MIAMI, Florida – The group stage of the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup kicks off next week and one of the most competitive groups will be Group B.
Three teams that participated in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Panama, Brazil and Colombia, make up the group, and it could potentially be four should Haiti defeat Puerto Rico in the Prelims.
Panama qualified to the group stage as the winners of Group B of League A of the Road to W Gold Cup, fending off strong challenges from Guatemala and Jamaica.
Perfil del equipo 🔗 https://t.co/iNvULklv86
— W Gold Cup (@GoldCup) February 1, 2024
Panama have made great strides in their women’s football in recent years and boast two of the most dynamic attacking players in the region in Riley Tanner and Marta Cox, each of whom scored two goals in the RTWGC.
The Canaleras are already quite familiar with Brazil, having faced the 2022 Conmebol Copa America winners at Australia/New Zealand 2023 and falling 4-0 in their opening match. However, Brazil were unable to advance past the group stage, so they will no doubt be looking to rebound in the W Gold Cup.
¡Las esperamos, Canaleras! https://t.co/myrCE9Yth0
— W Gold Cup (@GoldCup) February 12, 2024
Debinha and Ary Borges are two names synonymous with success in women’s football. The former scored five goals, including the winning score in the Final, in the 2022 Copa America Femenina, while the latter registered a hat trick against Panama in that Women’s World Cup match.
The 2022 Copa America Femenina Final pitted Brazil against Colombia, with Debinha’s goal making the difference in a 1-0 Final. However, it was Colombia enjoying a more successful Women’s World Cup campaign by defeating the likes of Germany in the group stage and reaching the quarterfinals before bowing out to England.
One of the stars of the tournament was Colombian playmaker Linda Caicedo, who had two goals to follow up on her Best Player Award performance at the 2022 Copa America Femenina.
The fourth spot in Group B will come down to the Prelims match between Haiti and Puerto Rico. Haiti appeared in their first ever Senior Women’s World Cup last summer and followed that up with a second-place finish in Group C of League A of the RTWGC.
When it comes to Haiti, the first name that comes to mind is Melchie Dumornay, who had eight goals in the RTWGC and is one of the rising stars in women’s football. Nerilia Mondesir is a threat as well, evidenced by her six goals and eight assists in RTWGC.
Puerto Rico were second in Group A of League in the RTWGC and have a defense that can go toe-to-toe with anyone in the Americas. The anchor is GK Sydney Martinez, who had 18 saves in the RTWGC.
