Canada drawn in to Gold Cup group with El Salvador, Jamaica, and Costa Rica

Toronto based CanMNT fans got their wish on Thursday morning as the groups for this summer's Gold Cup were officially announced.  Canada were drawn in to group b which means that they will play their final match of the group stage in front of the home crowd at BMO Field.

Canada was drawn along with Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Jamaica in a group that will open in Los Angeles before moving to Houston and wrapping up in Toronto.  For Canada the schedule is as follows:

Canada v El Salvador @ Stub Hub Center - July 8, 2015

Canada v Jamaica @ BBVA Compass Stadium - July 11, 2015

Canada v Costa Rica @ BMO Field - July 14, 2015

It is certainly not the easiest draw for Canada as they will wind up facing three difficult opponents but they did manage to avoid Mexico and the United States while getting the added bonus of a game being played on home soil.  They will be hard pressed to finish in the top two in this group or to even finish as one of the top two third placed teams but if they want to go anywhere in this tournament or in World Cup qualifying the likes of El Salvador and Jamaica are countries that they have to start beating on a consistent basis.

The other two groups for the event are highlighted by the United States and Mexico.  The Mexicans seem to have been handed by far the easiest draw of the event as they will face Guatemala, Trinidad and Tobago, and Cuba in Group C while the Americans have a tougher round in Group A as they are paired with Panama, Haiti and the winner of a playoff between Honduras and French Guiana.

CONCACAF also announced that Baltimore and New Jersey will host the quarterfinals, Atlanta will host the semifinals, and Philadelphia will cap the event off by hosting the finals and the return of the third place match.  At stake in this event will be a place in the 2017 Confederations Cup as well as the final two CONCACAF places in the 2016 Copa America.