Mexico edged out the United States Men’s National Team by a score of 2-1 to claim its 10th CONCACAF Gold Cup trophy, defeating its rival nation for the first time in six games. The match was the most highly anticipated game between the two teams until next year’s FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Mexico and the US.
The Americans took an early lead when Chris Richards scored a stunning header from a free kick just four minutes into the match. However, Mexico dominated play in the first half, with Raúl Jiménez equalizing for El Tri after 27 minutes. The Mexican striker’s goal was celebrated with a nod to his deceased teammate Diogo Jota.
The match remained tied until the 77th minute when Edson Álvarez scored the winning goal from a set piece kick. Mexico had initially been flagged offside on the goal, but a Video Assistant Referee review determined it was a valid score. The USMNT threatened late in the game, but Mexican goalkeeper Ángel Malagón kept Patrick Agyemang’s shot out of the net.
The victory marks Mexico’s second consecutive Gold Cup title and extends its CONCACAF-leading tally to 10 championships. For the USMNT, the loss is a setback heading into next year’s World Cup, where they will face their rival nation once again. First-year manager Mauricio Pochettino will hope that his team regains some of its form by the time the tournament begins.
The USMNT will kick off their World Cup campaign on June 12 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, while Mexico will play its first match a day earlier at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/06/sport/mexico-defeats-us-gold-cup-final-spt