Not all Gold Cups are created equal.
The edition of the biennial CONCACAF tournament taking place immediately after a World Cup year usually takes on greater importance. This was especially true when a spot in the defunct FIFA Confederations Cup was at stake. Even in 2019, with no such prize on the line, the participating countries brought their "A" teams full of their biggest stars. Certainly, heavyweights Mexico and the United States held nothing back.
The second edition in a World Cup cycle has varied in terms of which players make the cut.