The 2026 Women’s Gold Cup will mark the second edition of the tournament under its current branding by CONCACAF, showcasing the best women’s national teams from North America, Central America, the Caribbean, and invited nations from outside the region.
Following the success of the inaugural 2024 edition held in the United States, the 2026 tournament is expected to feature even more competitiveness and global interest.
Scheduled to take place in the United States in the summer of 2026, the tournament will be strategically held after the men’s 2026 FIFA World Cup, offering fans a unique year of back-to-back major football events. It will serve as a crucial development platform ahead of the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The 2026 Women’s Gold Cup, officially known as the CONCACAF W Championship, is the twelfth edition of the tournament and will take place in November 2026. Here’s everything you need to know:
2026 Women’s Gold Cup Format, Teams, Qualification, Teams, Host Cities, Broadcast
Table of Contents
Format and Qualification
Eight teams will compete in a single-elimination knockout format: quarter-finals, play-ins (for quarter-final losers), semi-finals, third-place match, and the final.
- Group Stage: The teams are seeded 1-8 based on the latest CONCACAF rankings. The quarter-finals pair the highest seed with the lowest, and so on.
- Knockout Round: After the quarter-finals, the four winners advance to the semi-finals, while the losers play in “play-in” matches for a second chance.
- Semi-final winners contest the final. There’s also a third-place match.
Teams
The teams will include the two highest-ranked CONCACAF sides (almost certainly the USA and Canada) and six group-stage qualifiers, but the final lineup will be confirmed after qualification is complete.
Host Cities and Venues
While official host cities have not been announced, it is expected that matches will be played across several major US cities with strong women’s football fan bases. Likely venues include:
- Snapdragon Stadium (San Diego)
- Exploria Stadium (Orlando)
- Dignity Health Sports Park (Los Angeles)
- Q2 Stadium (Austin)
Key Storylines to Watch
- USA’s dominance: Will the US continue their regional supremacy under a new generation of stars?
- Canada’s challenge: After Olympic gold in 2021, Canada will aim to bounce back and reclaim regional pride.
- Emerging nations: Look out for progress from Jamaica, Panama, and Costa Rica.
- Guest teams: Potential dark horses could come from South America or Europe, adding variety and competition.
Broadcast and Coverage
The 2026 Women’s Gold Cup will be broadcast across major sports networks like FOX Sports and Telemundo in the U.S., with streaming options available on Paramount+, ViX, and other regional platforms.
What is at stake in the 2026 Women’s Gold Cup for national teams?
The 2026 Women’s Gold Cup serves as the main qualifier for two major future events:
- 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil: The four semi-finalists qualify directly; two additional teams can earn a spot via inter-confederation play-offs.
- 2028 Olympic Games (Los Angeles): The two finalists qualify for the Olympics. If the USA reaches the final, the third-place winner also qualifies. Source: CONCACAF
How many teams are participating in the 2026 Women’s Gold Cup?
There will be 8 teams participating in the final tournament of the 2026 Women’s Gold Cup. 6 teams qualify through the Road to CONCACAF W Gold Cup (via group stage and play-in rounds within CONCACAF), 2 teams receive direct entry (those that qualify for the Summer Olympics) and 2 guest national teams invited from outside CONCACAF (from other confederations)
