The USPA Gold Cup is the second leg of the Gauntlet of Polo, American polo’s Triple Crown. Played at the USPA National Polo Center in Wellington, Florida, the 2026 edition runs from March 4 through March 29. It bridges the C.V. Whitney Cup, which concludes March 1, and the U.S. Open, which begins April 1, creating an unbroken stretch of elite 22-goal polo across three months.
The Gold Cup follows a league-plus-knockout format across 6-chukker matches. Teams that advanced through the Whitney Cup often carry tactical adjustments and roster refinements into this middle leg, making the Gold Cup a proving ground for Gauntlet contenders. The 22-goal handicap means rosters are built around combinations of high-rated Argentine professionals and strong American-based players, creating competitive balance through the cap.
Wellington is in the America/New_York timezone. In March 2026, clocks shift to Eastern Daylight Time (UTC-4) on March 8. The final on March 29 at 15:00 EDT is 19:00 in London, 20:00 in Central Europe, and 04:00 the following day in Tokyo. For fans in Buenos Aires, the 15:00 throw-in is 16:00 local time. Check whatisthetime.now/wellington for current local time in the United States.
The USPA Gold Cup carries particular weight for any team chasing the full Gauntlet. A team that wins the Whitney but loses the Gold Cup sees the Gauntlet dream end. A team that enters the Gold Cup cold but peaks here still has a path to the U.S. Open title. The middle position makes the Gold Cup both a pressure point and an opportunity, the tournament where seasons are shaped or broken.
Top players competing in the 2026 American season include Poroto Cambiaso with Scone, Polito Pieres with Coca-Cola, and Camilo Castagnola with Pilot, all riding the momentum built through the early Wellington fixtures.