KINGSTON, Jamaica—Jamaica will open their Concacaf Gold Cup quest against Central American opposition Guatemala on June 16 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, it was announced on Friday.

Jamaica’s ReggaeBoyz were drawn in Group C of the 18th edition of the Concacaf Gold Cup that will be hosted by Canada and the United States between June 14 and July 6 later this year, on Thursday.

The Steve McClaren-coached team will then play Guadeloupe on June 20 at PayPal Park, San Jose, California, before completing their first round against group favourites Panama on June 24 at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas.

The top two teams from each of the four first-round groups will advance to the quarterfinals to be played June 28 and 29.

After being eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Nations League, Jamaica had to qualify for the Gold Cup by beating St Vincent and the Grenadines in the home and away preliminary round.

Jamaica played Guatemala at the quarterfinals of the last Gold Cup and beat them 1-0 with a goal from Amari’i Bell.

The ReggaeBoyz have also had success against the other teams in the group at the Gold Cup, beating Panama 1-0 in the quarter-finals in 2019 and also edged Guadeloupe 2-1 at the 2021 Gold Cup.

—Paul Reid