Mexico’s moment arrived in the 77th minute:

when a crucial free kick , Houston, Texas — Mexico defeated the United States in an exciting 2-1 victory on Sunday night in front of more than 70,000 fervent supporters at NRG Stadium, earning their 10th CONCACAF Gold Cup title and reaffirming their position as the best team in North and Central American football.

With this victory, Mexico has won the Gold Cup twice in a row, extending their record to 10 titles overall—the most in the tournament’s history. With seven, the United States lags behind.

Early Shock: In the fourth minute, the USA takes the lead
“Action erupted early as Chris Richards caught Mexico off guard, rising to meet Sebastian Berhalter’s pinpoint free kick with a commanding header just four minutes into the contest.”.

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The Americans had a fantastic start and appeared ready to take on the defending champions. Mexico, however, was unfazed.

Mexico Reacts with Power and Equilibrium
Mexico swiftly recovered from the early goal and took charge of the pace. They controlled the ball and almost doubled the U.S.’s first-half possession time.

In the 27th minute, their exertion paid off when Raúl Jiménez tied the score at 1-1 after connecting with a deft through pass from Marcel Ruíz and shooting past goalkeeper Matthew Freese from close range.

After the score, Jiménez performed his trademark celebration while clutching a jersey with the name of his late Wolverhampton colleague Diogo Jota, who had recently passed away.

Drama in the Second Half and the Winning Goal
As both teams battled for the game-winning goal in the second half, there was tension and energy. The match felt like it could go either way as Mexico and the US traded blows.
“”“Mexico’s moment arrived in the 77th minute, when a crucial free kick opened the door for a momentum-shifting play.”””. Edson Álvarez dived forward and nodded the ball into the top corner of the U.S. net after Johan Vásquez redirected it into his path with a header.

After a VAR review, the goal that had been initially declared offside was found to be valid. Fans began to celebrate when Mexico seized a 2-1 lead.

Final Minutes: The Last Chance for USMNT Is Blocked
The United States came dangerously close to tying the score in the second minute of stoppage time. Mexican goalie Ángel Malagón produced an incredible stop after Patrick Agyemang blasted a thunderous strike. The U.S. was denied any more opportunities when the Mexican defense swiftly cleared the ball.

The final whistle was blown a few moments later by referee Mario Escobar, completing Mexico’s arduous victory.

A Tense Rivalry Between Mexico and the USA in the Gold Cup Finals
In the Gold Cup final on Sunday, Mexico and the United States faced off for the ninth time. Mexico now has a 6-2 advantage in the head-to-head finals after this victory.

Just one year before the FIFA World Cup 2026, which will be co-hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada, this game not only gave Mexico another title to add to their collection but also confirmed their supremacy in the CONCACAF region.

“With several key players absent, U.S. head coach Mauricio Pochettino faces mounting pressure following the team’s disappointing loss.” Less than a year remains for the former Chelsea and PSG manager to be ready for the World Cup

During this tournament, Pochettino’s team was lacking a number of important players:

After a demanding season with AC Milan, Christian Pulisic, who is regarded as the greatest player in the USA, decided to take a break and did not make the Gold Cup roster. The coach was apparently upset by this decision.

Tim Weah and Weston McKennie were unavailable because of their Juventus Club World Cup obligations.

Anticipating the 2026 World Cup
The 2026 World Cup campaign for the United States will start on June 12 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, while Mexico will start the competition on June 11 at Mexico City’s famous Estadio Azteca.

Mexico’s victory makes it abundantly evident that, with a well-rounded roster of seasoned athletes and up-and-coming talent, El Tri is prepared to go far on the international scene in addition to aiming for regional success.