Canada Handed Tough Gold Cup Draw

The Canadian MNT came out of the hat in Miami yesterday in Group B for the 2021 Gold Cup, along with the USA, Martinique and probably Haiti, who must still negotiate the preliminary qualifiers.

You expect the Haitians, conquerors of Canada in last year’s quarter-final, to make it with preliminary opponents St Vincent & The Grenadines, Bermuda and Barbados all technically weaker nations.

Surprisingly after their semi-final showing at the last Gold Cup, Haiti was unable to qualify automatically for the 2021 edition, finishing outside the top two places in Nations League qualifying in a group they shared with Costa Rica and Curacao.

Qatar, controversial World Cup hosts in 2022, guesting in the tournament at the expense of another CONCACAF nation who would have done so otherwise, have been drawn in Group D, along with Honduras, Panama and Grenada.

Defending champions, Mexico, have been drawn in Group A and will face El Salvador, Curacao and possibly Trinidad & Tobago, who have yet to qualify.

Impact players likely to be involved in the tournament are Samuel Piette, Zachary Brault-Guillard and Shamit Shome.

The Gold Cup will be played between July 10 and August 1. Venues to be confirmed.

Photo by John Dorton/ ISI Photos/Getty Images