The setting is prepared for the Concacaf Gold Cup concluding match, and it’s a suitable one as the United States and Mexico will contend for the championship in the eighth instance in the tournament’s past. This is the initial concluding match that the United States men’s national team has participated in under Mauricio Pochettino, and it’s the moment of truth. Not only will the USMNT be the sole obstacle preventing Mexico from securing three successive Concacaf championships, but they’ll additionally possess an opportunity to redress Pochettino’s defeat to El Tri in the month of October of 2024.
With a makeshift USMNT roster lacking regular participants such as Christian Pulisic, Antonee Robinson, Weston McKennie, Folarin Balogun and Sergino Dest, Pochettino has been capable of assembling a team that has battled its way to the concluding match, but Mexico will represent their most formidable challenge thus far. While Malik Tillman, Matt Freese, and Diego Luna have demonstrated their worth on this roster with performances advocating for positions in the 2026 World Cup squad, numerous players still require advancement.
There’s no superior occasion for that than confronting Mexico in a concluding match. This is a rivalry where USMNT icons are forged, and this team hasn’t been compelled to face any entity that would be regarded as a global powerhouse to reach this juncture. Overcoming Trinidad and Tobago, Saudi Arabia, Haiti, and Guatemala, coupled with a draw against Costa Rica, doesn’t unequivocally convey that the USMNT has returned to their desired level. However, surpassing a full-strength Mexico would constitute a substantial stride in the appropriate direction.
The USMNT has been endeavoring to exhibit advancement, but prospects to illustrate this in competitive encounters have been infrequent. Following this squad’s inability to demonstrate its equality on the field with Switzerland and Turkiye, facing Mexico presents an opportunity for the team to showcase its development under Pochettino during his lengthiest tenure since assuming command. Mexico has pursued a comparable route to the USMNT to arrive at this stage since Panama was likewise upset in Gold Cup action, but emerging from a Nations League triumph, El Tri has experienced a more favorable 2025 compared to the two teams.
Pochettino doesn’t necessitate a victory for this squad to impress against Mexico, although it would contribute to achieving that objective. The pivotal aspect is that they transform this into a closely contested affair, with the defense exhibiting improvement. The defensive blunders encountered against Costa Rica and the 20 shots conceded against Guatemala would precipitate defeats in this contest. Nevertheless, that is where the onus lies on Pochettino and the squad.
Should they enhance their performance to overcome El Tri in this match, it signifies an occasion that could witness further players elevating their game to secure spots in the full World Cup squad. However, with a loss, the identical queries will persist in afflicting the USMNT. As overarching themes exert a considerable influence on this side, Sunday presents a chance to diverge from them, but they’ll require demonstrable advancement to accomplish it.
How to watch USMNT vs. Mexico, odds
- Date: Sunday, July 6 | Time: 7 p.m. ET
- Location: NRG Stadium — Houston, Texas
- TV: FOX | Live stream: Fubo (Try for free)
- Odds: USMNT +190; Draw +210; Mexico +145
USMNT vs Mexico history
These two teams initially encountered each other in 1934 and have presently clashed a total of 78 times, with Mexico prevailing in 37 encounters, the USMNT securing victory in 24, and the remaining 17 culminating in draws. This will constitute the 11th meeting in a cup concluding match, with the dynamics oscillating between periods of supremacy for both nations. Mexico has triumphed in six of those concluding matches, while the USMNT has secured four victories. This presents an opportunity for the USMNT to impede Mexico from attaining a third successive Concacaf championship and aspires to reinstate their achievements from 2021-2024, a period during which the USMNT clinched three consecutive Cup concluding matches against El Tri.
Top scorers
The USMNT possesses the leading scorer in the rivalry, with Landon Donovan’s six goals heading the list. Donovan discovered the back of the net during the USMNT’s memorable 2-0 triumph over Mexico at the 2002 World Cup and would emerge as a consistent source of aggravation for El Tri throughout their matchups.
Here’s how the top five scorers are organized:
- Landon Donovan (USMNT), six goals
- Alfredo Hernandez (Mexico, five goals
- Michael Bradley (USMNT), five goals
- Aldo Donelli (USMNT), four goals
- Christian Pulisic (USMNT), four goals
