Gold Cup: No Moral Victories for USA vs. mwplay888 Mexico – ‘The Goal is to Win’
Updated Jul. 6, 2025, 4:31 p.m. ET
HOUSTON — There are two perspectives to consider regarding the current U.S. men’s national team as they prepare for the impending Concacaf Gold Cup final against their long-standing rivals, Mexico (coverage begins at 6 p.m. PT on FOX and the FOX Sports app). On one hand, this understaffed squad, missing up to eight players likely to feature in coach Mauricio Pochettino’s starting lineup for the 2026 World Cup in Los Angeles next summer, has already surpassed expectations. Few believed they would truly contend for the title when the regional championship kicked off on June 13, with El Tri still regarded as the bookmakers’ favorite free register slot.
A sizable crowd, predominantly made up of El Tri supporters, is expected to fill the 72,000-seat NRG Stadium. The United States is playing with the advantage and has already found success in the tournament.
However, that’s not how Pochettino and his squad perceive the situation at all.
Focus on Winning
“We need to find a way to win,” stated the former Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, and Tottenham manager on the eve of the decisive match. “What will remain in people’s memories is who wins tomorrow. Nobody will remember who came in second.”
“Reaching the final of the Gold Cup was the objective,” Pochettino continued. “The next step is to win. That is the most important thing.”
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It’s understandable that the Argentine coach isn’t one to settle for moral victories. After Christian Pulisic and a majority of the regulars were defeated in both matches during March’s Concacaf Nations League finals, Pochettino assembled a squad predominantly from the MLS this summer, incorporating first-choice midfielder Tyler Adams and defenders Tim Ream and Chris Richards along with rising talents like Diego Luna and Malik Tillman. He tasked them with reigniting the competitive spirit that has often been lacking since the 2022 World Cup.
The team has responded by going undefeated during the group stage, ultimately defeating Costa Rica and Guatemala to advance to Sunday’s final. Mexico will undoubtedly present their most significant challenge thus far.
“We’ve shown that we can surprise people, but ultimately, the goal is to win,” said goalkeeper Matt Freese, who has taken the starting role in place of Matt Turner this summer. “We haven’t yet proven what we want to prove, and so the job’s still not done.”
Competing in the final won’t be easy. Mexico recently claimed the Nations League title under new/old coach Javier Aguirre and is spearheaded by Fulham striker Raul Jimenez, who is arguably the top striker in Concacaf alongside Canada’s Jonathan David.
“Raul Jimenez is a powerhouse,” remarked Richards, who regularly faces him in the Premier League. Jimenez and Mexico will be favorites in Houston on Sunday.
As is customary whenever they play north of the Rio Grande, Mexico will fill the stadium, this time transforming the home of the NFL’s Houston Texans into a sea of green shirts.
Pressure and Preparation
All these factors make it an ideal preparation for the upcoming World Cup next summer.
“It’s beneficial for us,” Pochettino shared. “This might be the last match we’ll play under pressure, and playing under pressure is what the team requires.”
“We’ve already qualified for the World Cup” [as co-hosts], Pochettino added. “The forthcoming matches will be friendly games, so it’s crucial to experience a challenging environment to feel the pressure and stress. Because the World Cup will be all about dealing with pressure and stress.”
The World Cup will also center around winning. While capturing the title next summer may likely be a tall order, U.S. fans remain hopeful for a deep run in 2026. Defeating Mexico on Sunday would significantly boost that optimism.
Why shouldn’t they achieve it? After all, there’s a precedent. Four years ago, another makeshift USMNT stunned a nearly full-strength El Tri in the 2021 Gold Cup final, foreshadowing how events would unfold at the main tournament. The U.S. rode that momentum to reach the round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup the following year, while Mexico faced an early exit, unable to advance to the knockout stage for the first time in decades.
However, Sunday will present an unfamiliar experience for many of the younger American players, most of whom have not participated in a U.S.-Mexico match.
“I’m incredibly excited to play in a match I’ve dreamt of since I was a kid,” expressed Luna, who, alongside Tillman, has scored three goals thus far, just behind the leaders in the Golden Boot race. “As a Mexican-American, this is in my blood.”
The opportunity is not lost on the experienced players as well. Consider 37-year-old Ream, a veteran of both the Premier League and the World Cup.
“I’ve been in this program for 15 years. This is my fourth Gold Cup, and I haven’t won one yet,” Ream said. “Are we underdogs? Perhaps. Does it matter? No. It’s one game to win a trophy, and that’s all the motivation we need.”
How they achieve it doesn’t matter, either. This may not be a beautifully played match. Instead, it will likely be a fierce battle from beginning to end if history is any indication. But that suits this U.S. squad just fine. net
“We thrive on the fight,” Richards affirmed. “That’s been somewhat absent from the national team over recent camps, months, and years. Sunday will showcase our ability to stand up to Mexico on the biggest stage in the region.”
“It doesn’t have to be perfect; it doesn’t have to be pretty,” Freese stated. “The goal is to win, plain and simple casino.”
What do you think will happen in the final match?
