Mexico retained their Concacaf Gold Cup crown on Sunday night, defeating the United States 2–1 at NRG Stadium in Houston to win a record 10th title. With the victory, Mexico became back-to-back Gold Cup champions and reaffirmed their status as the dominant force in the region.
The U.S. got on the board early in the fourth minute when Chris Richards headed Sebastian Berhalter’s free kick off the bottom of the crossbar and just over the line, giving the Americans a 1–0 lead.
Mexico responded in the 27th minute, with Raúl Jiménez netting his third goal of the tournament to level the score. They continued to press and eventually broke through in the 78th minute when Edson Álvarez headed home from close range, redirecting a free kick. The goal, initially ruled offside, was awarded after a Video Review and stood as the match-winner.
Although the U.S. was missing several key players expected to play in next summer’s World Cup squad, they put in a strong effort. In addition to taking the early lead, the Americans had a few promising chances to extend their advantage. Ultimately, however, Mexico’s superior quality, long stretches of dominance, and overall cohesion proved decisive.
Despite a controversial non-call on a potential handball inside the box minutes before their winning goal, Mexico were deserving winners. The victory also marked their first win over the U.S. in a final since 2019.
Goals
- 4′ – USA – Chris Richards
- 27′ – MEX – Raúl Jiménez
- 78′ – MEX – Edson Álvarez
