If you’re trying to figure out where is the Gold Cup being played, you aren't alone. CONCACAF—the governing body for soccer in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean—loves to keep fans on their toes. But we finally have the map.
It’s happening in the United States and Canada.
This isn't just another tournament. The 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup is basically a massive dress rehearsal. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup looming on the horizon, the choice of venues for this summer’s tournament tells a very specific story about who is ready for the world stage and who is still catching up. We are looking at 14 different host cities and 16 specific stadiums. Some are legendary NFL cathedrals. Others are cozy, soccer-specific gems that give you that "right on top of the pitch" feeling.
The West Coast Dominance
Honestly, the West Coast is doing a lot of the heavy lifting this time around. If you’re a fan in California or the Pacific Northwest, you’re in luck.
PayPal Park in San Jose and SnapDragon Stadium in San Diego are both on the list. These aren't the massive 70,000-seat monsters, but they offer an atmosphere that big stadiums often lack. It feels intimate. You can hear the players yelling. Then you've got the heavy hitters like SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. If you haven't seen a game there, it’s basically a spaceship. It’s expensive, it’s flashy, and it’s where the final was held in 2023 when Mexico beat Panama.
But don't overlook Vancouver. BC Place is representing Canada, and if the roof is open on a clear night, there isn't a better place to watch a match in North America.
Why the West?
It’s mostly about logistics and the massive diaspora of fans. Groups involving Mexico or the USMNT usually draw better crowds in these regions. CONCACAF isn't just looking for empty seats; they want "dos a cero" energy. They want drums, smoke, and sell-outs.
The Major Stadium List for 2025
When people ask where is the Gold Cup being played, they usually want the specific dirt and grass. Here is the breakdown of the 16 venues confirmed for the 2025 edition:
- AT&T Stadium – Arlington, TX (The "Jerry World" experience)
- Dignity Health Sports Park – Carson, CA
- Inter&Co Stadium – Orlando, FL
- Levi’s Stadium – Santa Clara, CA
- NRG Stadium – Houston, TX
- PayPal Park – San Jose, CA
- Shell Energy Stadium – Houston, TX
- SoFi Stadium – Inglewood, CA
- State Farm Stadium – Glendale, AZ
- U.S. Bank Stadium – Minneapolis, MN
- BC Place – Vancouver, Canada
- Allegiant Stadium – Las Vegas, NV
- Bank of America Stadium – Charlotte, NC
- CityPark – St. Louis, MO
- Geodis Park – Nashville, TN
- Snapdragon Stadium – San Diego, CA
Wait. Notice anything?
No New York. No Miami. No Boston.
This is a deliberate shift toward the West and the South. By skipping the Northeast corridor, CONCACAF is leaning into the massive growth of soccer in cities like St. Louis and Nashville. If you haven't been to CityPark in St. Louis yet, you're missing out. It’s arguably the best soccer-specific stadium in the country right now. The fans there are knowledgeable, and the sightlines are perfect.
The Heat Factor: Summer in Texas and Arizona
Playing soccer in Houston or Phoenix in July is... a choice.
Luckily, most of these venues are climate-controlled. NRG Stadium and State Farm Stadium have roofs. If they didn't, we’d be looking at "cooling breaks" every ten minutes. It’s a reality of modern CONCACAF scheduling. They need the big capacity of NFL stadiums, but they also need to make sure the players don't literally melt on the pitch.
In 2023, we saw some criticism regarding the turf quality in these multi-purpose venues. It’s a valid point. NFL stadiums use synthetic turf often, but for the Gold Cup, they usually lay down temporary grass. Sometimes it’s great. Sometimes it’s a disaster where the sod shifts under a player's foot. Keep an eye on the pitch conditions in Arlington and Houston; they usually tell the story of the game before the whistle even blows.
A Quick Sidebar on Canada
The inclusion of BC Place is huge. Usually, the Gold Cup is a purely "USA-hosted" affair with maybe one or two games elsewhere. Having Vancouver in the mix is a nod to the 2026 World Cup co-hosting duties. It’s a chance for the Canadian organizers to prove they can handle the influx of international media and security requirements that come with a major tournament.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Host Cities
People think the locations are chosen based on "fairness" to the teams.
They aren't.
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They are chosen based on ticket sales and TV time zones. Mexico is the biggest draw in the tournament. Period. That is why you see so many games in Texas, California, and Arizona. The organizers know that El Tri will sell out a 70,000-seat stadium regardless of who they are playing. If you put a Mexico vs. Martinique game in a small stadium in New England, you’re leaving millions of dollars on the table.
Also, the "home field advantage" for the USMNT is a bit of a myth in this tournament. When the US plays in Houston or Los Angeles, the crowd is often 70% in favor of the opponent if they are playing a Central American or Mexican side. That’s the beauty of where the Gold Cup is being played—it’s a melting pot. It feels like a neutral site even when it’s on American soil.
The Financial Engine Behind the Venues
Each of these cities paid a premium to be part of the rotation. Sports commissions in places like Charlotte and Las Vegas view this as a tourism goldmine. Fans travel. They stay in hotels. They buy overpriced beer.
For a city like Las Vegas, Allegiant Stadium has become a soccer mecca almost overnight. It hosted the Nations League finals and previous Gold Cup finals. The "Silver State" is basically the new home of high-stakes CONCACAF drama because the infrastructure is there to handle the "Las Vegas" version of a tailgate.
Traveling for the Games? Read This.
If you are planning to follow your team, you need to be smart about the logistics.
- Check the "Doubleheaders": Historically, CONCACAF loves putting two games on the same day in the same stadium. You get two matches for the price of one ticket. It’s a long day, but it’s the best value in international sports.
- The Houston Trap: Houston has two stadiums listed—NRG and Shell Energy. They are not next to each other. Don't go to the wrong one. Shell Energy is where the Dynamo play; it’s smaller and outdoors. NRG is the massive indoor dome.
- Hydration is No Joke: Even with the roofs, the "fan zones" outside the stadiums in places like Glendale, AZ, can hit 110 degrees. Wear linen. Drink water.
The Road to the Final
While the group stages are spread out, the knockout rounds tend to gravitate toward the big markets. Expect the Quarterfinals and Semifinals to be split between the Texas hubs (Arlington/Houston) and the California giants (SoFi/Levi’s).
The Final is the crown jewel. While the official 2025 Final location is often announced later in the cycle to build hype, the frontrunners are almost always SoFi Stadium or Allegiant Stadium. They have the luxury suites and the "glitz" factor that CONCACAF leadership craves.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're serious about attending or just want to stay ahead of the curve, here is what you should do right now:
- Sign up for the CONCACAF "Pre-Sale" list: Tickets for the Gold Cup go fast, especially for Mexico and USA matches. Being on the official email list is the only way to get tickets at face value before the resellers hike the prices by 300%.
- Book Refundable Travel: Since the specific matchups for each city aren't locked in until the draw (usually held in the spring), book hotels in the hub cities like Houston or Los Angeles now, but make sure they have a 24-hour cancellation policy.
- Monitor the FIFA 2026 Updates: Several of the Gold Cup venues are also 2026 World Cup venues. Use this tournament as a "test run" to see which stadiums have the best parking, transit, and seating if you plan on attending the World Cup.
The geography of this tournament is shifting. By looking at where is the Gold Cup being played, we can see a clear pivot toward the Southern and Western United States, creating a high-energy corridor that will likely define the sport in North America for the next decade. Keep your eyes on the schedule and your bags packed.