Brazil to Play in CONCACAF Gold Cup

Brazil, soccer’s reigning World Cup champion, will bring its full national team to the United States Feb. 1-15 for the fourth CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament, to be played at the Los Angeles Coliseum, the Oakland Coliseum and the Orange Bowl in Miami.

Details of the tournament, which also features defending champion Mexico, the United States and seven other nations, were revealed at a Los Angeles news conference Tuesday.

Under Coach Mario Zagalo, Brazil finished second in the most recent Gold Cup, losing, 2-0, to Mexico in the final before 88,155 fans at the Coliseum in early 1996. Zagalo brought the Brazilian Olympic team to that tournament in preparation for the Atlanta Games, where it won the bronze medal. This time, he is bringing the World Cup team.

Brazil will play in Group 1, which also has Canada, El Salvador and Guatemala. The top two teams advance to the semifinals after round-robin play.

The United States is in Group 3, along with Costa Rica and either Cuba or St. Kitts and Nevis. The latter two will play off for the 10th berth in the tournament. The group winner advances to the semifinals.

Mexico is in Group 2 with Honduras and Trinidad and Tobago. Again, only the winner advances.

Exact dates and times have yet to be determined; the tournament will open in Oakland and close in Los Angeles.

The United States won the inaugural Gold Cup under Coach Bora Milutinovic in 1991. Mexico won in 1993 and successfully defended its title, under Milutinovic, in 1996.