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Which Are the 3 Best USA vs Mexico Gold Cup Final Matches?
It’s Time to Remember the Three Best USA vs Mexico Gold Cup Finals
There Are Rivalries… And There Are RIVALRIES
There are rivalries you follow—and then there are rivalries that stop two nations in their tracks. The Gold Cup Finals between Mexico and the USMNT are one of those. It’s not just another match. It’s the latest chapter in a story that mixes soccer, culture, and a little bit of national pride.
This isn’t some recent feud. Mexico and the U.S. have been butting heads on the field since 1934, when they first faced off. Decades later, their battles still light up the Soccer News cycle and ignite debates from cafés in Mexico City to sports bars in New York.
Gold Cup History: Moments Fans Never Forgot
When it comes to the Gold Cup, no other soccer teams come close to their dominance. Mexico has taken the trophy nine times, while the U.S. has won it seven. On Sunday, they’ll meet for the eighth time in the tournament’s final, with Mexico holding the historical edge: five wins to the U.S.’s two.
If you’ve followed this rivalry, a few finals stand out:
2019: Mexico 1-0 USA
We’re counting down our Top 10 clips of 2019!
No. 8️⃣: Jonathan Dos Santos and Mexico’s beautiful winner against the U.S. in the Gold Cup final. 🇲🇽🔥 pic.twitter.com/fqpOTK4Ywc
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 24, 2019
The Americans came out strong but couldn’t close the deal. Mexico waited, struck late through Jonathan Dos Santos, and walked away with another title.
2007: USA 2-1 Mexico
WHAT A FINAL! 😱
Relive the 2007 Gold Cup final and the GOLAZO that gave 🇺🇸 @USMNT the victory over Mexico 🇲🇽#GoldCup21 🏆 #ThisIsOurs #Concacaf60 pic.twitter.com/2j5NISVU93
— Gold Cup (@GoldCup) August 1, 2021
This one flipped the script. Both teams were very evenly matched, but Benny Feilhaber’s goal in the 73rd minute devastated Mexico, who were unable to recover. This marked the beginning of the USMNT’s era of dominance at Coca-Cola, making it one of the team’s most important victories.
2011: Mexico 4-2 USA
The legendary Rose Bowl in Pasadena was the setting for the 2011 Gold Cup final. For the third consecutive final, the United States and Mexico contested the final, with Mexico remaining the defending champions. Legends Michael Bradley and Landon Donovan put the USMNT ahead in the first half.
It’s been 13 years since Mexico won a chaotic Gold Cup final:
El Tri trailed the USMNT 2-0 after 23 minutes.
They won 4-2.
And…Giovani Dos Santos put the finishing touches on it with this ridiculous finish 🤯
(via @GoldCup)pic.twitter.com/CJS6d7701q
— B/R Football (@brfootball) June 25, 2024
Everything seemed settled, but Mexico rallied. Pablo Barrera scored Mexico’s first and third goals, while Andrés Guardado added the second. Finally, Giovani dos Santos scored the best goal of the tournament, sealing an epic victory.
Sunday’s Final: A Toss-Up
So what about this year? The Gold Cup Odds tell an interesting story. Mexico is a slight favorite at +145, but they haven’t exactly looked sharp lately. Wasteful finishing and shaky defending have raised plenty of questions.
The U.S., meanwhile, enters as a +205 underdog, but they’re coming off a semifinal where they finally clicked. Coach Pochettino’s squad jumped to an early two-goal lead over Guatemala and coasted through the second half, conserving energy for this final.
When it comes to betting on soccer teams, it’s tempting to lean on the odds, but with these two, form often goes out the window. Emotions, pressure, and raw grit take over.
Whatever happens, Sunday promises another match where fans on both sides will be holding their breath. In rivalries like this, trophies matter—but bragging rights matter even more.
