankings		FIFA Rankings (May 2021)[4]
								August 2020[5][nb 1]	July 2021[nb 2]
A1	Mexico	1	CNL League A Group B 1st place	15 November 2019	16th	2019	Winners (1993, 1996, 1998, 2003, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2019)	1	1	11
A2	El Salvador	2	CNL League B Group B 1st place	16 November 2019	12th	2019	Quarter-finals (2002, 2003, 2011, 2013, 2017)	10	10	69
A3	Curaçao[3]	3	CNL League A Group D 2nd place	17 November 2019	3rd	2019	Quarter-finals (2019)	13	12	76
	Guatemala[3]	N/A	Next best-ranked team from GCQ	9 July 2021	11th	2015	Fourth place (1996)	9	8	127
A4	Trinidad and Tobago	4	GCQ winners	6 July 2021	11th	2019	Third place (2000)	12	13	103

Notes

1. The CONCACAF rankings of August 2020 were used for seeding for the final draw.
2. CONCACAF rankings at the start of the tournament (as of 1 July 2021).^[6]

Standings

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Mexico	3	2	1	0	4	0	+4	7	Advance to knockout stage
2	El Salvador	3	2	0	1	4	1	+3	6
3	Trinidad and Tobago	3	0	2	1	1	3	−2	2
4	Guatemala	3	0	1	2	1	6	−5	1

Source: CONCACAF
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers

In the quarter-finals:

• The winners of Group A, Mexico, advanced to play the runners-up of Group D, Honduras.
• The runners-up of Group A, El Salvador, advanced to play the winners of Group D, Qatar.

Matches

All match times listed are EDT (UTC−4), as listed by CONCACAF. If the venue is located in a different time zone, the local time is also given.

Mexico vs Trinidad and Tobago

Mexico	0–0	Trinidad and Tobago
	Report

10 July 2021 (2021-07-10)

22:30 (21:30 UTC−5)

AT&T Stadium, Arlington

Attendance: 41,229

Referee: Ricardo Montero (Costa Rica)

Mexico

Trinidad and Tobago

GK 1 Alfredo Talavera RB 21 Luis Rodríguez CB 2 Néstor Araujo CB 3 Carlos Salcedo  53' LB 5 Osvaldo Rodríguez  82' CM 16 Héctor Herrera (c) CM 4 Edson Álvarez  11' CM 14 Érick Gutiérrez  46' RF 17 Jesús Manuel Corona CF 11 Rogelio Funes Mori LF 22 Hirving Lozano  18' Substitutions: FW 18 Efraín Álvarez  18' MF 10 Orbelín Pineda  46' MF 6 Jonathan dos Santos  53' MF 23 Jesús Gallardo  82' Head coach: Gerardo Martino

GK 1 Marvin Phillip (c) CB 2 Aubrey David CB 4 Jelani Peters CB 6 Radanfah Abu Bakr RWB 16 Alvin Jones  45+6' LWB 19 Ross Russell  46' RM 3 Hashim Arcia  46' CM 17 Justin Garcia  46' CM 23 Jesse Williams  65' LM 18 Triston Hodge  65' CF 13 Reon Moore Substitutions: DF 8 Mekeil Williams  46' DF 11 Noah Powder  46' MF 10 Kevin Molino  46' DF 15 Neveal Hackshaw  65' FW 7 Ryan Telfer  65' Head coach: Angus Eve

Man of the Match: Marvin Phillip (Trinidad and Tobago)[7] Assistant referees:[8] Juan Carlos Mora (Costa Rica) Roney Salinas (Honduras) Fourth official: Tristley Bassue (St. Kitts and Nevis) Video assistant referee: David Gantar (Canada) Assistant video assistant referee: Daneon Parchment (Jamaica)

El Salvador vs Guatemala

El Salvador	2–0	Guatemala
Roldan 81' Rivas 90+6'	Report

11 July 2021 (2021-07-11)^[3]

23:00 (22:00 UTC−5)

Toyota Stadium, Frisco

Attendance: 8,494

Referee: Jair Marrufo (United States)

El Salvador

Guatemala

GK 1 Mario González RB 21 Bryan Tamacas CB 4 Eriq Zavaleta CB 5 Ronald Gómez LB 13 Alexander Larín DM 6 Narciso Orellana RM 8 Joshua Pérez  80' CM 7 Darwin Cerén  64' CM 12 Marvin Monterroza (c)  90+2' LM 11 Juan Carlos Portillo  64' CF 17 Jairo Henríquez  90+2' Substitutions: MF 15 Alex Roldan  64' FW 23 Marvin Márquez  64' FW 14 Joaquín Rivas  80' MF 20 Isaac Portillo  90+2' FW 9 Walmer Martinez  90+3'  90+2' Head coach: Hugo Pérez

GK 1 Nicholas Hagen CB 20 Gerardo Gordillo CB 4 José Carlos Pinto (c)  34' CB 2 Moisés Hernández RWB 13 Stheven Robles  80' LWB 22 José Morales  32'  68' RM 11 Jairo Arreola  58' CM 16 Marco Domínguez CM 23 Jorge Aparicio  79' LM 7 Marvin Ceballos  69' CF 17 Luis Martínez Substitutions: MF 18 Oscar Santis  58' MF 8 Luis de León  68' FW 19 Robin Betancourth  69' FW 14 Darwin Lom  79' MF 9 Yeltsin Álvarez  80' Head coach: Rafael Loredo

Man of the Match: Alex Roldan (El Salvador)[9] Assistant referees:[10] Frank Anderson (United States) Kathryn Nesbitt (United States) Fourth official: Keylor Herrera (Costa Rica) Video assistant referee: Tim Ford (United States) Assistant video assistant referee: Allen Chapman (United States)

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Trinidad and Tobago vs El Salvador

Trinidad and Tobago	0–2	El Salvador
	Report	Henríquez 30' Martinez 90+1'

14 July 2021 (2021-07-14)

19:30 (18:30 UTC−5)

Toyota Stadium, Frisco

Attendance: 5,494

Referee: Selvin Brown (Honduras)

Trinidad and Tobago

El Salvador

GK 21 Nicklas Frenderup CB 8 Mekeil Williams CB 2 Aubrey David CB 4 Jelani Peters  46' RWB 16 Alvin Jones LWB 18 Triston Hodge  3'  15' CM 20 Duane Muckette  46' CM 15 Neveal Hackshaw CM 11 Noah Powder CF 10 Kevin Molino (c) CF 7 Ryan Telfer  77' Substitutions: MF 14 Andre Fortune II  15' MF 13 Reon Moore  79'  46' FW 9 Marcus Joseph  46' MF 3 Hashim Arcia  77' Head coach: Angus Eve

GK 1 Mario González RB 21 Bryan Tamacas  89' CB 4 Eriq Zavaleta CB 5 Ronald Gómez LB 13 Alexander Larín RM 6 Narciso Orellana  33' CM 7 Darwin Cerén  84' CM 12 Marvin Monterroza (c)  60' LM 8 Joshua Pérez  60' CF 14 Joaquín Rivas  83' CF 17 Jairo Henríquez  69' Substitutions: MF 10 Amando Moreno  60' FW 11 Juan Carlos Portillo  60' MF 15 Alex Roldan  69' FW 23 Marvin Márquez  83' MF 20 Isaac Portillo  84' FW 9 Walmer Martinez  89' Head coach: Hugo Pérez

Man of the Match: Jairo Henríquez (El Salvador)[11] Assistant referees:[12] Christian Ramírez (Honduras) Roney Salinas (Honduras) Fourth official: Oshane Nation (Jamaica) Video assistant referee: Armando Villarreal (United States) Assistant video assistant referee: David Gantar (Canada)

Guatemala vs Mexico

Guatemala	0–3	Mexico
	Report	Funes Mori 29', 55' Pineda 79'

14 July 2021 (2021-07-14)

22:30 (21:30 UTC−5)^{[note 1]}

Cotton Bowl, Dallas

Attendance: 15,391

Referee: Daneon Parchment (Jamaica)

Guatemala

Mexico

GK 1 Nicholas Hagen CB 3 Kervin García  60' CB 4 José Carlos Pinto (c) CB 20 Gerardo Gordillo RWB 13 Stheven Robles  82' LWB 2 Moisés Hernández CM 10 Alejandro Galindo  60' CM 18 Oscar Santis  20'  70' CM 23 Jorge Aparicio CF 14 Darwin Lom CF 19 Robin Betancourth  37'  46' Substitutions: MF 7 Marvin Ceballos  46' MF 16 Marco Domínguez  60' DF 22 José Morales  60' MF 17 Luis Martínez  70' MF 8 Luis de León  82' Head coach: Rafael Loredo

GK 1 Alfredo Talavera RB 21 Luis Rodríguez CB 2 Néstor Araujo  83' CB 3 Carlos Salcedo LB 23 Jesús Gallardo CM 16 Héctor Herrera (c)  85' CM 4 Edson Álvarez CM 14 Érick Gutiérrez  68' RF 10 Orbelín Pineda CF 11 Rogelio Funes Mori  83' LF 17 Jesús Manuel Corona  84' Substitutions: MF 6 Jonathan dos Santos  68' DF 19 Gilberto Sepúlveda  83' FW 9 Alan Pulido  83' FW 18 Efraín Álvarez  84' FW 7 Érick Sánchez  85' Head coach: Gerardo Martino

Man of the Match: Rogelio Funes Mori (Mexico)[14] Assistant referees:[12] Logan Brown (United States) Ojay Duhaney (Jamaica) Fourth official: Rubiel Vazquez (United States) Video assistant referee: Bakary Gassama (Gambia) Assistant video assistant referee: Drew Fischer (Canada)

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Mexico vs El Salvador

Mexico	1–0	El Salvador
L. Rodríguez 26'	Report

18 July 2021 (2021-07-18)

22:00 (21:00 UTC−5)

Cotton Bowl, Dallas

Attendance: 45,792

Referee: Said Martínez (Honduras)

Mexico

El Salvador

GK 1 Alfredo Talavera RB 21 Luis Rodríguez  70' CB 3 Carlos Salcedo  70' CB 15 Héctor Moreno (c) LB 23 Jesús Gallardo CM 16 Héctor Herrera  80'  86' CM 4 Edson Álvarez CM 14 Érick Gutiérrez  66' RF 17 Jesús Manuel Corona CF 11 Rogelio Funes Mori  76' LF 10 Orbelín Pineda  86' Substitutions: MF 6 Jonathan dos Santos  66' FW 9 Alan Pulido  78'  76' DF 5 Osvaldo Rodríguez  86' FW 7 Érick Sánchez  86' Head coach: Gerardo Martino

GK 1 Mario González RB 15 Alex Roldan CB 4 Eriq Zavaleta CB 5 Ronald Gómez LB 13 Alexander Larín RM 8 Joshua Pérez  87' CM 7 Darwin Cerén  3'  87' CM 6 Narciso Orellana  63' LM 12 Marvin Monterroza (c)  61' CF 14 Joaquín Rivas CF 17 Jairo Henríquez  75' Substitutions: MF 10 Amando Moreno  61' FW 9 Walmer Martinez  75' FW 11 Juan Carlos Portillo  87' MF 20 Isaac Portillo  87' Head coach: Hugo Pérez

Man of the Match: Mario González (El Salvador)[15] Assistant referees:[16] Walter López (Honduras) Christian Ramírez (Honduras) Fourth official: Reon Radix (Grenada) Video assistant referee: Allen Chapman (United States) Assistant video assistant referee: Selvin Brown (Honduras)

Guatemala vs Trinidad and Tobago

Guatemala	1–1	Trinidad and Tobago
Gordillo 78'	Report	Moore 12'

18 July 2021 (2021-07-18)

22:00 (21:00 UTC−5)

Toyota Stadium, Frisco

Attendance: 5,476

Referee: Oshane Nation (Jamaica)

Guatemala

Trinidad and Tobago

GK 12 Kenderson Navarro CB 3 Kervin García  53' CB 4 José Carlos Pinto (c) CB 20 Gerardo Gordillo RWB 13 Stheven Robles LWB 2 Moisés Hernández CM 18 Oscar Santis CM 10 Alejandro Galindo  46' CM 23 Jorge Aparicio CF 14 Darwin Lom  82' CF 7 Marvin Ceballos Substitutions: MF 5 Rudy Barrientos  46' MF 6 Óscar Castellanos  53' MF 17 Luis Martínez  82' Head coach: Rafael Loredo

GK 1 Marvin Phillip (c) RB 16 Alvin Jones CB 2 Aubrey David  89' CB 8 Mekeil Williams LB 18 Triston Hodge RM 14 Andre Fortune II  69'  85' CM 3 Hashim Arcia  75' CM 23 Jesse Williams  75' LM 11 Noah Powder CF 9 Marcus Joseph  67' CF 13 Reon Moore  86' Substitutions: MF 10 Kevin Molino  67' DF 17 Justin Garcia  75' FW 7 Ryan Telfer  75' DF 19 Ross Russell  85' FW 12 Isaiah Lee  86' Head coach: Angus Eve

Man of the Match: José Carlos Pinto (Guatemala)[17] Assistant referees:[16] Nicholas Anderson (Jamaica) Iroots Appleton (Antigua and Barbuda) Fourth official: Pierre-Luc Lauzière (Canada) Video assistant referee: David Gantar (Canada) Assistant video assistant referee: Benjamin Pineda (Costa Rica)

Discipline

Fair play points would have been used as a tiebreaker should the overall and head-to-head records of teams were tied. These were calculated based on yellow and red cards received in all group matches as follows:^[18]

• first yellow card: minus 1 point;
• indirect red card (second yellow card): minus 3 points;
• direct red card: minus 4 points;
• yellow card and direct red card: minus 5 points;

Only one of the above deductions was applied to a player in a single match.

Team	Match 1				Match 2				Match 3				Points
Guatemala	2				2								–4
El Salvador	1				1				2				–4
Mexico	1								4				–5
Trinidad and Tobago	1				2				2				–5

Notes

1. The Guatemala vs Mexico match, originally scheduled at 21:30 CDT (UTC−5), was delayed until 22:30 CDT due to torrential rain in the area.^[13]