U.S.-Mexico Gold Cup final preview, predictions, more

Sunday will mark the latest chapter United States And Mexico Houston’s NRG Stadium gets rivalry as a pair to determine the winner of 2025 Golden bowlDespite being less than ideal preparation – both of them were strongly lost SwitzerlandWith the US defeated turkey And El tri After defeating them 1-0-the pair navigated through this concacAF competition.

As a tournament, the US gained momentum with a 5–0 win over Trinidad and Tobago, on the success of 1-0. Saudi Arabia And 2–1 on winning HatiIt set a quarterfinal date Costa RicaIn which Maurisio Pochtino’s side emerged after a sudden penalty shootout after a 2–2 draw. This resulted in a semi -finals Guatemala2–1 prevalent with America.

Meanwhile, Mexico won 3–2 Dominican Republic With 2–0 win Suinam And draw 0–0 with Costa Rica before a 2–0 win over Saudi Arabia in the quarter-finals. From there, A Raul jimnez The target was enough to send Mexico to the finals Honduras‘Expenditure, bring us into Sunday’s epic encounter.

Therefore, with the platform set for the finals, ESPN reporters on Gold Cup Chime at major talkings around Sunday clashes.

America is moving more in a gold cup; What will be in the tank against Mexico?

Pocheto has rotated a little precious during the Gold Cup. Seven players have started each match, with one one and three in four for four. When there was a week break between the group stage and the knockout round, the lineup options of Pchethino did not raise much concerns, but after a semi -finals that had just 46% of the US second half, it is worth asking if the USMNT is out of gas.

It certainly seemed so. Striker Patrica agimang As midfielder, he appeared running on smoke after Haftime Luka de la torePocheto brought for de la torre Brandon aronsonWho helped, but America was still struggling at the later stages of the game. The team first needed some fresh legs.

Then the position of midfielder Tyler adamsAdams came against Guatemala in the 77th minute and described Pochetino as a hamstring disease. It is a player with the history of injuries, so the availability of adams – and energy levels – will tolerate the viewing.

Something is to be said for the lineup continuity, as it is clear that chemistry has certainly developed within the initial lineup in this summer. But the US figures do a lot of pursuing from a Mexico, with probably more balls, which means that the level of intensity of the team will need to be high. – Jeff Carlisle

Can USMNT’s breakout artists (Luna, Tilman, Freeze) distribute at the largest international stage of their career?

This is one thing to create an impact against a side like Haiti or Saudi Arabia, but on Sunday a packed house in Texas is another to do so against a historical rival like Mexico like Mexico like Mexico. There is a notable tenacity for the attackers Malik Tilman And Diego LunaThose who have combined for 10 goal contribution to the Gold Cup, and it will not be very shock if any of them arises on the occasion in the same way we have seen in this tournament so far.

Luna seems to be particularly required to highlight the feeling that is required in the final of a tournament. A few days after appreciating “grit” and “determination” from their fellow colleagues, which is seen in their own game, Real Salt Lake Star Mexican seems to be perfectly favorable to the toe with Marki players, which will be in their best performance when defending Winger.

overall, Matthew freeze It is also worthy of credit for the significant boost given by Pochtino, but after some unstable moments in the latest semi -finals, can he be a weak link finally in the end El triLong list of attack options? Despite the name USMNT, Sunday will be the most challenging test of summer. – Caesar Hernandez

How close is Mexico’s Gold Cup Team XI for the 2026 World Cup?

26 players bring Xavier Aguire Gold Cup, like the Squad’s base that will represent Mexico in the 2026 World Cup.

The Gold Cup is the last major test of Agnire before the next summer, and the coaches are adamant that he has already defined between 50% and 60% of the squads who will go to the next World Cup. The remaining doubt is related to which player will play the right back and selected to change the players. Luis ChavezWho is injured for eight months.

In Gold Cup, Agnire has found Johann Waskese And Cesar montes His ideal center to pair back. In midfield, Edson álvarez There is captain and automatic starter. In the attack, the most important player is Raul jimnezAnd he should be in his best Sunday and next summer El tri Have to live up to your capacity. – Omar Floors

Will 16 -year -old Mora continue to progress on the biggest platform of ConcacAF?

A year ago, Chiapus’s baby was also not a professional player. And yet, the youngest to score so far after 10 months Leiga MXClub tijuana teenager Gilberto Mora Has taken Mexican football from the storm with his unprecedented level confidence and polish to attack his age midfielder.

There is a high roof for Mora, 16 -year -old, who won the game for Jimnez in Mexico’s semi -final win against Honduras, and now giving full confidence to Chavez after ACL’s injury to Chavez with veteran manager Xavier Aguire, Mora is once again set to lead the XI’s heart.

Whether you are a fan or an anti -defender, keep an eye on his excellent ball control and brilliant vision. Mora has crossed expectations at a unique rate so far El triAnd after starting their national team in January, with another potential location in XI, on Sunday, one can become another steppingstone for the player who is leveling at a terrible rate.

Widely seen as the future of Mexican football, at the end of this week it may prove that it exists even before the World Cup. – Hernandez

game

Gomez: USMNT ‘learned how to suffer’ Win vs. Guatemala

Herkulez Gomez broke some lessons that they feel that the United States learned in a 2–1 victory over Guatemala.

Is Aguirre’s reputation on the line against the United States?

Let’s clarify: Aguirre’s reputation or reputation is not at risk against the United States. The coach of the Mexico National Team admitted that his team is a favorite for winning the Gold Cup, but he always made it clear that his main objective is to create a team for the 2026 World Cup.

Aguire selected the Gold Cup election squad to complete his final stress tests, and he still managed to take Mexico to the finals. The World Cup is his priority, so Agnire’s reputation is not at risk. – Floors

After tasting a hostile crowd vs. Guatemala, how will the US handle a strong Mexico crowd in the final?

After the semi -final win over Guatemala, American defender Tim rem It turned out how some players were surprised at how Getmala was crowded and asked how it could be in the United States. Ream response? “This is the way you have to embrace it.”

Apparently, the American team benefited from coming in contact with such an environment in Ardh. This is not enough to tell a player how it will be – they have to experience it for themselves. This is important, as the vibes will be replaced by 11 on Sundays. The NRG Stadium (72,220) capacity is more than three times compared to the Energizer Stadium (22,423) in the semi -final site St. Louis. And there will be no compilation about making fans from Mexico as uncomfortable as much as possible for their long -term opponents.

Successfully take sting out of vocal support El tri America will need to do some work. The USMNT will need to be organized, as fans in Mexico are known to turn their team when things do not go according to the plan. But even more importantly, the US needs to rest it and bring mexico into sufficient possession to pursue the game. This does not mean that America will need to win a battle of possession – it needs to win it to help manage the game. – Carlisley

Score predictions

Mexico 2-1 United States: The US is definitely able to win the game, but the attack in Mexico has a slightly higher quality, which will probably be the difference. – Carlisley

Mexico 2-1 United States: As usual with this warm rivalry, Sunday’s finals will be a close, but Man-for-Man, Mexico’s Gold Cup roster is stronger than Pchethino. Hopefully with more depth on the bench that can define the game El tri To win. – Hernandez

Mexico 2-1 United States: Houston is the end of Agnire’s test ground, and he will take his nearest 11 to the World Cup against the fiery opponent of the region. This is the right time to strengthen the project, which ends in less than a year, and I hope it will succeed on Sunday. – Floors