Mexico staged a dramatic comeback to defeat Mauricio Pochettino’s United States and successfully defend their Gold Cup title in a thrilling final in Houston, Texas.

The Americans struck early, with defender Chris Richards nodding home Sebastian Berhalter’s free-kick in the fourth minute. The ball ricocheted off the underside of the crossbar before narrowly crossing the line, giving the U.S. a brief lead.

That advantage was erased in the 27th minute, when Fulham striker Raúl Jiménez clinically finished Marcel Ruiz’s slick reverse pass with a fierce shot into the roof of the net. 

Jiménez dedicated the goal to his former Wolves teammate Diogo Jota—who tragically died in a car crash at age 28—by holding up a shirt bearing Jota’s name and number during a heartfelt celebration.

Mexico gained momentum in the second half, pressing for a winner that arrived in the 77th minute. West Ham’s Edson Álvarez connected with a diving header to seal the win, after VAR overturned the assistant referee’s initial offside decision.

The Gold Cup featured 16 teams, including 15 from North and Central America and an invited Saudi Arabian squad. Nearly all matches were hosted across the United States, with the exception of one held in Vancouver, Canada.

This was Pochettino’s first major final with the U.S. after taking charge in September 2024, just months after parting ways with Chelsea. Despite the early promise, his team struggled to keep pace with Mexico’s fluid attack and intensity.

Mexico’s triumph not only reasserts their dominance in the region but also adds another chapter to their storied rivalry with the United States—this time ending in green glory under the Texas sky.

Source: BBC

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