Mexico triumphed over the United States 2-1 to secure its 10th CONCACAF Gold Cup title on Sunday night. Edson Álvarez scored the decisive goal in the 77th minute after a video review overturned an initial offside call. The match began with Chris Richards giving the U.S. an early lead in the fourth minute by heading in a free kick from Sebastian Berhalter. However, Raúl Jiménez equalized in the 27th minute, marking his third goal of the tournament.
The chance leading to Mexico’s winning goal came from a free kick awarded after Diego Luna fouled Alexis Vega. Johan Vásquez’s flick allowed Álvarez to dart through the defense and redirect the ball past U.S. goalkeeper Matt Freese. Following the goal, VAR confirmed its validity, leading to celebration from the Mexican fans. Notably, the sellout crowd of 70,925 at NRG Stadium was predominantly pro-Mexico, with the U.S. players receiving boos during warm-ups. Mexico managed to dominate the game with 60% ball possession and 12 corner kicks to none for the U.S.
This match marked the final competitive encounter for both teams before co-hosting the World Cup next year alongside Canada. The U.S. fielded a lineup with many second-string players, as regular starters were missing due to vacation, injuries, and commitments to the Club World Cup. Coach Mauricio Pochettino evaluated potential World Cup candidates, and both Luna and Patrick Agyemang emerged as prospects.
Jiménez, who scored his 42nd international goal, dedicated his celebration to his late former Wolverhampton teammate Diogo Jota, honoring him with a jersey bearing “DIOGO J” and mimicking playing a video game. This Gold Cup victory solidifies Mexico’s dominance in the tournament against the U.S., improving their final record to 6-2.
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