The 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament kicks off group stage play on June 15, as 16 nations will be competing primarily on American soil. The U.S. Men’s National Team seeks a repeat, having won the 2017 event.

The bulk of the games will be played in the United States, but San Jose, Costa Rica and Kingston, Jamaica will become the first cities to host a Gold Cup group stage match outside of the U.S., Canada or Mexico.

The United States hosted the Centenario (100th anniversary) Copa America in 2016, but this year both the Copa America and Gold Cup will be running concurrently. Mexico and the United States have often played in the South American event, but as two of CONCACAF’s leading representatives they will both be in the fight for the Gold Cup trophy this year.

The final will be July 7 at Soldier Field in Chicago, with Mexico and the U.S. both expected to go deep into the tournament as the top two soccer betting favorites according to top oddsmakers. That day will be the peak of this summer’s soccer because the FIFA Women’s World Cup, Copa America and Gold Cup will all hold their finals on July 7.

CONCACAF Gold Cup Odds

Mexico (7), the United States (6), and Canada (1) are the only nations to have claimed a Gold Cup trophy since the first tournament in 1991.

This year’s Gold Cup favorite is Mexico, though not far behind sits the USMNT. The two are the clear-cut favorites to win this year’s tournament, and then the lines really start to show a big discrepancy after that.

As mentioned, Costa Rica and Jamaica will, at least, get to host their opening round matches in group play. Those two teams sit third and fourth, respectively, on the odds board at +650 and +1400 to win.

Best Bet To Win The 2019 Gold Cup

Mexico is your favorite to win it all, and they should be expected to go on to win the title this year.

As easy as it sounds to just recommend the favorite to win an event, it will be hard to expect this field of competition to challenge El Tri in 2019.

If there is any indication in talent level for Mexico and the rest of this field, we can start by comparing Liga MX to the likes of MLS when the two meet in the CONCACAF Champions League. Mexican sides excel in that competition year after year. Yes, players are scattered among other leagues, but 17 players on Mexico’s 23-man roster play in Liga MX.

Of course, Mexico is the highest CONCACAF nation in the FIFA world rankings. Mexico enters the tournament ranked 18th on the planet, with the USMNT trailing behind at 24th. Costa Rica is the next highest ranked nation in the tournament at 38th, and Jamaica comes in 56th.

All the numbers add up to a Mexico win, so the best Gold Cup Futures Bet you can find is on El Tri to take the trophy at +125.

Best Longshot To Win The 2019 Gold Cup

This is a stretch, but that is the point of calling a longshot to win the event, right? Making a play on any of the teams outside of the top four on the big board will be a huge challenge.

Jamaica lands the role of possible spoiler over the U.S and Mexico, and they can start it at home when they begin group play in Kingston against Honduras. That will be a treat, and we can expect quite a showing at Independence Park on June 17 when group C action begins.

Costa Rica will certainly attract some attention from a few suitors listed at +800, as Los Ticos will assuredly take the top spot in group B – over Haiti, Nicaragua, and Bermuda – before moving on to the knockout stage.

Canada head coach John Herdman was seen on TSN during the recent Vancouver vs. Toronto MLS affair speaking of his confidence in his squad to present some issues in this year’s event. Canada can certainly ease its way into the knockout round with wins over Martinique and Cuba, though the meeting with Mexico on June 19 might leave the Canadians short on points.

If it comes down to looking for any other club besides Mexico to win this, Jamaica listed +1400 is your best longshot to win the 2019 Gold Cup.

Best Bet On Gold Cup Top Goal Scorer

One word is all it takes, and he goes by Chucky!

That’s right, your top contender to lead the tournament in goals is Hirving Lozano from Mexico.

The 23-year old Mexico City native scored three of Mexico’s goals in the 2017 Hexagonal, and his last two seasons at PSV have been stellar. He has tallied 34 goals with PSV over the past two Eredivisie campaigns to go along with his nine goals from 35 caps with the national team. With Mexico expected to go to the finals and play the maximum matches, Lozano wins the top goal scorer award at the 2019 Gold Cup.

Gold Cup Trends, History

Originally, the winner of the 2019 tournament was to face the United States in a one-match playoff, with the winner awarded placement into the 2021 Confederations Cup. But in February 2019, U.S Soccer president Carlos Cordeiro announced that the Confederations Cup will be scrapped, and that the Gold Cup might just go with it.

Will there be another Gold Cup played? There is still no official decision from the U.S. Soccer Federation and FIFA regarding Gold Cup play after 2021, though CONCACAF has stated that there are plans to keep it active at least through 2023.

In South America, Copa America will move to even years starting in 2020. There could be a South American/North American major tournament in the future, which could adjust the fate of both the Gold Cup and Copa America.