[DoyleG]

This was a good debate and it should continue.

FIRE AWAY!!

[pugetsoundmls]

I'll bite on this 'cause people have had some good ideas in the past. Make it quadrennially with FC teams only with rotating host nations. I'm partial to those who want it to be 12 or 16 teams, but I say make it 8 teams for the short term, so it's an accomplishment for those who make it. With those 8 teams, I'd divide into two groups of 4, then advance the top two from each group into cross-group semifinals, then the final. The tourney could be completed in 3 weeks.

I'd change the qualifying process to make everyone take part. To make it simple, I'd go with 8 groups of 3 teams, with the winner of each group advancing to the Gold Cup. Groups of 3 instead of 4 because there is barely enough competition for groups of 3, and it keeps needless qualifying games to a minimum. The 4 qualifiers that a nation would play could be spread over about 16 months if really necessary. So seed the top sixteen teams in the region (ie. #1,#16 in group A, #2,#15 in group B), then have the last 16-20 teams in the region playoff to determine the final 8 teams to be added to the qualifying.

No doubt there will still be some mismatches in qualifying, but the likes of the U.S., Mexico, etc. could send their B teams if they believed they could get away with it. Also, it gives some of the mid table nations of the region another shot at the top teams, which might ultimately lead to a stronger confederation. If the minnows can't afford the travelling or have inadequate fields, then make them ineligible.

[deejay]

The main thing is that it keeps being played. We should do whatever is neccesary to keep it economically feasible.

[JG]

16 teams, no guests unless it's one of the top 10 teams in the world and they're bringing their A team. No need to change qualifying, just have more teams qualify from each zone.

Increasing the number of teams will improve the level of play across the confederation, and will also result in a better-organized tournament IMO.

[Captain Canuck]

The only change I would make right now is to get rid of the guest teams & make it Concacaf-only. I would keep it at 12 teams for the moment & if the tournament is a success with 12 Concacaf teams in it for the first time (& there aren't any ridiculous large-margin of error results) increase it to 16 for the next Gold Cup.

[sidspaceman]

I think they should rotate the host at least. Canada should host it at least once to see if they can maybe host a World Cup someday.

[Various Styles]

I would expand the Cup to 16 teams so that each group has 4 teams with the top two qualifying to the next round.. Also i would keep the invitation to South American teams because they also invite TFC teams to the Copa America.

To make sure that most teams bring their best possible squads the prize money should be better and maybe awards for the best striker, Keeper ect..

[empennage]

I would like to see the tournament held in different countries. It's all fine and dandy that they make more money in the US, but it's an unfair advantage for the US(and Mexico). The tournament should be about playing games, not about making money. By that I mean, it's ok to make money, just make sure that different countries get to host. I bet if it was held in Mexico, crowds would be pretty good.

[Davids26]

The thing I can't stand the most about the Gold Cup is the 4 groups of 3 format. If you're going to do a 12 team tournament, do what CONMEBOL does and make it 3 groups of 4 with the 2 best third place finishers moving on. A lot of the excitement of the tournament is taken away by this 3 groups of 4 nonsense.

As for lots showing up if the tournament was held in Mexico, yeah they'd probably show up for games involving Mexico, but otherwise most games wouldn't be very well attended. The US is so ethnically diverse and its the only neutral country where games like El Salvador vs. Jamaica might get a respectable crowd.

[bert patenaude]

Get a real TV contract so soccer fans can watch the tournament!