Mexico clinched their 10th Gold Cup title in emphatic style, successfully defending their 2023 crown with a thrilling 2-1 victory over the United States in front of a wildly pro-Mexico crowd in Houston, Texas on Sunday night.
The game-winner came from West Ham’s Edson Álvarez, who smashed in a header during the second half after the ball took a deflection off John Vásquez. Initially flagged for offside, the goal was restored by VAR, confirming Álvarez was level with the last defender when Vásquez made contact — setting off explosive celebrations on the pitch and in the stands.
On the opposing sideline, U.S. head coach Mauricio Pochettino was fuming — not about the goal, but over a missed penalty call just 10 minutes earlier. In that sequence, Mexico defender Jorge Sánchez appeared to handle the ball while falling after a tackle on Max Arfsten inside the box.
“That’s a penalty, 100%,” Pochettino told reporters. “He pressed his hand down on the ball — it’s not like the ball accidentally rolled onto a planted hand.”
He went further, implying bias due to the overwhelming home-crowd feel. “If it happened on the other end of the pitch? It’s a penalty, no doubt,” he added. “Maybe the score is 2-1 in our favor, and we’re the ones lifting the trophy. But with 70,000 screaming fans, I understand—it’s not an easy call to make. Still, it’s a shameful moment.”
For the United States, the defeat wraps up a rollercoaster month. A largely second-string squad looked shaky in friendlies against Turkey and Switzerland, but began to click once the Gold Cup campaign got underway.
Several players made a strong case for a spot in the 2026 World Cup squad, especially midfielders Malik Tillman and Diego Luna, while Chris Richards emerged as a defensive leader. Still, this loss will sting—it was their final competitive match before hosting the 2026 World Cup.
Despite the close scoreline, Mexico’s dominance was clear. They took 16 shots (eight on target) compared to just six (three on target) for the US. El Tri held 60% possession and racked up 12 corner kicks — the US had none.
Ironically, it was Chris Richards who opened the scoring early. The Crystal Palace defender dove in low on a Sebastian Berhalter set piece, redirecting it upward. The ball ricocheted off the crossbar, bounced down, and just barely crossed the line—confirmed by both the assistant referee and VAR.
That moment gave the US early momentum, but it quickly vanished. Mexico turned up the heat, hammering the US with relentless pressure and aggressive challenges. After their goal, the Americans barely managed to leave their own half.
That onslaught paid off in the 27th minute. Raúl Jiménez, after a complete defensive lapse by the US, rifled in a sharp-angle rocket past Matt Freese to tie things at 1-1. His celebration carried a touching tribute—he pulled out a jersey honoring Diogo Jota, the Liverpool star recently killed in a tragic car accident along with his brother. Jiménez, who played with Jota at Wolves, mimicked Jota’s iconic video game celebration as he sat next to the tribute jersey.
From there, Mexico owned the game. Fans erupted in “Olé” chants by the 30th minute as their team sprayed passes and controlled tempo. The US rarely threatened on the break, with Tillman and Patrick Agyemang struggling to link up.
The US had a single bright spot late in the first half. In a wild moment before halftime, Alex Freeman met a lofted pass and headed it directly into the face of Mexico keeper Luis Malagón. That chaos ended the half, which saw Mexico dominate: 5-0 in corners, 10-2 in interceptions, and 298 passes to the US’s 162.
The second half didn’t get any better for the Americans. Roberto Alvarado narrowly missed at the near post in both the 51st and 56th minutes. Then, in the 76th minute, Mexico struck gold again — the decisive moment that crowned them Gold Cup champions.
Description:
"Mexico outclassed the USA 2-1 in the 2025 Gold Cup Final to claim their 10th title. Edson Álvarez scored the decisive winner as VAR drama, missed penalties, and a fiery Pochettino press conference lit up a night of football fury in Houston."