Gold Cup Soccer Tournament Starts Tonight at the Coliseum

A crowd of more than 40,000 is expected at the Coliseum tonight when international soccer returns to the city with the opening games of the Los Angeles Gold Cup, a six-team, 10-game tournament running through June 21.

In this evening’s first-round games, Club America of Mexico will meet Vasco da Gama of Brazil at 7 p.m., with Rosario Central of Argentina playing Guadalajara, the newly crowned Mexican champion, at 8:45 p.m.

Another first-round doubleheader will be played Sunday when A.S. Roma of Italy meets Club America at 11:30 a.m., followed at 1:30 p.m. by a game between Guadalajara and Dundee United of Scotland.

Next Wednesday at 11:30 a.m., Dundee United will play Argentine champion Rosario Central, with Vasco da Gama meeting A.S. Roma at 1:30 p.m.

The six teams have been divided into two groups of three. Club America, A.S. Roma and Vasco da Gama make up Group A. Group B is composed of Guadalajara, Dundee United and Rosario Central. The top two teams in each group will advance to the semifinals on Saturday, June 20.

In the semifinals, the winner of Group A will play the second-place team in Group B at 11:30 a.m., and the Group B winner will meet the Group A runner-up at 1:30 p.m.

On Sunday, June 21 at 11:30 a.m., the losers of Saturday’s games will meet at 11:30 for third place. The championship game is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.

The tournament features several internationally known players, including members of the Italian, Argentine, Polish, Brazilian and Mexican national teams.

The champion will receive a $60,000, 18-karat gold cup designed in Italy.