Historical Neighbors and Rivals Face Off for the Eighth Time
Mexico and the United States will meet in the final of the CONCACAF Gold Cup on Sunday, both teams desperate to reignite hope before co-hosting the 2026 World Cup.
As historical neighbors and rivals, the Tri and Team USA will face each other for the eighth time in Houston’s NRG Stadium, Texas.
Mexico, the Defending Champions, and the Pressure on Team USA
For Mexico, defending the title was an obligation to reach at least the final. However, the United States, competing without their star players, was under immense pressure as well.
Team USA’s coach, Mauricio Pochettino, has failed to alleviate concerns in his home country regarding the team’s prospects for the upcoming 2026 World Cup, which they will host alongside Mexico and Canada.
The Argentine coach was urgently appointed following the team’s failure in the 2022 Copa América and finished fourth in their first official tournament, the CONCACAF Nations League, in March.
In the Gold Cup, their last competition before the World Cup, Pochettino has not been able to work with most of his regular starting lineup. Christian Pulisic, the team’s leader, requested a break, while Weston McKennie and Tim Weah participated in the FIFA Club World Cup with Juventus.
“It’s Good to Feel the Pressure”
Pochettino views these challenges as opportunities for team growth. He aims to see how his squad performs under the likely majority support for Mexico from over 60,000 spectators in Houston.
“It’s our last official match, and it will be good to feel the pressure,” Pochettino said during his press conference on Saturday. “It’s a great opportunity to see how we can handle this kind of environment.”
In the semifinals, held in San Luis, “90% of the fans were Guatemalan,” Pochettino recalled. “The team will not only be ready to compete on the field but also handle a challenging atmosphere. It will be beneficial for us.”
Aguirre’s Gem: Nurturing Mexico’s Future Stars
On the Mexican side, Javier Aguirre has utilized the tournament to give playing time to promising young talents like Julián Araujo and Gilberto Mora, both 16.
Mora, a midfielder for Tijuana, has impressed with standout performances, such as in the semifinal against Honduras, where he unlocked the game with an assist for Raúl Jiménez‘s lone goal.
Aguirre praised Mora’s performance post-match, hinting that he might rely on the youngster again in the final.
“I don’t focus on ages; I look at performance, attitudes, and both collective and individual functioning. The lineup forms itself,” Aguirre explained, noting his luxury asset, Rafael Márquez, as an assistant coach.
Unlike Pochettino, Aguirre has already delivered a trophy to Mexico—the CONCACAF Nations League title—since his return last year to quell concerns following a worrying Copa América.
Regardless, Mexico is eager to secure its tenth Gold Cup title and celebrate with fans in the United States, where a portion of the Mexican community lives in fear due to President Donald Trump’s mass deportation campaign.
“The tournaments were crucial to measure ourselves, as we wouldn’t have a benchmark in the qualifiers,” Aguirre said on Saturday.
“I’ve liked the conduct both on and off the field. We may have lacked the aspect of finishing,” he added.
Probable Lineups
United States:
- Matt Freese (GK)
- Alex Freeman
- Chris Richards
- Tim Ream
- Maximilian Arfsten
- Tyler Adams
- Luca de la Torre
- Sebastian Berhalter
- Diego Luna
- Malik Tillman
- Patrick Agyemang
- Coach: Mauricio Pochettino
Mexico:
- Luis Malagón (GK)
- Julián Araujo
- César Montes
- Johan Vásquez
- Mateo Chávez
- Edson Álvarez
- Marcel Ruiz
- Gilberto Mora
- Roberto Alvarado
- Alexis Vega
- Raúl Jiménez
- Coach: Javier Aguirre
