The 2014 CONCACAF Women's Championship, the ninth edition of the CONCACAF Women's Championship/Gold Cup/Women's World Cup qualifying tournament, was a women's soccer tournament that took place in the United States between October 15 and 26, 2014. It served as CONCACAF's qualifier to the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup. The top three teams qualified directly. The fourth placed team advanced to a play-off against the third placed team of the 2014 Copa América Femenina.

The qualifying to the tournament was organized by the Central American Football Union (UNCAF) in Central America and the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) in the Caribbean and started on May 19, 2014.

The United States and Mexico received byes into the tournament. A total of 30 teams entered qualifying, with Martinique and Guadeloupe not eligible for World Cup qualification as they are only members of CONCACAF and not FIFA. Therefore, a total of 28 teams were in contention for the three direct places plus the play-off place against CONMEBOL's Ecuador.Qualifiers Canada did not participate as they already qualified to the World Cup as hosts.

The United States defeated Costa Rica 6–0 in the final to win their seventh title.

Qualifying

North America North American Football Union members Mexico and the United States gained direct entry to the final tournament. Canada did not participate as they already qualified to the World Cup as hosts. (2010 Runner-up) (Host, 2010 Third place)

Central America The qualification was played between May 19 and 25. (Group 1 winner) (Group 2 winner)

Caribbean The inaugural Women's Caribbean Cup served as the qualifying event. Four nations advanced to the CONCACAF finals. Qualifying to the Women's Caribbean Cup took place from May 23 to June 22. The finals were played in August 2014. The group stage draw was published in April 2014. (Group A runner-up) (Group A winner) (Group B runner-up) (Group B winner)

Final tournament Eight teams were divided in two groups and play a round-robin tournament. The top two placed teams advanced to the semifinals. The losers of those semifinals played in the third place match, while the winners faced off in the final. The top three placed teams qualified directly to the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.

However, as Martinique is not a member of FIFA – since it is an overseas department of the French Republic – it is therefore not eligible to qualify. It was announced during the Final Draw on September 5 that Martinique would not be able to advance beyond the group round, and that the next best team would take their place in the semifinals should they finish in the top two in their group.

Venues The tournament was played in four venues.

Washington, D.C. Bridgeview, Illinois Kansas City, Kansas RFK Stadium Toyota Park Sporting Park Capacity: 45,596 Capacity: 20,000 Capacity: 18,467 Chester, Pennsylvania PPL Park Capacity: 18,500 RFK Stadium, Toyota Park and Sporting Park hosted group stage matches, while PPL Park hosted the semifinals, the third-place match and the final.

Squads

Group stage The teams are ranked according to points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, 0 points for a loss). If tied on points, tiebreakers are applied in the following order: Greater number of points in matches between the tied teams. Greater goal difference in matches between the tied teams (if more than two teams finish equal on points). Greater number of goals scored in matches among the tied teams (if more than two teams finish equal on points). Greater goal difference in all group matches. Greater number of goals scored in all group matches. Drawing of lots.

Group A

Group B

Knockout stage In the knockout stage, if a match is level at the end of normal playing time, extra time is played (two periods of 15 minutes each) and followed, if necessary, by penalty shoot-out to determine the winner. The top three teams qualified directly to the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup. The fourth placed team advanced to a play-off against the third placed team of the 2014 Copa América Femenina.

Bracket

Semifinals Winners qualified for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Third place match Winner qualified for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup. Loser entered CONMEBOL–CONCACAF play-off.

Final

Awards The following awards were given at the conclusion of the tournament.

AwardPlayerGolden Ball Carli LloydGolden Boot Abby WambachGolden Gloves Hope SoloFair Play Award

+All-star teamGoalkeepersDefendersMidfieldersForwards Hope Solo Diana Saenz Christie Rampone Whitney Engen Meghan Klingenberg Kennya Cordner Carli Lloyd Shirley Cruz Traña Christen Press Abby Wambach Charlyn Corral

Goalscorers 7 goals Abby Wambach

5 goals Carli Lloyd

4 goals Carolina Venegas Charlyn Corral

3 goals

Raquel Rodríguez Donna-Kay Henry Stephany Mayor Mónica Ocampo Kennya Cordner

2 goals

Shakira Duncan Christina Murray Luz Duarte Tobin Heath Christen Press

1 goal

Wendy Acosta Shirley Cruz Traña Fabiola Sanchez María Monterroso Lindsay Zullo Alexa Allen Prisca Carin Alina Garciamendez Dinora Garza Teresa Noyola Tanya Samarzich Maylee Atthin-Johnson Lauryn Hutchinson Mariah Shade Morgan Brian Whitney Engen Meghan Klingenberg Sydney Leroux Megan Rapinoe

1 own goal Johanne Guillou (playing against Mexico)

References

External links World Cup Qualifying – Women, CONCACAF.com