The atmosphere in Houston, Texas, was electric as Mexico secured their record-extending 10th Gold Cup title with a 2-1 victory over the United States. Over 70,000 fans packed NRG Stadium to witness the highly anticipated final, a fitting end to the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup, marking the first time the final has been held in Texas. The victory sparked celebrations across Mexico and among El Tri supporters worldwide.
The match began with a stunning start for the United States. Chris Richards, a former FC Dallas center back, headed in a free kick from Vancouver Whitecaps FC midfielder Sebastian Berhalter in the fourth minute, giving the USMNT an early lead. Mexico, however, responded resiliently. In the 27th minute, Raul Jimenez leveled the score with a powerful strike past New York City FC goalkeeper Matt Freese. Jimenez celebrated with a tribute to his former teammate, Diogo Jota.
The second half saw both teams battling intensely for the lead. In the 78th minute, Edson Alvarez headed home a redirected free kick, initially ruled offside. However, after a Video Review (VAR) check, the goal was awarded, securing the 2-1 lead for Mexico. Alvarez, the Mexico captain, capped off El Tri's rally. The final whistle blew, confirming Mexico's victory and their status as back-to-back Gold Cup champions.
This win marks Mexico's tenth Gold Cup title, solidifying their dominance in the competition. The USMNT holds the second-most titles with seven, their last win in 2021, and Canada remains the only other team to have won the tournament, back in 2000. The victory not only brings the coveted Gold Cup trophy but also a $1 million prize, awarded to the Mexican Football Federation. The US Soccer Federation, as runner-up, will receive $500,000. The total prize pool for the tournament exceeds $5 million, including awards for third and fourth place, and a participation bonus for each of the 16 teams.
The 2025 Gold Cup was held across 14 stadiums in 11 U.S. and Canadian cities and comprised 31 matches. The tournament is on track to see an average attendance of nearly 25,000 fans during the entire tournament, and almost 50,000 for the Knockout Stage matches. The sellout final in Houston followed a thrilling Knockout Stage, with over 170,000 fans attending the Semifinals and Quarterfinals.
