Gold Cup - Haiti Observer Blog

The U.S. has been chosen for the fifth time to hold the 12th annual Gold Cup. Thirteen soccer fields will be filled with roaring fans over the three-week tournament in July. Soldier Field in Chicago will hold the final game.

Twelve teams will vie for the Gold Cup in the CONCACAF play-offs to challenge the 2015 Gold Cup winner in a one-match game. The winner will then play in the 2017 Confederations Cup.

The twelve teams are divided into three groups of four teams each, groups A, B, and C. Mexico heads group A, playing to retain the trophy. Its top player, Raúl Jiménez, in striker position, will play alongside Alfredo Talavera and six other teammates from the 2012 Olympics team: Darvin Chavez, Javier Cortes, Israel Jiménez, Marco Fabian, Miguel Ponce, and Jorge Enriquez. The Mexico team will be coached by Raúl Gutierrez.

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The Haitian soccer players James Marcelin was signed to FC Dallas on Friday where he will be playing as a midfielder. The terms of the deal were undisclosed and no official payments were made as an announcement. This will help in promoting other Haitian soccer players to play better soccer since the chances for international recognition are there.

The prolific player James Marcelin was born in Haiti on June 13, 1986. Marcelin began his career with Roulado when he was sixteen, helping the team to win the Ligue Haïtienne title in 2003, before moving to Racing Club Haïtien in 2007. In 2008, he moved to the Puerto Rico Islanders of the USL First Division, where he was limited in playing time in league games. However, he played heavily in Puerto Rico's 2008-09 CONCACAF Champions League games. In 2009, he became a regular first team starter. On February 11, 2010, the Portland Timbers (USL) of the USSF D2 Pro League signed James Marcelin to a one year contract for the 2010 season where he quickly established himself as a first-team regular.

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