Bryan Ruiz, the 2016 CONCACAF player of the year, is a vital player for Costa Rica. (Troy Taormina/USA TODAY Sports)
The CONCACAF Gold Cup kicks off at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J. Friday with some of the confederation’s biggest stars and some familiar names and faces competing in a Group A doubleheader.
French Guiana faces Canada in the opening match at 7 p.m., with perennial Central American rivals Honduras and Costa Rica taking the field for the 9:30 p.m. nightcap.
Last year’s CONCACAF player of the year Bryan Ruiz (Sporting Clube de Portugal and Costa Rica) and Alberth Elis (Houston Dynamo and Honduras) are among the notable inclusions on the rosters.
New York City FC’s Rodney Wallace (Costa Rica) and the Cosmos’ Dejan Jakovic (Canada) represent local clubs on the Group A rosters.
Group B will kick off on July 8, in Nashville, Tenn. with a rematch of the 2015 Gold Cup third-place match between USA and Panama, followed by Martinique and Nicaragua.
Defending champion Mexico will begin its title defense in San Diego bd/ El Salvador as the second match of a doubleheader Sunday. Curacao and Jamaica will begin play in Group C in the first match.
Group A rosters
Canada
GOALKEEPERS (3): Jayson Leutwiler (Shrewsbury Town FC, ENG); Maxime Crepeau (Montreal Impact, CAN); Milan Borjan (MKS Korona Kielce, POL)
DEFENDERS (6): Manjrekar James (Vasas Budapest, HUN); Steven Vitoria (Lechia Gdańsk, POL); Dejan Jakovic (New York Cosmos, USA); Samuel Adekugbe (Brighton & Hove Albion FC, ENG); Adam Straith (FC Edmonton, CAN); Marcel de Jong (Vancouver Whitecaps FC, CAN)
MIDFIELDERS (13): Fraser Aird (Unattached); Samuel Piette (CD Izarra, ESP); Russell Teibert (Vancouver Whitecaps FC, CAN); Scott Arfield (Burnley FC, ENG); Tosaint Ricketts (Toronto FC, CAN); David Junior Hoilett (Cardiff City FC, WAL); Alphonso Davies (Vancouver Whitecaps FC, CAN); Jonathan Osorio (Toronto FC, CAN); Mark-Anthony Kaye (Louisville City FC, USA); Anthony Jackson-Hamel (Montreal Impact, CAN); Patrice Bernier (Montreal Impact, CAN); Raheem Edwards (Toronto FC, CAN); Michael Petrasso (Queens Park Rangers FC, ENG)
FORWARDS (1): Lucas Cavallini (CA Peñarol, URU)
Costa Rica
GOALKEEPERS (3): Dany Carvajal (Deportivo Saprissa, CRC); Leonel Moreira (CS Herediano, CRC); Patrick Pemberton (LD Alajuelense, CRC)
DEFENDERS (9): Johnny Acosta (CS Herediano, CRC); Francisco Calvo (Minnesota United FC, USA); Christian Gamboa (Celtic FC, SCO); Giancarlo Gonzalez (Bologna FC 1909, ITA); Kenner Gutiérrez (LD Alajuelense, CRC); Ronald Matarrita (New York City FC, USA); Bryan Oviedo (Sunderland AFC, ENG); José Salvatierra (LD Alajuelense, CRC); Michael Umaña (CS Cartagines, CRC)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Randall Azofeifa (CS Herediano, CRC); Joel Campbell (Arsenal FC, ENG); David Guzman (Portland Timbers, USA); Bryan Ruiz (Sporting Clube de Portugal, POR); Ulises Segura (Deportivo Saprissa, CRC); Yeltsin Tejeda (FC Lausanne-Sport, SUI); Rodney Wallace (New York City FC, USA)
FORWARDS (4): David Ramírez (Deportivo Saprissa, CRC); Ariel Rodriguez (Bangkok Glass FC, THA); Marco Ureña (San Jose Earthquakes, USA); Johan Venegas (Minnesota United FC, USA)
French Guiana
GOALKEEPERS (3): Donovan Leon (Stade Brestois 29, FRA); Simon Lugier (US Saint-Malo, FRA); Jean-Baunel Petit-Homme (US Matoury, GUF)
DEFENDERS (7): Inrick Baal (CSC de Cayenne, GUF); Jean-David Legrand (Stade Bordelais, FRA); Gregory Lescot (FC Chartres, FRA); Kevin Rimane (Paris Saint-Germain, FRA); Hugues Rosime (US Matoury, GUF); Anthony Soubervie (FC Chambly, FRA); Marvin Torvic (US Matoury, GUF)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Loïc Baal (ASM Belfort, FRA); Ludovic Baal (Stade Rennais, FRA); Marc Edwige (CSC de Cayenne, GUF); Cedric Fabien (Tarbes Pyrenees Football, FRA); Miguel Haaabo (AS Etoile Matoury, GUF); Florent Malouda (Delhi Dynamos FC, IND)
FORWARDS (7): Arnold Abelinti (JA Drancy, FRA); Roy Contout (Renaissance de Berkane, MAR); Schaquille Dutard (En Avant de Guingamp, FRA); Rhudy Evens (US Matoury, GUF); Jules Haabo (AS Etoile Matoury, GUF); Sloan Privat (En Avant de Guingamp, FRA); Mickaël Solvi (US Matoury, GUF)
Honduras
GOALKEEPERS (3): Ricardo Canales (CDS Vida, HON); Donis Escober (CD Olimpia, HON); Luis Lopez (Real CD España, HON)
DEFENDERS (8): Ever Alvarado (CD Olimpia, HON); Brayan Beckeles (Club Necaxa, MEX); Felix Crisanto (CD Motagua, HON); Henry Figueroa (CD Motagua, HON); Maynor Figueroa (FC Dallas, USA); Marcelo Pereira (CD Motagua, HON); Carlos Sanchez (CD Honduras Progreso, HON); Allans Vargas (Real CD España, HON)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Bryan Acosta (Real CD España, HON); Jorge Claros (Real CD España, HON); Carlos Discua (CD Motagua, HON); Oscar Boniek Garcia (Houston Dynamo, USA); Ovidio Lanza (Juticalpa FC, HON); Alex Lopez (CD Olimpia, HON); Alfredo Mejia (Xanthi FC, GRE); Sergio Peña (CD Real Sociedad, HON)
FORWARDS (4): Alberth Elis (Houston Dynamo, USA); Antony Lozano (CD Tenerife, ESP); Rony Martinez (CD Real Sociedad, HON); Romell Quioto (Houston Dynamo, USA)
