It’s going to be a long year ahead for the U.S. men’s national team before the 2026 World Cup.
Mexican captain Edson Álvarez scored a late header (77’) confirmed by VAR, and Mexico defeated the United States, 2-1, in the Concacaf Gold Cup final at NRG Stadium in Houston on Sunday, July 6.
Mexico has won back-to-back Gold Cup titles. Both countries had alternated winning Gold Cup titles at the bi-annual tournament since 2011 (the U.S. won in 2013, 2017, 2021, while Mexico won in 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023 and 2025). Mexico also got its first win in a tournament final over the USMNT since the 2019 Gold Cup, ending a three-game losing streak to the USMNT in tournament finals.
“Overall, we’re disappointed obviously to not come away with a win,” said 37-year-old USMNT defender Tim Ream after the match.
USMNT defender Chris Richards scored a header in the fourth minute to take an early 1-0 lead in a thrilling start for coach Mauricio Pochettino’s side. Mexico’s Raúl Jiménez answered with a goal in the 27th minute to tie the match.Expert MLB daily picks: Unique MLB betting insights only at USA TODAY
There was a controversial no-call when Mexico’s Jorge Sánchez fell hand-first onto the ball inside the 18-yard box in the 67th minute. Sánchez was falling and braced himself for the fall as the ball rolled under his hand. The referee waved off a potential penalty after the sequence.
The result is unfortunate for USMNT, which played without star captain Christian Pulisic and several other key players who opted to rest or join their teams in the FIFA Club World Cup.
“They needed this experience to grow,” former USMNT standout and FOX analyst Landon Donovan said during the postgame coverage. “It was their A team against our version of a B team. They will grow from it.”
It’s the second loss to Mexico for the USMNT under Pochettino — an Argentine who coached soccer giants like Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea — hired in Sept. 2024. He has nine wins, a draw and six losses in 16 matches since taking the USMNT job.PLAYER RATINGS: Who stood out, who didn’t for USMNT vs. Mexico?
The USMNT will continue to prepare for the next World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico next summer.
Former USMNT standout and FOX analyst Alexi Lalas said this Gold Cup run was about “establishing a new identity” for the U.S. this summer.
“They got beaten tonight by a better team. That’s OK,” Lalas said. “More importantly, they established the identity that players on the outside looking in – whether Christian Pulisic or anybody – have to adapt to. There’s a long game going on here. Next summer when the World Cup is here, we’ll say … this is where the seeds were planted.”
USA TODAY Sports provided updates and highlights from the Gold Cup final between the USMNT and Mexico:
How to watch USMNT vs. Mexico Gold Cup final: TV, stream
- Time: 7 p.m. ET
- Location: NRG Stadium (Houston, Texas)
- TV: FOX (English). Univision, TUDN and Galavision (all Spanish). With both the English- and Spanish-language broadcast pregame shows beginning at 6 p.m. ET.
- Stream: Fubo
Gold Cup final predictions
➤ USA 2, Mexico 2 (USA wins 4-3 in penalties): This won’t be easy for USMNT, but it’s time to see if they’re going to answer the call — not just on the pitch, but engaging the country’s interest to another level before the World Cup. — Safid Deen
➤ Mexico 2, USA 1: This is a tall task for the — outside of veteran defender Tim Ream — largely green USMNT. The 70,000-seat NRG Stadium is going to be filled with El Tri fans and the place might feel more like Estadio Azteca, Mexico City’s cauldron of sound and fury that has been a bugaboo for the U.S. One also has to wonder how much the U.S. has left in the tank, as coach Mauricio Pochettino hasn’t done much to mix up the starting lineups. Mexico comes in having lost its last three finals against the USMNT and will be highly motivated to turn the tide. Just like the USMNT, this is Mexico’s last real competitive match until the 2026 World Cup. — Jim Reineking
Which players are on the Mexico Gold Cup roster?
Goalkeepers (3): Luis Ángel Malagón (América), Guillermo Ochoa (AVS Futebol SAD/Portugal), Raúl Rangel (Chivas)
Defenders (8): Julián Araujo (Bournemouth/England), Matéo Chávez (AZ Alkmaar/Netherlands), Jesús Gallardo (Toluca), César Montes (FC Lokomotiv/Russia), Jesús Orozco (Cruz Azul), Israel Reyes (Club América), Jorge Sánchez (Cruz Azul), Johán Vázquez (Genoa/Italy)
Midfielders (7): Edson Álvarez (West Ham United/England), Luis Chávez (FC Dynamo Moscow/Russia), Erik Lira (Cruz Azul), Gilberto Mora (Tijuana), Orbelín Pineda (AEK Athens/Greece), Carlos Rodríguez (Cruz Azul), Marcel Ruíz (Toluca)
Forwards (7): Roberto Alvarado (Chivas), Efraín Álvarez (Chivas), Santiago Gimenez (AC Milan/Italy), Cesar Huerta (Anderlecht/Belgium), Raúl Jiménez (Fulham/England), Efraín Álvarez (Chivas), Ángel Sepúlveda (Cruz Azul)MORE Mexico star Santiago Gimenez denies AC Milan exit rumors
USA vs. Mexico soccer rivalry
The USMNT and Mexico have met 78 times in a rivalry that dates back to 1934. Mexico holds the all-time series edge with 37 wins to the USA’s 24 with 17 ties between the two.
Here is how the previous five matchups have gone:
- Oct. 15, 2024 (friendly) — Mexico 2, United States 0
- March 24, 2024 (Concacaf Nations League final) — United States 2, Mexico 0
- June 15, 2023 (Concacaf Nations League semifinal) — United States 3, Mexico 0
- April 19, 2023 (friendly) — United States 1, Mexico 1
- March 24, 2022 (FIFA World Cup qualifier) — United States 0, Mexico
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