CONCACAF Gold Cup final scheduled for Aug 1 in Las Vegas

<p>MIAMI &mdash; This year’s CONCACAF Gold Cup final will be played on Aug. 1 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.</p>
<p>Most top players are expected to skip the tournament, which starts July 10. The Confederation of North and Central American and Caribbean Association Football announced the site Tuesday.</p>
<p>U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter says he will let his European-based regulars have vacation ahead of the start of the European club seasons and the opening of World Cup qualifying on Sept. 2.</p>
<p>Top young players from Mexico and Honduras will be at the Olympic soccer tournament in Japan, which runs from July 22 to Aug. 7.</p>
<p>The United States is in Group B with Canada, Martinique and the winner of qualifying among Haiti, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Bermuda and Barbados.</p>
<p>Defending champion Mexico is in Group A with El Salvador, Curaçao and the winner of qualifying among Trinidad and Tobago, Montserrat, Cuba and French Guiana.</p>
<p>Costa Rica, Jamaica and Suriname are in Group C with the winner of qualifying among Guatemala, Guyana, Guadeloupe and Bahamas.</p>
<p>Honduras, Panama, Grenada and invited guest Qatar, next year’s World Cup host, are in Group D.</p>
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