Q2 Stadium could host U.S. and Mexican national teams among international field in global summer soccer tournament

Q2 Stadium will seat more than Verde fans for its inaugural season. The 20,500 stadium will also host national teams from around the globe as one of 11 hosts for the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup in July and August.

"It is an honor for Q2 Stadium, in its first year of operations, to be designated as one of the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup venues," Austin FC President Andy Loughnan said. "Austin FC and the greater Austin region look forward welcoming Concacaf and qualifying national teams to the world-class Q2 Stadium."

The Cup will feature 16 national teams, including the formidable Mexican Men's National Team, which are eight-time Gold Cup champions, and six-time champions U.S Men's National team.

While 12 teams from the Concacaf Nations League will join the cup, the final slots will be filled by Qatar, winner of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup and host of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The cup will also hold three more teams that will be decided during the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup Prelims on July 2-6.

Here are the preset group stage groups, which will kick off play July 10:

The Concacaf group stage was drawn in September of 2020. (Concacaf)

• Quarterfinal #1: Winner Group D vs Second Place Group A
• Quarterfinal #4: Winner Group B vs Second Place Group C
• Quarterfinal #2: Winner Group A vs Second Place Group D
• Quarterfinal #3: Winner Group C vs Second Place Group B
• Semifinal #1: Winner Quarterfinal #1 vs Winner Quarterfinal #4
• Semifinal #2: Winner Quarterfinal #2 vs Winner Quarterfinal #3
• Final: Winner Semifinal #1 vs Winner Semifinal #2

The best in the Concacaf region will battle it out in Las Vegas for the first time on August 1. Prelims will be held at the DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and will kick off July 2.

The Concacaf Gold Cup will conclude on August 1 in Las Vegas for the first time in history. (Concacaf)

Austin will be one of 11 hosts for the cup. As the city's first-ever major league soccer stadium, the event will mark history as the first Concacaf match in Austin.

"To host a competition of this caliber is a great honor," said Drew Hays, director of the Austin Sports Commission. "Austin is an event city, and the Concacaf Gold Cup further elevates our offerings. We are thrilled to welcome fans from North & Central America and to showcase the city during this bi-annual competition."

More information including matchups, ticketing and exact locations will be released in the coming weeks. The cup will be played in a "hub" format to ensure safe travel and lessen the risk of COVID transmission. To sign up for updates regarding the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup, click here.