Unlike the World Cup, the CONCACAF Gold Cup often is contested by B and C teams due to vacation, injuries and youth callups.

“We have a lot of young players that need more opportunities to play real minutes,” Canada coach Jesse Marsch said ahead of this year’s championship of North and Central America and the Caribbean. “There’s a lot ways I think to use the tournament to broaden our player pool and to strengthen what we’re doing with our team.”

Defending champion Mexico opens the 16-nation event today against the Dominican Republic in a first-round group that also includes Costa Rica and Suriname. The reeling United States, on its first four-game losing streak since 2007, starts Sunday against Trinidad and Tobago, then plays invited guest Saudi Arabia and Haiti.

Canada is grouped with Honduras, El Salvador and Curacao, and Panama is together with Jamaica, Guatemala and Guadeloupe.

“We have the obligation of being the favorites. We have to accept that title,” Javier Aguirre, hired last summer for his third stint as Mexico’s coach, said through a translator.

Mexico has won nine Gold Cups, including 2023. The U.S. has won seven, including 2021, and Canada won in 2000. The tournament will be played at the same time as the Club World Cup, which has been given priority for players by FIFA.

“It’s not to say that if someone isn’t here now they won’t be here next year,” Aguirre said.

Gold Cup matches will be played at 14 stadiums in 11 areas, avoiding the Eastern seaboard. The championship is at Houston on July 6.

El Tri will be missing forwards Hirving “Chucky” Lozano and Henry Martín, who have hamstring injuries. Canada is without star winger Alphonso Davies, who tore his right ACL during the CONCACAF Nations League third-place game against the U.S. on March 23.

The Americans are without star Christian Pulisic (wanted time off); Yunus Musah (personal reason not disclosed); Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, Gio Reyna (headed to the Club World Cup); Antonee Robinson, Tyler Adams and Folarin Balogun (injured); and Sergiño Dest (regaining fitness).

Mexican president makes plea

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum urged U.S. officials not to target individuals attending today’s match between the Mexico and the Dominican Republic at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.

Dozens of workers have been detained by federal immigration authorities in a series of raids in LA’s fashion district and at Home Depot parking lots in Southern California. More than 100 people have been detained.

“We don’t believe that there will be any raids if there’s a soccer game,” Sheinbaum said Friday. “We call for no action from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.”

Usually, the Mexican national team attracts thousands of fans whenever they play in Southern California. In March, more than 50,000 fans attended a League of Nations semifinal against Canada.