# 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup Group A

Group A of the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup took place from 10 to 18 July 2021 in Arlington's AT&T Stadium, Dallas' Cotton Bowl and Frisco's Toyota Stadium. The group consisted of El Salvador, Guatemala, defending champions Mexico, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Originally, Curaçao would have played in this group. On 9 July 2021, Curaçao was removed as a participant due to close contacts with those tested positive to COVID-19 and replaced by Guatemala.

## Teams

| Draw position | Team | Pot | Method of qualification | Date of qualification | Finals appearance only Gold Cup era (since 1991) | Last appearance | Previous best performance only Gold Cup era (since 1991) | CONCACAF Rankings | CONCACAF Rankings | FIFA Rankings (May 2021) |
| Draw position | Team | Pot | Method of qualification | Date of qualification | Finals appearance only Gold Cup era (since 1991) | Last appearance | Previous best performance only Gold Cup era (since 1991) | August 2020 | July 2021 | FIFA Rankings (May 2021) |
| A1 | Mexico | 1 | CNL League A Group B 1st place | 15 November 2019 | 16th | 2019 | Winners (1993, 1996, 1998, 2003, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2019) | 1 | 1 | 11 |
| A2 | El Salvador | 2 | CNL League B Group B 1st place | 16 November 2019 | 12th | 2019 | Quarter-finals (2002, 2003, 2011, 2013, 2017) | 10 | 10 | 69 |
| A3 | Curaçao | 3 | CNL League A Group D 2nd place | 17 November 2019 | 3rd | 2019 | Quarter-finals (2019) | 13 | 12 | 76 |
| A3 | Guatemala | N/A | Next best-ranked team from GCQ | 9 July 2021 | 11th | 2015 | Fourth place (1996) | 9 | 8 | 127 |
| A4 | Trinidad and Tobago | 4 | GCQ winners | 6 July 2021 | 11th | 2019 | Third place (2000) | 12 | 13 | 103 |

### Notes

* ↑ The CONCACAF rankings of August 2020 were used for seeding for the final draw.
* ↑ CONCACAF rankings at the start of the tournament (as of 1 July 2021).

## Standings

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Mexico | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | +4 | 7 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | El Salvador | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 6 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 3 | Trinidad and Tobago | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | −2 | 2 | |
| 4 | Guatemala | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | −5 | 1 | |
In the quarter-finals:
* The winners of Group A, Mexico, advanced to play the runners-up of Group D, Honduras.
* The runners-up of Group A, El Salvador, advanced to play the winners of Group D, Qatar.

## Matches
### Mexico vs Trinidad and Tobago

| Mexico | Trinidad and Tobago |
| GK | 1 | Alfredo Talavera |
| RB | 21 | Luis Rodríguez |
| CB | 2 | Néstor Araujo |
| CB | 3 | Carlos Salcedo | | 53' |
| LB | 5 | Osvaldo Rodríguez | | 82' |
| CM | 16 | Héctor Herrera (c) |
| CM | 4 | Edson Álvarez | 11' |
| CM | 14 | Érick Gutiérrez | | 46' |
| RF | 17 | Jesús Manuel Corona |
| CF | 11 | Rogelio Funes Mori |
| LF | 22 | Hirving Lozano | | 18' |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 18 | Efraín Álvarez | | 18' |
| MF | 10 | Orbelín Pineda | | 46' |
| MF | 6 | Jonathan dos Santos | | 53' |
| MF | 23 | Jesús Gallardo | | 82' |
| Head coach: ||
| Gerardo Martino ||
| GK | 1 | Marvin Phillip (c) |
| CB | 2 | Aubrey David |
| CB | 4 | Jelani Peters |
| CB | 6 | Radanfah Abu Bakr |
| RWB | 16 | Alvin Jones | 45+6' |
| LWB | 19 | Ross Russell | | 46' |
| RM | 3 | Hashim Arcia | | 46' |
| CM | 17 | Justin Garcia | | 46' |
| CM | 23 | Jesse Williams | | 65' |
| LM | 18 | Triston Hodge | | 65' |
| CF | 13 | Reon Moore |
| Substitutions: ||
| DF | 8 | Mekeil Williams | | 46' |
| DF | 11 | Noah Powder | | 46' |
| MF | 10 | Kevin Molino | | 46' |
| DF | 15 | Neveal Hackshaw | | 65' |
| FW | 7 | Ryan Telfer | | 65' |
| Head coach: ||
| Angus Eve ||
* Man of the Match:
* Marvin Phillip (Trinidad and Tobago)
* Assistant referees:
* Juan Carlos Mora (Costa Rica)
* Roney Salinas (Honduras)
* Fourth official:
* Tristley Bassue (St. Kitts and Nevis)
* Video assistant referee:
* David Gantar (Canada)
* Assistant video assistant referee:
* Daneon Parchment (Jamaica)

### El Salvador vs Guatemala

| El Salvador | Guatemala |
| GK | 1 | Mario González |
| RB | 21 | Bryan Tamacas |
| CB | 4 | Eriq Zavaleta |
| CB | 5 | Ronald Gómez |
| LB | 13 | Alexander Larín |
| DM | 6 | Narciso Orellana |
| RM | 8 | Joshua Pérez | | 80' |
| CM | 7 | Darwin Cerén | | 64' |
| CM | 12 | Marvin Monterroza (c) | | 90+2' |
| LM | 11 | Juan Carlos Portillo | | 64' |
| CF | 17 | Jairo Henríquez | | 90+2' |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 15 | Alex Roldan | | 64' |
| FW | 23 | Marvin Márquez | | 64' |
| FW | 14 | Joaquín Rivas | | 80' |
| MF | 20 | Isaac Portillo | | 90+2' |
| FW | 9 | Walmer Martinez | 90+3' | 90+2' |
| Head coach: ||
| Hugo Pérez ||
| GK | 1 | Nicholas Hagen |
| CB | 20 | Gerardo Gordillo |
| CB | 4 | José Carlos Pinto (c) | 34' |
| CB | 2 | Moisés Hernández |
| RWB | 13 | Stheven Robles | | 80' |
| LWB | 22 | José Morales | 32' | 68' |
| RM | 11 | Jairo Arreola | | 58' |
| CM | 16 | Marco Domínguez |
| CM | 23 | Jorge Aparicio | | 79' |
| LM | 7 | Marvin Ceballos | | 69' |
| CF | 17 | Luis Martínez |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 18 | Oscar Santis | | 58' |
| MF | 8 | Luis de León | | 68' |
| FW | 19 | Robin Betancourth | | 69' |
| FW | 14 | Darwin Lom | | 79' |
| MF | 9 | Yeltsin Álvarez | | 80' |
| Head coach: ||
| Rafael Loredo ||
* Man of the Match:
* Alex Roldan (El Salvador)
* Assistant referees:
* Frank Anderson (United States)
* Kathryn Nesbitt (United States)
* Fourth official:
* Keylor Herrera (Costa Rica)
* Video assistant referee:
* Tim Ford (United States)
* Assistant video assistant referee:
* Allen Chapman (United States)

### Trinidad and Tobago vs El Salvador

| Trinidad and Tobago | El Salvador |
| GK | 21 | Nicklas Frenderup |
| CB | 8 | Mekeil Williams |
| CB | 2 | Aubrey David |
| CB | 4 | Jelani Peters | | 46' |
| RWB | 16 | Alvin Jones |
| LWB | 18 | Triston Hodge | 3' | 15' |
| CM | 20 | Duane Muckette | | 46' |
| CM | 15 | Neveal Hackshaw |
| CM | 11 | Noah Powder |
| CF | 10 | Kevin Molino (c) |
| CF | 7 | Ryan Telfer | | 77' |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 14 | Andre Fortune II | | 15' |
| MF | 13 | Reon Moore | 79' | 46' |
| FW | 9 | Marcus Joseph | | 46' |
| MF | 3 | Hashim Arcia | | 77' |
| Head coach: ||
| Angus Eve ||
| GK | 1 | Mario González |
| RB | 21 | Bryan Tamacas | | 89' |
| CB | 4 | Eriq Zavaleta |
| CB | 5 | Ronald Gómez |
| LB | 13 | Alexander Larín |
| RM | 6 | Narciso Orellana | 33' |
| CM | 7 | Darwin Cerén | | 84' |
| CM | 12 | Marvin Monterroza (c) | | 60' |
| LM | 8 | Joshua Pérez | | 60' |
| CF | 14 | Joaquín Rivas | | 83' |
| CF | 17 | Jairo Henríquez | | 69' |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 10 | Amando Moreno | | 60' |
| FW | 11 | Juan Carlos Portillo | | 60' |
| MF | 15 | Alex Roldan | | 69' |
| FW | 23 | Marvin Márquez | | 83' |
| MF | 20 | Isaac Portillo | | 84' |
| FW | 9 | Walmer Martinez | | 89' |
| Head coach: ||
| Hugo Pérez ||
* Man of the Match:
* Jairo Henríquez (El Salvador)
* Assistant referees:
* Christian Ramírez (Honduras)
* Roney Salinas (Honduras)
* Fourth official:
* Oshane Nation (Jamaica)
* Video assistant referee:
* Armando Villarreal (United States)
* Assistant video assistant referee:
* David Gantar (Canada)

### Guatemala vs Mexico

| Guatemala | Mexico |
| GK | 1 | Nicholas Hagen |
| CB | 3 | Kervin García | | 60' |
| CB | 4 | José Carlos Pinto (c) |
| CB | 20 | Gerardo Gordillo |
| RWB | 13 | Stheven Robles | | 82' |
| LWB | 2 | Moisés Hernández |
| CM | 10 | Alejandro Galindo | | 60' |
| CM | 18 | Oscar Santis | 20' | 70' |
| CM | 23 | Jorge Aparicio |
| CF | 14 | Darwin Lom |
| CF | 19 | Robin Betancourth | 37' | 46' |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 7 | Marvin Ceballos | | 46' |
| MF | 16 | Marco Domínguez | | 60' |
| DF | 22 | José Morales | | 60' |
| MF | 17 | Luis Martínez | | 70' |
| MF | 8 | Luis de León | | 82' |
| Head coach: ||
| Rafael Loredo ||
| GK | 1 | Alfredo Talavera |
| RB | 21 | Luis Rodríguez |
| CB | 2 | Néstor Araujo | 83' |
| CB | 3 | Carlos Salcedo |
| LB | 23 | Jesús Gallardo |
| CM | 16 | Héctor Herrera (c) | 85' |
| CM | 4 | Edson Álvarez |
| CM | 14 | Érick Gutiérrez | 68' |
| RF | 10 | Orbelín Pineda |
| CF | 11 | Rogelio Funes Mori | 83' |
| LF | 17 | Jesús Manuel Corona | 84' |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 6 | Jonathan dos Santos | 68' |
| DF | 19 | Gilberto Sepúlveda | 83' |
| FW | 9 | Alan Pulido | 83' |
| FW | 18 | Efraín Álvarez | 84' |
| FW | 7 | Érick Sánchez | 85' |
| Head coach: ||
| Gerardo Martino ||
* Man of the Match:
* Rogelio Funes Mori (Mexico)
* Assistant referees:
* Logan Brown (United States)
* Ojay Duhaney (Jamaica)
* Fourth official:
* Rubiel Vazquez (United States)
* Video assistant referee:
* Bakary Gassama (Gambia)
* Assistant video assistant referee:
* Drew Fischer (Canada)

### Mexico vs El Salvador

| Mexico | El Salvador |
| GK | 1 | Alfredo Talavera |
| RB | 21 | Luis Rodríguez | 70' |
| CB | 3 | Carlos Salcedo | 70' |
| CB | 15 | Héctor Moreno (c) |
| LB | 23 | Jesús Gallardo |
| CM | 16 | Héctor Herrera | 80' | 86' |
| CM | 4 | Edson Álvarez |
| CM | 14 | Érick Gutiérrez | | 66' |
| RF | 17 | Jesús Manuel Corona |
| CF | 11 | Rogelio Funes Mori | | 76' |
| LF | 10 | Orbelín Pineda | | 86' |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 6 | Jonathan dos Santos | | 66' |
| FW | 9 | Alan Pulido | 78' | 76' |
| DF | 5 | Osvaldo Rodríguez | | 86' |
| FW | 7 | Érick Sánchez | | 86' |
| Head coach: ||
| Gerardo Martino ||
| GK | 1 | Mario González |
| RB | 15 | Alex Roldan |
| CB | 4 | Eriq Zavaleta |
| CB | 5 | Ronald Gómez |
| LB | 13 | Alexander Larín |
| RM | 8 | Joshua Pérez | | 87' |
| CM | 7 | Darwin Cerén | 3' | 87' |
| CM | 6 | Narciso Orellana | 63' |
| LM | 12 | Marvin Monterroza (c) | | 61' |
| CF | 14 | Joaquín Rivas |
| CF | 17 | Jairo Henríquez | | 75' |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 10 | Amando Moreno | | 61' |
| FW | 9 | Walmer Martinez | | 75' |
| FW | 11 | Juan Carlos Portillo | | 87' |
| MF | 20 | Isaac Portillo | | 87' |
| Head coach: ||
| Hugo Pérez ||
* Man of the Match:
* Mario González (El Salvador)
* Assistant referees:
* Walter López (Honduras)
* Christian Ramírez (Honduras)
* Fourth official:
* Reon Radix (Grenada)
* Video assistant referee:
* Allen Chapman (United States)
* Assistant video assistant referee:
* Selvin Brown (Honduras)

### Guatemala vs Trinidad and Tobago

| Guatemala | Trinidad and Tobago |
| GK | 12 | Kenderson Navarro |
| CB | 3 | Kervin García | 53' |
| CB | 4 | José Carlos Pinto (c) |
| CB | 20 | Gerardo Gordillo |
| RWB | 13 | Stheven Robles |
| LWB | 2 | Moisés Hernández |
| CM | 18 | Oscar Santis |
| CM | 10 | Alejandro Galindo | 46' |
| CM | 23 | Jorge Aparicio |
| CF | 14 | Darwin Lom | 82' |
| CF | 7 | Marvin Ceballos |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 5 | Rudy Barrientos | 46' |
| MF | 6 | Óscar Castellanos | 53' |
| MF | 17 | Luis Martínez | 82' |
| Head coach: ||
| Rafael Loredo ||
| GK | 1 | Marvin Phillip (c) |
| RB | 16 | Alvin Jones |
| CB | 2 | Aubrey David | 89' |
| CB | 8 | Mekeil Williams |
| LB | 18 | Triston Hodge |
| RM | 14 | Andre Fortune II | 69' | 85' |
| CM | 3 | Hashim Arcia | | 75' |
| CM | 23 | Jesse Williams | | 75' |
| LM | 11 | Noah Powder |
| CF | 9 | Marcus Joseph | | 67' |
| CF | 13 | Reon Moore | | 86' |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 10 | Kevin Molino | | 67' |
| DF | 17 | Justin Garcia | | 75' |
| FW | 7 | Ryan Telfer | | 75' |
| DF | 19 | Ross Russell | | 85' |
| FW | 12 | Isaiah Lee | | 86' |
| Head coach: ||
| Angus Eve ||
* Man of the Match:
* José Carlos Pinto (Guatemala)
* Assistant referees:
* Nicholas Anderson (Jamaica)
* Iroots Appleton (Antigua and Barbuda)
* Fourth official:
* Pierre-Luc Lauzière (Canada)
* Video assistant referee:
* David Gantar (Canada)
* Assistant video assistant referee:
* Benjamin Pineda (Costa Rica)

## Discipline

Fair play points would have been used as a tiebreaker should the overall and head-to-head records of teams were tied. These were calculated based on yellow and red cards received in all group matches as follows:
* first yellow card: minus 1 point;
* indirect red card (second yellow card): minus 3 points;
* direct red card: minus 4 points;
* yellow card and direct red card: minus 5 points;
Only one of the above deductions was applied to a player in a single match.
| Team | Match 1 | Match 2 | Match 3 | Points |
| Guatemala | 2 | 2 | | –4 |
| El Salvador | 1 | 1 | 2 | –4 |
| Mexico | 1 | | 4 | –5 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 1 | 2 | 2 | –5 |