The United States will play its final competitive match before next summer’s FIFA World Cup as they meet CONCACAF rivals Mexico in the 2025 Gold Cup.
It’s the eighth all-time meeting between the two border rivals in a Gold Cup final, with Mexico having won five of the seven.
Mauricio Pochettino has led the USMNT to an unbeaten Gold Cup jaunt, but their level of competition has been low, beating Trinidad & Tobago, Saudi Arabia, Haiti, and Guatemala plus a draw with Costa Rica before prevailing on penalties.
The Sporting News is following the USA vs. Mexico match live, providing score updates, commentary, and analysis.
JUMP TO: Goals, highlights, updates | Player ratings | Team news and lineups | How to watch where you are
USA vs. Mexico live score
| Score (1H) | Goal scorers | |
| USA | 1 | Richards (4′) |
| Mexico | 0 | – |
Location: NRG Stadium (Houston, TX)
Referee: Mario Escobar (GUA)
Starting lineups:
USA (4-2-3-1, right to left): 25. Freese (GK) — 16. Freeman, 3. Richards, 13. Ream, 18. Arfsten — 4. Adams, 14. de la Torre — 8. Berhalter, 17. Tillman, 10. Luna — 24. Agyemang.
Mexico (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Malagon (GK) — 3. J. Sanchez, 3. Montes, 5. Vasquez, 23. Gallardo — 14. Ruiz, 4. Alvarez, 7. Mora — 25. Alvarado, 9. Jimenez, 10. Vega.
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USA vs. Mexico goals, highlights from 2025 Gold Cup final
4th min: GOAL! USA! CHRIS RICHARDS HEADS THE U.S. IN FRONT OFF A SEBASTIAN BERHALTER FREE-KICK!
Patrick Agyemang is chopped down at the top of the attacking third, and Berhalter takes the delivery from deep. It’s put on a platter from miles out, and Richards powers a killer header on frame. It slams the underside of the crossbar and shoots straight down, and the referee says the goal is good!
There’s a brief VAR check, because there is NO goal-line technology at the Gold Cup, but there’s nothing conclusive to overturn the call!
FOR THE SECOND TIME THIS TOURNEY…
SEBASTIAN BERHALTER WITH THE SET PIECE DELIVERY
CHRIS RICHARDS SENDS IT HOMEpic.twitter.com/1eb2NrdAcp
— U.S. Soccer Men’s National Team (@USMNT) July 6, 2025
Kickoff: They’re under way in the heart of Texas! Who will take home the Gold Cup trophy, which has rotated back-and-forth between the U.S. and Mexico each of the last seven editions of the competition?
USA vs. Mexico: Pre-match commentary, analysis, more
15 mins to kickoff: By donning the armband tonight, Tim Ream becomes the 13th different player to captain the USMNT in a final. The lack of viable options at center-back is a stark reminder of how thin the U.S. player pool still is, but Ream’s leadership remains a valuable part of this team’s makeup.
30 mins to kickoff: A number of individuals on this roster have stepped up to help the U.S. reach this point. From leaders like Chris Richards to newcomers like Matt Freese. Both have played the “hero” role at one stage, which is a necessary position to play if a team is to win a trophy. They will need another individual to step up today in some stage if they are to beat Mexico in the final.
“It’s not heroes of individual moments, it’s everyone.”@JennyTaft talks with @USMNT players Chris Richards and Matt Freese about the ‘hero role’ many players have stepped into this Gold Cup campaign 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/4uKM3SBsfT
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 6, 2025
1 hour to kickoff: The lineups are in, and Mauricio Pochettino has named an unchanged starting XI! He could have decided to withdraw the defensive porous Max Arfsten in place of John Tolkin, but kept the same individuals the same.
The surprise of the lineups is on the Mexico side, as 16-year-old Gilberto Mora starts in midfield over Erik Lira or Marcel Ruiz. He was a starter in the quarterfinals and semifinals, and has kept his place in this big match.
1 hour 30 mins to kickoff: These USMNT players may not all be the ones to compete at the FIFA World Cup next summer, but they have built a good harmony in the squad. Before the semifinal against Guatemala, Mauricio Pochettino spoke about how tightly knit they have been in this Gold Cup camp, and he’s beating that drum again ahead of the final.
“He {Mauricio Pochettino} reiterated just how proud he is of the progress that this group has made and said again there has been no drama.”@JennyTaft gives us the latest from the @USMNT camp ahead of the Gold Cup final tomorrow 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/lTtgtkNuMQ
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 5, 2025
USA vs. Mexico player ratings
MAN OF THE MATCH: TBD
This section will be updated after the match with the best player from either team.
USA starting lineup (4-2-3-1 Formation)
Goalkeeper: Matt Freese
The penalty shootout hero against Costa Rica had a fantastic match against Guatemala in the semifinals, and will be called upon plenty in this Gold Cup final for sure.
Safe hands on a shot from Gilberto Mora in the 24th minute that could have caused him trouble on the bounce.
Right-back: Alex Freeman
The son of former NFL star Antonio Freeman, Alex has maintained a steady presence this summer at a right-back position suffering from significant depth issues in the USMNT player pool.
Early on, a very safe presence defensively as he made a number of clearances in potentially dangerous situations.
Center-back: Tim Ream
Now 37 years old, Ream’s ability to maintain a starting international spot speaks just as much to the lack of quality at the center-back position as it does to Ream’s effectiveness. He struggled in the first half against Guatemala but turned it around to put in a decent shift.
Center-back: Chris Richards
The USMNT has benefitted greatly from Richards being available this summer, and he has been a star performer both defensively and on set pieces in front of goal.
It was exactly the latter which put the U.S. in front early on with his fourth-minute goal.
2 – Chris Richards joins Landon Donovan (3) and Giovanni Reyna (2) as the only #USMNT players to score in multiple competitive finals (also in 2023 Concacaf Nations League). Showpiece. pic.twitter.com/5M3Fsv8qbm
— OptaJack⚽️ (@OptaJack) July 6, 2025
Left-back: Max Arfsten
This entire Gold Cup has been a rollercoaster for Max Arfsten, who looks lost at times defensively but has done his best to make up for it on the offensive end.
Made an important early intervention in the third minute on a Mexico move forward.
Midfield: Tyler Adams
While Tim Ream wears the armband, Tyler Adams is the undisputed leader of this club. He has been a rock at the heart of the U.S. midfield.
Midfield: Luca de la Torre
With Johnny Cardoso struggling early in the summer fixtures before picking up an ankle injury, De la Torre has done well to take over in midfield and provide safe possession and some ball progression.
Left wing: Diego Luna
With three goals this Gold Cup, Diego Luna has vaulted himself into a position of contention for a spot on next summer’s World Cup roster.
Attacking midfield: Malik Tillman
Like Luna, Malik Tillman has been one of the biggest winners of the Gold Cup for the USMNT. His do-it-all skillset has translated brilliantly to Mauricio Pochettino’s tactics, providing a consistent, high-volume threat up front while also winning the ball back consistently in midfield.
Right wing: Sebastian Berhalter
Gregg Berhalter’s son hasn’t exactly stood out much this summer, playing more of a quiet foil to Diego Luna on the opposite wing. He and Jack McGlynn have been playing a more inside midfielder/winger role meant to be more of a possessional presence than an attacking threat.
Put a sensational free-kick delivery on the head of Chris Richards for the early U.S. goal.
Striker: Patrick Agyemang
A divisive figure up front, Agyemang’s involvement in the attacking buildup cannot be disputed. However, he had a tough match against Guatemala and will need to be more clinical if the U.S. is to beat its rival.
USA substitutes
This section will be updated when substitutes enter the field of play during the match.
USA vs. Mexico kick off time
The 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup final kicks off from NRG Stadium on Sunday, July 6, 2025 at 6 p.m. local time in Houston, TX. Here’s how that time translates across the rest of North America:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| Eastern Time | Sun, Jul. 6 | 7 p.m. ET |
| Central Time | Sun, Jul. 6 | 6 p.m. CT |
| Mountain Time | Sun, Jul. 6 | 5 p.m. MT |
| Australia | Sun, Jul. 6 | 4 p.m. PT |
USA vs. Mexico starting lineups, team news
At this point, there’s very little reason for Mauricio Pochettino to make many, if any changes to his starting lineup. The only plausible alteration that could have come to pass was bringing in John Tolkin to replace attacking-minded left-back Max Arfsten, who has struggled defensively this tournament, but he chose to name an unchanged XI.
Johnny Cardoso picked up an ankle injury and has missed the last two matches, while Haji Wright‘s Gold Cup is over due to an Achilles injury. Injured players cannot be replaced on Gold Cup rosters in this year’s edition of the competition.
The U.S. are without injured regulars Sergino Dest, Antonee Robinson, Ricardo Pepi, and Folarin Balogun for this tournament, while Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, and Gio Reyna are unavailable due to participation in the Club World Cup. Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah requested to have the summer off and are not with the side.
USA starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Freese (GK) — Freeman, Richards, Ream, Arfsten — Adams, de la Torre — Berhalter, Tillman, Luna — Agyemang.
USA subs: Turner (GK), Tolkin, Zimmerman, Harriel, McKenzie, M. Robinson, McGlynn, P. Aaronson, B. Aaronson, Sullivan, Downs, White.
Mexico lost Dynamo Moscow midfielder Luis Chavez to a torn ACL, which he suffered in training ahead of the Saudi Arabia match. It was expected that would mean Erik Lira could see more time, but instead it’s 16-year-old Gilberto Mora who starts in midfield for the third straight match.
Cesar Montes returns from his suspension for yellow card accumulation. Nobody else is at risk of suspension from here on out as the card count is wiped for the semifinal.
The biggest winner of the Gold Cup for Mexico has been winger Alexis Vega who has snatched the starting spot on the left from Orbelin Pineda. On the right, Julian Quinones, Roberto Alvarado, and Cesar Huerta have all been handed time but none have gained hold of the position.
Aguirre’s biggest call will be at striker, where he has tinkered with starting Raul Jimenez and Santiago Gimenez together as well as selecting one or the other.
Mexico starting lineup (4-3-3): Malagon (GK) — J. Sanchez, Montes, Vasquez, Gallardo — Ruiz, Alvarez, Mora — Alvarado, Jimenez, Vega.
Mexico subs: Ochoa (GK), Rangel (GK), Orozco, Reyes, Chavez, Lira, Pineda, Rodriguez, Huerta, Quinones, Sepulveda, Gimenez.
USA vs. Mexico live stream, TV channel
- Date: Saturday, June 28, 2025
- Time (ET): 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT
- TV channel (English): FS1
- Streaming (English): Fubo, Fox Sports app, ViX
- TV channel (Spanish): TUDN, Galavision, Univision
- Streaming (Spanish): Fubo, TUDN.com, Universo NOW
The entirety of the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup was broadcast in English by Fox Sports, with the final televised on FOX network channel.
In addition, there are Spanish-language options on TUDN, Univision, and Galavision.
All games on Fox’s family of channels, as well as all Spanish-language options, will be available to stream on Fubo, who are offering a free trial for new users.