Coach Jesse Marsch downplayed suggestions ahead of the start of the Concacaf Gold Cup that Canada was the odds-on favourite to win the competition.  He’s right to be cautious about the hype surrounding a Canadian men’s team that has shown promise in several major tournaments in the aftermath of its appearance at the 2022 FIFA World Cup but has fallen short of going all the way.

Canada will look to get off on the right foot in CONCACAF Gold Cup play on Tuesday night when they host Honduras in Vancouver. The Gold Cup has been a staple of the continental football landscape since 1991. While the U.S., Canada and Mexico have dominated the tournament, it has given smaller countries the opportunity to play at a high level.

Costa Rica remains a veteran squad and has done well in World Cup qualifying so far, led by NYCFC striker Alonso Martinez and should be able to come away with the second spot in the group. The Dominican Republic are the likely fourth-place finisher here, given the top talents available on the other three teams.