Mexico 2 USA 1
July 6 – In front of a sold-out crowd of 70,925 in the NRG Stadium in Houston, Mexico beat the USA 2-1 to win the 2025 Gold Cup.
The USA scored took an early lead in the 4th minute with a goal from Chris Richards, but Mexico regained parity 20 minutes later through Raul Jimenez in a match they dominated in front of their baying support.
Edson Alvarez, the midfield engine that drove Mexico forward, scored the decider with 15 minutes to go.
It was an electric atmosphere to end a Gold Cup that has gathered momentum and been packed with emotion, fairy tale performances and emerging new stars from start to finish.
In the end it was left to Concacaf’s big dogs to duke it out, the eighth time these two nations have met in the Gold Cup final. Mexico retained their championship title and their tenth overall. The USA have titles.
With the fog still clearing from the opening fireworks, the USA stole an early lead on their geographical neighbours.
In the fourth minute and the first real US advance into the Mexican half, Patrick Agyemang was brought down on the right 10m inside the Mexican half. A Sebastian Berhalter long free kick into the box found Chris Richards who angled his header into bar and down – goal-line technology rule it a goal and the US were ahead and the US fans – who had turned out in considerably greater numbers that previously seen in these big venue, big match encounters with Mexico had something to shout about.
Ultimately it was a false dawn.
Mexico were rattled but responded with controlled possession and pressing, forcing the US to defend deeper into their own half and give the ball away too easily. What the US did do well is set up a solid defense martialled by Richards and the increasingly impressive Tyler Adams.
Mexico for all their long periods of slick passing and interchange, while easy on the eye, could not fashion real pressure on Matt Freese’s goal, especially when they lofted the ball into the box.
On 24 minutes Gilberto Mora shot, seemingly almost from frustration, outside the box. It was comfortably gobbled up by Freese. But two minutes later Mexico were level. A ball from the left found the feet of Raul Jimenez who took one touch and hammered the ball from 6m past Freese and into the top of his net.
With cries of ‘Ole’ ringing out the Mexican were on a roll as they resumed their passing, pushing and probing of the US massed defences. In the 34th minute the ball found its way to Roberto Alvardo 5m out but he couldn’t get enough on the ball to seriously trouble Freese.
In the 39th minute Mora again shot from outside the box forcing Freese to palm over. Three Mexican corners followed which the US easily dealt with. Mexico struggled to find an aerial threat.
On 43 minutes Cesar Montes brought down on the right of the Mexican box. The US at last fashioned a spell of pressure in the Mexican area. It was their first real threat since their fourth minute goal.
The Berhalter ball into the box bobbled around until Diego Luna, one of the US finds of the Gold Cup, lashed his shot over the bar.
The US needed to adjust but the second half started in the pattern of the first, with Mexico comfortable on the ball and the US defending in numbers and with little intent when they had it.
In the 50th minute Roberto Alvardo angling towards the top of the box just curled his shot wide of Freese’s right hand post.
At the other end Max Arfsten curled a shot over Angel Malagon’s bar – it was a rare foray into the Mexican half.
Arfsten was soon involved in the most controversial moment of the match. In the 66th minute Arfsten first beat Alvarado before right back Jorge Sanchez poked the ball away. Sanchez, inside the Mexican box, then fell and put his left hand on top of the ball. The referees did not blow for a handball and a penalty. Sanchez played the ball out of danger.
US coach Mauricio Pochettino claimed it was clear handball and a penalty could have changed the course of the game. He had a solid point, but at that stage of the game all the flow was going all Mexico’s ways.
Mexico kept racking up the corner count. On 64 minutes they had their tenth. Chris Richards kept racking up the clearances. The US were still to register a corner of their own such was Mexico’s control.
Pochettino went to his bench and brought on Damian Downs for Luca de la Torre. Mexico had another corner.
With 15 minutes to go Aguirre brought on Orbelin Pineda for Gallardo.
He had an immediate impact a minute later with Edson Alvarez heading in his free kick wide on the left from close range. The assistant referee immediately flagged for offside but was overturned by VAR – 2-1 Mexico.
Suddenly the US sprang into life with more attacking urgency.
Pochettino and Aguirre both worked their benches with three changes each as a frantic finish started to build Mexican anxiety and US hope.
Now it was Mexico’s turn to pack their defensive area. In the 90th minute and heading into seven minutes of added time Agyemang couldn’t quite get on the end of a goalline scramble.
It was too little too late. Mexico hung on for their tenth Gold Cup title and march towards the World Cup in 2026 with their sights set on progressing past the last 16 hurdle they have traditionally fallen at.
Pochettino has work to do but the US have progressed since March since the low of the Nations League. They will return again and they will be better, if their stay-away superstars can get with the Pochettino programme.
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