2000 CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup

2000 CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup
Name	2000 CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup
Other titles	2000 CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup
Country	United States
Dates	June 23 – July 3
Champion	USA
Second	BRA
Third	CHN
Fourth	CAN
Matches	16
Goals	64
Top scorer	USA Tiffeny Milbrett (7 goals)
Player	USA Tiffeny Milbrett
Prevseason	1998
Nextseason	2002

2000 CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup was the second edition of the premier women's football championship for the CONCACAF region, serving as the qualifying tournament for the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. Held across three cities in the United States, the competition featured eight teams, including three invited nations from outside the confederation. The tournament was won by the host nation, the United States, who defeated Brazil in the final, securing their place at the upcoming Olympic Games.

Background

The tournament was organized by CONCACAF and followed the successful inaugural 1998 edition. It was designed to crown the regional champion and determine the confederation's two representatives for the women's football tournament at the 2000 Summer Olympics. The event was part of a significant period of growth for women's football globally, following the landmark 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup hosted by the United States. The FIFA-sanctioned competition was held entirely in the United States, with matches staged in Foxborough, Louisville, and Hershey.

Format and qualification

The format consisted of an initial group stage followed by a knockout stage. The eight participants were divided into two groups of four teams each. The top two finishers from each group advanced to the semi-finals. For qualification, three spots were allocated to teams from the CONCACAF region based on performances in regional tournaments like the 1998 CONCACAF Women's Championship. Additionally, three guest teams from other FIFA confederations were invited to participate, a common practice to enhance competitive quality. The final two berths were filled by the host nation, the United States, and the defending champion, Canada.

Participating teams

The eight participating nations included five from the CONCACAF region and three invitees. The regional qualifiers were Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Trinidad and Tobago. They were joined by the automatic qualifiers: host United States and defending champion Canada. The invited teams, selected to raise the tournament's competitive level, were Brazil from CONMEBOL, and China and Japan from the AFC.

Group stage

In Group A, played at Foxboro Stadium, the United States dominated, winning all three matches against Trinidad and Tobago, Costa Rica, and China. Key players included forward Tiffeny Milbrett and midfielder Julie Foudy. China finished as group runners-up. Group B, contested at Cardinal Stadium in Louisville, saw a tight race between Brazil, Canada, and Japan. Brazil topped the group, with Canada advancing as the second-place team after a crucial victory over Japan.

Knockout stage

The semi-finals were held at Foxboro Stadium. In the first match, the United States faced Canada, winning decisively to secure their Olympic berth. The second semi-final featured Brazil against China; Brazil emerged victorious after extra time in a dramatic contest. The third-place match, also at Foxboro Stadium, saw China defeat Canada, claiming the bronze medal and the second CONCACAF qualification spot for the 2000 Summer Olympics.

Final

The championship final was played on July 3 at Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The United States, led by coach April Heinrichs, met Brazil in a rematch of the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup semi-final. The United States won the match, with Tiffeny Milbrett scoring the decisive goal. The victory marked the first CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup title for the United States and completed their successful qualification campaign for the Olympic Games.

Aftermath

The tournament successfully achieved its goal of qualifying two teams for the 2000 Summer Olympics, with the United States and China earning the berths. The performance of guest nations like Brazil highlighted the growing global depth in women's football. The event solidified the CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup as the confederation's premier women's competition. For the victorious United States, the triumph provided momentum for their subsequent gold medal-winning campaign at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.

Category:CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup Category:2000 in association football Category:2000 in women's association football Category:International women's association football competitions hosted by the United States