Panama, Puerto Rico and more kickoff Group B in San Diego

SAN DIEGO, California – The action doesn’t stop for the national teams at the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup, as Group B makes its debut on Wednesday evening at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego.

Panama vs. Colombia

After making history by reaching the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Panama will face their first challenge against Colombia after finishing as leaders of Group B in League A of the Road to W Gold Cup, in which they compiled an overall record of 2W-1D-1L in four games.

FW Marta Cox, who scored the first goal in Panama history at the Women’s World Cup and also scored two goals at the RTWGC, FW Riley Tanner, who scored two goals in RTWGC and has been a key piece in recent competitions, and GK Yenith Bailey, who is the anchor in the Canaleras’ goal, will all be in the spotlight.

Colombia has become a powerhouse in the last couple of years, finishing as runner-ups at the 2022 CONMEBOL Copa America Femenina. They also stunned the world with their performance at the WWC, getting to the quarterfinals.

There are several players that add depth and power to their squad. FW Linda Caicedo, chosen as the MVP of the 2022 Copa America Femenina, was the author of two goals at the WWC and is one of the pillars of the team, as well as FW Catalina Usme, who was part of the Best XI of the Copa America and scored two essential goals for Colombia in Australia.

Match Officials Panama vs Colombia

REF:    KATIA GARCIA (Mexico)

AR1:     ENEDINA CAUDILLO (Mexico)

AR2:     KAREN DIAZ (Mexico)

4TH:     SANDRA BENITEZ (El Salvador)

VAR:    DIANA PEREZ (Mexico)

VAR1:  AMAIRANY GARCIA (Mexico)

Brazil vs. Puerto Rico  

Arriving in San Diego as champions of the Copa America Femenina, runner-ups of the 2023 Finalissima and three wins in friendlies to teams like Canada, Japan and Nicaragua, Brazil is ready to fight to lift the first W Gold Cup trophy.

The depth of the squad of the Verde-Amarela includes names like FW Debinha, who scored five goals, including the winning goal against Colombia in the Copa America Femenina Final, while winning a spot in the Best XI. FW Ary Borges, author of the first hat-trick against Panama at the WWC, also played six games at the Copa America Femenina with two goals to her name.

Puerto Rico bounced back from a friendly defeat against Uruguay to down Haiti 1-0 in the Prelims, clinching their group stage spot in the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup. They will face Brazil for the first time in an official competition.

With 15 saves, GK Sydney Martinez, named the POTM in the Prelims against Haiti, was the key player for Las Boricuas to get their spot in the group stage, stopping every ball that came her way, including a penalty.

MF Jillienne Aguilera did not miss her chance from the penalty spot, scoring the goal that gave her team the win, while also finishing the game with 42 passes and two ball recoveries.

Match Officials Brazil vs Puerto Rico

REF:    NATALIE SIMON (USA)

AR1:     FELISHA MARISCAL (USA)

AR2:     MEGHAN MULLEN (USA)

4TH:     MERLIN VANESSA SOTO (Honduras)

VAR:    TATIANA GUZMAN (Nicaragua)

VAR1:  FRANCIA GONZALEZ (Mexico)