In a thrilling match, Mexico defeated the United States 2-1 to secure its 10th CONCACAF Gold Cup title, with Edson Álvarez netting the decisive goal in the 77th minute. Originally called offside, the goal was validated through video review. The match began with Chris Richards putting the U.S. ahead in the fourth minute with a header from a Sebastian Berhalter free kick, marking his second such goal of the tournament. Raúl Jiménez equalized for Mexico in the 27th minute, scoring his third goal of the Gold Cup.
The matchup took place before a sellout crowd of 70,925 at NRG Stadium, with overwhelming support for Mexico, which dominated possession at 60% and earned 12 corner kicks compared to none for the U.S. The victory improved Mexico’s finals record against the U.S. to 6-2 and allowed them to defend their title from 2023.
Despite a strong start, the U.S. was unable to maintain the lead as it fielded a lineup that was missing several regular players due to vacations and injuries. Coach Mauricio Pochettino used the opportunity to assess emerging talents who could compete for spots on the World Cup roster. In stoppage time, Patrick Agyemang had a chance to equalize but failed to convert.
Jiménez’s goal celebrated the memory of his late former Wolverhampton teammate, Diogo Jota, by wearing a jersey honoring him during the celebration. This match marked the end of the competitive encounters between the two teams ahead of their co-hosting of the World Cup with Canada next year. The U.S., with seven Gold Cup titles overall, last won the tournament in 2021.
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