2018 CONCACAF Women's Championship

2018 CONCACAF Women's Championship
Name	2018 CONCACAF Women's Championship
Other titles	2018 CWC
Country	United States
Dates	4–17 October 2018
Champion	USA
Second	CAN
Third	JAM
Fourth	PAN
Matches	16
Goals	66
Attendance	101,899
Top scorer	USA Alex Morgan, USA Tobin Heath, CAN Adriana Leon, (3 goals each)
Player	USA Julie Ertz
Prevseason	2014
Nextseason	2022

2018 CONCACAF Women's Championship was the tenth edition of the premier international women's football competition organized by CONCACAF. The tournament, held from 4 to 17 October 2018 in the United States, served as the regional qualifier for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France. The top three finishers—the United States, Canada, and Jamaica—secured direct berths to the global finals, while the fourth-placed team entered a continental play-off.

Background

The tournament was organized by CONCACAF and acted as the official qualification pathway for the confederation to the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup. The format was expanded from the previous edition, with eight teams competing instead of six. The competition was hosted across three venues in the United States, marking the first time the event was held solely in one nation since the 2010 qualifiers. The event was part of a broader strategic effort by CONCACAF to develop women's football across North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.

Qualification

Qualification involved a series of regional tournaments. The host nation, the United States, received an automatic berth. The remaining seven spots were determined through preliminary competitions: the Central American qualifier and the Caribbean qualifier. Nations such as Costa Rica and Panama advanced from the UNCAF zone, while Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Cuba emerged from the Caribbean Football Union section. Canada and Mexico entered directly into the final tournament based on their FIFA Women's World Rankings.

Venues

All matches were played in three stadiums located in the Southern United States. The primary venue was Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, which hosted the opening match and the final. Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina, and H-E-B Park in Edinburg, Texas, were the other host sites. These venues were selected by CONCACAF and U.S. Soccer for their modern facilities and proven history of hosting major international soccer events.

Squads

Each participating national association registered a final squad of twenty players. The United States squad, coached by Jill Ellis, featured stars like Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, and Carli Lloyd. Canada's roster, managed by Kenneth Heiner-Møller, included captain Christine Sinclair and goalkeeper Stephanie Labbé. Notable players from other teams included Khadija Shaw of Jamaica, Raquel Rodríguez of Costa Rica, and Marta Cox of Panama.

Group stage

The eight teams were drawn into two groups of four. Group A consisted of the United States, Panama, Mexico, and Trinidad and Tobago. The United States dominated, winning all three matches, including a decisive victory over Mexico. Group B featured Canada, Jamaica, Costa Rica, and Cuba. Canada topped the group, while Jamaica finished second after a crucial win over Costa Rica, which featured a goal from Deneisha Blackwood. The top two teams from each group advanced to the knockout stage.

Knockout stage

The semifinals saw the United States defeat Jamaica 6–0, with Tobin Heath scoring twice. In the other semifinal, Canada overcame Panama 7–0, led by a hat-trick from Adriana Leon. The third place match was a historic affair, as Jamaica defeated Panama 4–2 on penalties after a 2–2 draw to qualify for their first-ever FIFA Women's World Cup. The final was contested between the United States and Canada at Toyota Stadium, where the United States won 2–0 with goals from Rose Lavelle and Alex Morgan.

Final standings

The final tournament standings determined 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification. Champion United States, runner-up Canada, and third-place Jamaica earned direct spots to the finals in France. Fourth-place Panama advanced to the inter-confederation play-off against Argentina. Individual awards were given to Julie Ertz (Best Player), Ashlyn Harris (Best Goalkeeper), and Crystal Dunn (Best Young Player).

Category:CONCACAF Women's Championship Category:2018 in women's association football Category:International women's association football competitions hosted by the United States Category:2018 in American soccer