After a long and grueling group stage in the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup the eight quarterfinal teams have been decided. The quarter-finals will start on Saturday and carry over into Sunday with some interesting matchups like USA/Canada in a rematch of the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League Finals. Elsewhere invited guests Qatar will clash with Panama, Mexico takes on Costa Rica, and Guatemala faces off with Jamaica, who are arguably the favorites on paper. However, several of the teams remaining have an argument that they could be considered as the favorites to bring home the title in 2023, like the USA who will be attempting to once again certify their status as the “Kings Of CONCACAF.”

Saturday Night (07/09/23)

Panama vs Qatar

Panama comes into this matchup against invited guests Qatar hoping to prevent them from making their second consecutive semi-finals appearance. They had a successful group stage as they went undefeated with a pair of wins and a draw in three matches. As they grabbed a couple of 2-1 victories over Costa Rica and Martinique before drawing El Salvador 2-2 in their final group stage matchup on Tuesday. 

Qatar ended up having a decent group stage after they finished second in their group behind a Mexico team they defeated in the finale last Tuesday. That victory over Mexico propelled them into the second spot in group B allowing them this matchup with Panama here on Saturday night. Now they will be hoping they can grab another victory over a CONCACAF mainstay and get themselves back to a second consecutive semi-finals after their impressive run in 2021 which saw them lose to the eventual champions, the United States in the semi-finals. 

My Pick: Qatar

Mexico vs Costa Rica

Mexico comes into this match up against Costa Rica after losing their last group stage game to Qatar. Prior to that loss they have looked like the best team throughout the tournaments so far with two dominating victories in group stage play. They still have an opportunity to reinsert themselves as the best team in this tournament with a convincing victory over Costa Rica here on Saturday evening. As Jimmy Lozano has El Tri, playing like a solid side at the moment after they were absolutely battered by the United States in the Nations League semi finals. 

Costa Rica will be looking to pull off the upset against Mexico here on Saturday evening as they look to capitalize off of a solid group stage. They split their three games with a single victory, a loss, and a draw and now they will be looking to put themselves into the semi finals of the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup. They scored a ton of goals throughout the group stage and led the way with seven, however, their defense was questionable at best as they gave up six goals, which is something that could come back to bite them against Mexico. 

My Pick: Mexico

Sunday Night (07/10/23)

USA vs Canada

The United States comes into this game looking to grab their second victory over their neighbors to the north in the last month. After a shaky start to the group stage with a 1-1 draw against on paper favorites Jamaica, they bounced back with massive victories over a pair of CONCACAF minnows. As they absolutely dismantled St.Kitts & Nevis and Trinidad & Tobago with two incredible performances from “The Pirate Of The Caribbean” Jesus Ferriera. The United States topped group A and now they have the advantage of playing a Canadian side that looked rough throughout their three group stage matchups. 

Canada will need to play much better than they did throughout the group stage if they want to grab a win against the United States. They looked lethargic and had a hard time producing goals throughout the first three games of the tournament and they will face a much tougher backline then they have all tournament long on Sunday night. One thing they did excell at throughout the group stage was not allowing goals either, which could keep them in this game against the United States. However, I just don’t see that happening, as I think the United States grabs a 1-0 victory with a late goal. 

My Pick: United States 

Guatemala vs Jamaica 

Guatemala comes into this game as the biggest underdog remaining in the tournament and they face the toughest test remaining when they play Jamaica on Sunday night. They will have to play their best game to date if they want to grab a victory over the Reggae Boyz and advance to the semifinal round of the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup. They had a fantastic group stage as they topped group D with seven points and went undefeated. They gave away the least amount of goals in the group but they will have to work on manufacturing some of their own here in this one. Their backline will face their toughest task yet against a front line full of English Premier League players. 

Jamaica had a solid showing throughout the group stage and they will be looking to keep the momentum rolling here in the opening game of the knockout rounds. They played to a 1-1 draw against the defending champions, the United States. Then they dismantled Trinidad & Tobago and St.Kitts & Nevis but finished second in the group on goal differential. They have a bit of a tougher test on Sunday night in the form of this Guatemala team. However, I still expect Jamaica to grab the victory and advance to the semifinals against the winner of the Mexico and Costa Rica matchup. 

My Pick: Jamaica