The stage is set for the Concacaf Gold Cup final, and it’s a fitting one as the United States and Mexico will meet for the title in the eighth time in the history of the competition. This is the first final that the United States men’s national team has played under Mauricio Pochettino, and it’s when things get real. Not only will the USMNT be the only thing standing in the way of Mexico lifting three consecutive Concacaf titles, but they’ll also have a chance to avenge Pochettino’s loss to El Tri in October of 2024.
In a makeshift USMNT roster without regulars such as Christian Pulisic, Antonee Robinson, Weston McKennie, Folarin Balogun and Sergino Dest, Pochettino has been able to put together a team that has fought their way to the final, but Mexico will be their toughest test yet. While Malik Tillman, Matt Freese, and Diego Luna have shown that they belong on this roster with their performances pushing for roles in the 2026 World Cup squad, plenty of players still need to make that next step.
There’s no better chance for that than facing Mexico in a final. This is a rivalry where USMNT legends are created and this team hasn’t had to face anyone who would be considered a global power to get to this point. Defeating Trinidad and Tobago, Saudi Arabia, Haiti, and Guatemala, along with drawing Costa Rica, doesn’t scream that the USMNT is back where they want to be. Getting past a full-strength Mexico, though, would be a major step in the right direction.
The USMNT has been trying to show progress but opportunities to show that in competitive matc