The Gold Cup is coming to an end, and the two teams in the final may be a surprise to some. Mexico will be taking on Panama on Sunday, July 16th, to wrap up the North and Central American tournament.
Mexico
After a devastating defeat to the US Men’s national team in the CONCACAF Nations League, Mexico looked at the Gold Cup as an opportunity for redemption.
Mexico began the tournament, bashing Honduras 4-0. They then beat Haiti 4-1 and finished the group stage with their only loss against Qatar 1-0. Since their loss, they remain undefeated and have not conceded a goal in two games while scoring five. Mexico does not look to be slowing down.
Interim boss Jaime Lozano said in a post-game-conference after the win against Jamaica, "I arrived for a Gold Cup; that's what's in my mind," highlighting the initially agreed length of his stay with the national team.
Panama
Panama shocked the world with their run to the final. They have conceded in all but one game against Qatar with a 4-0 win. They faced Costa Rica, Martinique, and El Salvador in the group stage.
The big upset of the tournament came when Panama defeated the reigning champions. In a 1-1 game that went to penalties, Panama won in the shootout against the USA Men’s team to help them advance to the final.
Who is Winning the Gold Cup?
Mexico are heavy favorites for the final. Panama has failed to defeat the Mexican side in their last twelve meetings against them. The most recent was the third-place game of the CONCACAF Nations League, where Mexico held on to an early fourth-minute goal from Jesus Gallardo.
However, Panama is undefeated in their last five games, and their momentum coming off of a win against the undisputed favorites of the tournament can help them pull off another upset to win their first-ever Gold Cup.
Where Is the Final?
The final of the Gold Cup will be held in the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Kickoff for the game will be at 19:30 Eastern Time on Sunday, July 16th.
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