2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup — 2005 edition of the association football competition CONCACAF Gold Cup
The 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup saw the United States defeat Panama on penalties in the final, marking the last Gold Cup with non-CONCACAF guest teams until 2021.
Key Facts
- Edition
- 8th CONCACAF Gold Cup
- Host country
- United States
- Tournament date
- July 2005
- Final result
- USA 3–1 Panama (penalties, 0–0 after extra time)
- Tournament MVP
- Luis Tejada (Panama)
- Guest teams
- Colombia and South Africa
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
CONCACAF organized the eighth edition of its regional championship, reformatting from four groups of three teams to three groups of four, reducing the chance of teams advancing via coin toss and adding an extra group-stage match per team. Several top players and starters from leading nations declined to participate.
Held in the United States in July 2005, the tournament featured 12 teams across three groups. Matches in Miami's Group A were postponed due to Hurricane Dennis. The United States and Panama advanced to the final, which ended 0–0 after extra time before the U.S. won 3–1 on penalties. Luis Tejada of Panama was named tournament MVP.
The United States claimed the Gold Cup title, while Panama's unexpected run to the final drew attention to smaller CONCACAF nations. The 2005 edition proved to be the last Gold Cup to include guest participants from outside CONCACAF confederations until the 2021 tournament.