CONCACAF Gold Cup
2025
Final
Houston, Texas
Attendance: Around 70,000
USMNT vs. Mexico
The top two teams of CONCACAF met in the final of the 2025 Gold Cup.
Some fans predict the USMNT will have a strong performance in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while others say it will not escape its group in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Some fans predict Mexico will have a great year in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. 
I’ve already been told by someone, the US has a low chance of escaping its World Cup group next year.
Based on the final of the 2025 Gold Cup, let’s wait and see. Ahem. Nonetheless, the two are great rivals. All in all, it was an exciting game. Mexico fielded a 16-year-old, Mora. The US had a talented veteran defender, Tim Ream.
How’d the game go in actuality?
Ream is a quality defender for the US, one that excels at possession from the back. However, it just wasn’t clicking so well throughout the game.
The first half essentially went to Mexico. Let’s just say, possession-wise it was pretty much all Mexico.
Whoever can win possession over the long run, is likely going to do okay. That’s the idea, anyway. Things ended 1-1 in the first half.
As for the second half, Mexico seemed to have the better play and carried away a 2-1 victory with a goal from team leader Edson Alvarez. The win for Mexico was accompanied by a roaring crowd.
For the time being, Mexico is king of CONCACAF.
As for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in which both nations will be hosting (along with Canada), it will be interesting.
Shane Stay is a bestselling author whose books include THE World Cup 2022 Book, This is Our CITY, The Euro 2020 Book, THE Women’s World Cup 2019 Book, Major League Soccer 2019, European Soccer Leagues 2019, THE World Cup 2018 Book, Why American Soccer Isn’t There Yet, and The Cairo Project. Shane has also written stories in the genres of sport, humor, and modern culture which have appeared in various online and print publications. In 2008, he co-authored a print book, published a magazine story, bottled Leaf Dressing, worked clubs as a comedian, played professional soccer, was a restaurateur, and received a Master of Arts from Southern Illinois University. He has appeared on TV and has featured on numerous radio broadcasts, including ESPN and NPR. He lives in Chicago, Illinois. 