The 1996 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the first iteration to have a guest from a different confederation, Brazil from CONMEBOL. In spite of bringing their under-23 team, Brazil finished as runner-ups to Mexico and outplaced 7 teams from CONCACAF. For the next decade, six countries from three confederations would make appearances in the Gold Cup, with seven of the eleven appearances finishing within the top four (Brazil in 1998 and 2003, Colombia in 2000 and 2005, Peru in 2000, and South Korea in 2002). During this time, the only teams from CONCACAF that placed 1st were Mexico in 1996, 1998, and 2003, the United States in 2002 and 2005, and Canada in 2000. However, starting in 2007, CONCACAF would no longer invite guests from other confederations. This is primarily due to giving more opportunities from teams in the region to compete, as there was a rise in performances from the region hinted by the FIFA World Ranking. Initially for 2021, the trend of no countries outside the region being invited would continue, until CONCACAF decided to invite Qatar, who would finish in the top four in 2021. This is mostly due to CONCACAF's collaboration with the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and as such Qatar would also be invited for 2023. As the United States defeated Mexico in 2021, all seven iterations with countries outside the region were won by CONCACAF members.