Qatar clearly wasn't as fit as the US, as they tired near the end, contributing to their loss IMO. Also they didn't have enough quality subs on the bench to effect the game. Qatars lack of depth will hurt them at the WC.
If anything Qatar should be embarrassed that they lost to what I consider our "C" team with a 4th string Keeper.
They didn't learn their lesson; Nicolás Leoz got greedy (with demanding appearance fees for Conmebol guest teams), Blazer got pissy, and all of a sudden, Gold Cup guests were no more and Mexico was forced to send Olympic teams to the Copa América.
Yes not a good look for the Asian champs to lose to a US B team and struggle against Panama and El Salvador.
Well, Qatar only made the quarterfinals of the 2023 Gold Cup. Although they did beat Mexico. With the World Cup in the past, why were they in this again? They are hosting the AFC Asian Cup (as defending champions) in about six months and are not looking good. Not even close to a favorite at this point. Will they be back at the super duper Gold Cup in 2025?
The original commercial agreement only mentioned Qatar participating in 2021 and '23... but then again, they're still sponsoring the Concacaf Nations League, so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Qatar will realistically get to the quarterfinals at the Asian Cup on home soil and get dumped out there. I think it's even debatable whether they are on current form a top 10 team in the AFC. They might be still but only JUST. Actually Qatar might be back at the 2025 Gold Cup as a compensation for missing out on the 2026 World Cup. I don't think Qatar will get any of the 8.5 Asian spots for 2026.
Not in the Men’s game, but Brazil is playing the final of the Concacaf W Gold Cup today against the US. Unless I’m missing something it could be the first time a confederation nations cup is won by a guest team.
Colombia should have beaten Canada in 2000 but like half the team had to go back to their clubs because they were not obligated to stay as a guest team. Including the star Keeper Calero who was way , way way, way better than the backup Gomez who never played every again for Colombia after that match.
BRA and USA feds are business partners in women's football. BRA is expected to dial it down tonight, and avoid further embarrassment to both their host and Concacaf. It is Concacaf's maiden women's confed tournament, during a WWC host election year no less. Back in the men's game, there are instances of guest teams in continental final matches. Context helps explain how that happened. One instance is CA 2001 at Colombia, where Concacaf had two semifinalists. Its final match was played between the host and MEX. People in parachutes disrupted that match, landing on the pitch while MEX attacked. (check 6:47) CA 2001 was marred by Conmebol's known ineptitude at scheduling international events, resulting in both ARG+CAN to drop out less than a week from kickoff. BRA+PER key players refused to participate, citing security concerns. BRA's Mauro Silva said: "This is the Fear Cup, not the Copa America"..."Bringing Copa America to Colombia, a country where 6 journalists were killed and 4000 persons were kidnapped this year alone, is an absurd decision". A BRA squad plagued by absences, lost 0-2 to HON in quarterfinals. HON was invited after ARG dropped out. HON squad arrived two days before their first match, on a Colombian military transport.