Seeing Brazil and the United States embarrass Trinidad & Tobago and Costa Rica by an aggregate score of 38-0 in four matches immediately calls into question the merits of a Gold Cup tournament in women’s soccer.
Organized by The Football Confederation (formerly CONCACAF), the Gold Cup is intended to be a championship of North and Central America and the Caribbean. But without the high-profile guest teams – Brazil and China – there would have been no contest. The United States and Canada might as well play each other four times.
The real value of the inaugural Gold Cup, however, may not be seen for several years. The only way for fledgling women’s national team programs to improve is by playing in tournaments such as these.
Mexico showed it has made strides since last year’s World Cup and will be encouraged by its showing here. Trinidad & Tobago coach Anthony Best said he wants to get as many of his players as possible onto U.S. college teams. A limited development plan, perhaps, but it’s a start.
It was just 15 years ago that the United States women were invited to play their first four international matches as a national team in Italy – losing three and tying one.
The Football Confederation made a bold and commendable statement by offering the same prize money it had for the men’s Gold Cup: $150,000 for first place, $100,000 for second, $75,000 for third, $50,000 for fourth and $37,500 for the other four teams. Whether those moneys remain next time after an average attendance of 9,823 over eight dates will be interesting.
Was it really a championship of North and Central America and the Caribbean? No. Is it a good idea anyway? Yes. If women’s soccer is ever to become a global sport like men’s soccer, tournaments like the Gold Cup are a necessity.
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