USMNT vs Mexico: Projected lineups for the 2025 Gold Cup final

Mexico and the United States will face each other for the eighth time in a Gold Cup final, with El Tri holding the edge in the rivalry with five wins out of seven previous meetings.

Mexico and the USMNT will meet for the eighth time in a Gold Cup final, reinforcing their status as the tournament’s most successful teams since its rebranding. Mexico leads the all-time title count with nine Gold Cups, while the U.S. has won seven.

Despite missing key stars like Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie, the USMNT has made its way to the final. Those absences opened the door for other players—such as Diego Luna and Sebastian Berhalter—to emerge as leaders in the squad.

The United States qualified for the championship match by defeating Guatemala in the semifinals and Costa Rica in the quarterfinals, after finishing first in Group D. On the other side, Mexico also topped Group A, beat Saudi Arabia in the quarterfinals, and then eliminated Honduras in the semis.

New coaching eras for both sides

Both national teams are embarking on new managerial projects in preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which they will co-host alongside Canada. The U.S. is now under the leadership of Mauricio Pochettino, tasked with elevating the team’s level on home soil. Meanwhile, Javier Aguirre has returned to manage Mexico with similar ambitions.

How many times have Mexico and the U.S. met in a Gold Cup final?

Mexico and the United States have previously played each other in seven Gold Cup finals. Mexico has won five of those meetings, while the U.S. has won two.

Gold Cup 2025 Final: Date, Time, and Venue

• Match: United States vs. Mexico
• Date: Sunday, July 6, 2025
• Time: 5:00 PM (CDMX) / 7:00 PM (ET)
• Venue: NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas

Projected Lineups – USMT vs. Mexico

United States: Matt Freese, Maximilian Arfsten, Tim Ream, Chris Richards, Alex Freeman, Sebastian Berhalter, Luca de la Torre, Malik Tillman, Diego Luna, Jack McGlynn, Patrick Agyemang.

Mexico: Luis Malagón, Jesús Gallardo, Johan Vásquez, César Montes, Julián Araujo, Gilberto Mora, Edson Álvarez, Marcel Ruiz, Roberto Alvarado, Raúl Jiménez, Alexis Vega.