The 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup was the sixth edition of the Gold Cup, the soccer championship of North America, Central America and the Caribbean (CONCACAF). This was the last Gold Cup to be played in an even-numbered year and in the first two months of a calendar year; since 2003 the tournament has been played every odd-numbered year's June and/or July.
The tournament was once again held in the United States, in Miami and Pasadena. The format of the tournament stayed the same as in 2000: twelve teams were split into four groups of three. The top two teams in each group would advance to the quarterfinals. Ecuador and South Korea were invited from outside CONCACAF.
Canada, who rode the coin toss all the way to winning the 2000 Cup, needed luck once again, as all games in Group D ended with a 2âÂÂ0 result. Lots were drawn, with Canada and Haiti moving on to the next round; Ecuador did not. But the Canadian team's luck ran dry in the semifinals, as the U.S. beat them on penalties after tying 0âÂÂ0. The United States then met Costa Rica in the final and topped them 2âÂÂ0 behind goals by Josh Wolff and Jeff Agoos for their first tournament win since 1991.
During the tournament, Cuban players Alberto Delgado and Rey ÃÂngel MartÃÂnez defected from Cuba to the United States.
A qualification playoff to determine the final Gold Cup entrant was held in July and August 2001.
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Cuba won 1âÂÂ0 on aggregate.<section end=qualifier />
The 12 national teams involved in the tournament were required to register a squad of 18 players; only players in these squads were eligible to take part in the tournament.
The following awards were given at the conclusion of the tournament.
Source:
4 goals
3 goals
2 goals
1 goal
Own goals