Concacaf Disciplinary Policy for the 2025 Gold Cup
Concacaf has clarified its disciplinary policy for the upcoming 2025 Gold Cup, indicating that players from the co-host nations—Canada, the United States, and Mexico—who are penalized with a red card will have to serve their suspensions during their next international friendly match, not during the crucial 2026 World Cup. This statement comes as a result of comprehensive consultations with FIFA, according to a Concacaf representative speaking to ESPN.
Recent Incident and Its Implications
The decision was prompted by the recent incident involving Canadian player Jacob Shaffelburg, who was shown a second yellow card leading to his ejection in a tense quarterfinal match against Guatemala, which ended in a heartbreaking loss for Canada via penalty shootout. Given that Canada will not be participating in the Concacaf Qualifiers due to its status as a World Cup host, Shaffelburg will sit out the Canadian team’s subsequent friendly but will be eligible for selection for their first match in the 2026 World Cup under head coach Jesse Marsch.
FIFA’s Disciplinary Code
FIFA’s disciplinary code, specifically Article 69.3, governs this rule, stating that for host nations not required to play qualifying matches, any match suspensions will transition to their next friendly before the end of the tournament. This affects players from all three host nations, meaning that any individual from either Mexico or the U.S. who receives a red card in either the semifinal or final of the Gold Cup will face a similar suspension in their next friendly.
Upcoming Matches
In the recent Gold Cup semifinals, the United States secured a spot in the final following a 2-1 victory over Guatemala, while Mexico is set to take on Honduras for their bid to reach the championship match, highlighting the competitive atmosphere leading up to the tournament and future international play.
