CONCACAF names venues for 2017 Gold Cup

LOS ANGELES - The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) announced Monday that it has selected four first-time hosts among its 14 venues to stage the 2017 Gold Cup tournament. The four hosts comprise the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas; FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio; Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California; and Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. We’re excited to bring the Gold Cup to new markets across the country, CONCACAF general secretary Philippe Moggio said. «These cities have all proved ready and eager to host our region’s marquee international soccer championship, and welcome world class soccer next summer. CONCACAF also announced that the USA has been placed in Group B. The Americans will be playing with new manager Bruce Arena at the helm. The USA will play its group-stage games at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium on July 8, Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium on July 12, and Cleveland’s FirstEnergy Stadium on July 15. Mexico has been placed in Group C and will play its third game of the group stage on July 16 at the San Antonio Alamodome. Mexico begins play in San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium on July 9, which will be followed by a contest at Denver’s Sports Authority Field on July 13. So far, seven of the 12 national teams scheduled to participate have qualified for next year’s tournament, with Canada, Mexico and the United States automatically qualifying to represent North America. Monday’s announcement was only a partial release of the schedule. The full timetable, including selection of dates and details of matches for the knockout round and final, will be announced next year. Sundowns among eight African champions in draw Title-holder Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa is among eight winners of the CAF Champions League who will compete in the premier African club competition next season. The draws for the 2017 preliminary and first rounds are scheduled to be made in Cairo Wednesday, officials from several national football associations told AFP. Only Al-Ahly of Egypt, TP Mazembe from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Enyimba of Nigeria have staged successful defenses since the 1964 launch of the Champions League. Enyimba, the only Nigerian outfit to conquer the continent in the premier club competition, triumphed in 2003 and 2004. A further eight defending champions reached successive Finals, but had to settle for runners-up prizes. Record eight-time title-holder Ahly, fellow Egyptian side Zamalek and Esperance and Etoile Sahel of Tunisia are among the teams which will challenge Sundowns, the second African champions from South Africa after Orlando Pirates. Mazembe and V Club of DR Congo and Wydad Casablanca of Morocco complete the list of former winners who have confirmed their participation.