Mexico hopes to prove U.S. isn’t region’s soccer power

HOUSTON – Some would argue that the United States has surpassed Mexico as the region’s men’s soccer power. Soccer still means more south of the border, of course, but the Americans have dominated El Tri lately in official competitions.

Has the United States surpassed Mexico in men’s soccer power? The question didn’t catch star Mexican forward Raul Jimenez off guard. Nonetheless, it clearly stung the Fulham striker Saturday on the eve of the Gold Cup final at NRG Stadium between Mexico and the U.S. 

The Mexican reporter who asked the question then pointed out that Mexico has a six-game winless streak in official competitions against its bitter rival from the north.

“You always ask me that question,” Jimenez told the journalist before declining to answer the question. 

It is important to note that Mexico actually won its last meeting against the U.S., winning a friendly 2-0 in Guadalajara last October. In official competitions, though, El Tri hasn’t defeated the U.S. since the 2019 Gold Cup in Chicago. Mexico is 0-4-2 in official competitions against the U.S. since 2019.

Ready to break streak

“Streaks are always there to be broken,” said Jimenez, who is third on Mexico’s all-time goal scoring list. “We hope tomorrow is a great day for us, and we’ll break it.”

Mexico’s Raul Jimenez didn’t answer when a Mexican reporter asked if the U.S. has passed Mexico as Concacaf’s men’s soccer power?
Mexico is on a 6-game winless streak against the USMNT in “official” competitions, he was reminded.
“Streaks are meant to be broken,” he said. pic.twitter.com/aJSbKHdCNA

— Our Esquina (@OurEsquina) July 5, 2025

Jimenez is third on the Mexican men’s national team’s all-time goal scoring list with 41. Only Javier “El Chicharito” Hernandez and Jared Borgetti have scored more goals for El Tri. Jimenez has scored twice in the 2025 Gold Cup, including the winning goal in the semifinals against Honduras. He also scored one of the two goals in Mexico’s victory over the U.S. in October.

Mexico and the U.S will meet in the Gold Cup Final for the eighth time. El Tri, which has won a record 12 Gold Cups, is 5-3 in Gold Cup Finals against the U.S. The U.S. is seeking its seventh Gold Cup title while appearing in its 13th Gold Cup Final. 

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“They are playing really well in the Gold Cup,” Jimenez said of the U.S. “So we have our opportunity to keep our status as champions. We won the last one, and we want to keep that. We know the USA is a really good team. But we have a team of really good players to do our best game tomorrow and win the trophy.”

Mexico is fielding its top roster. The U.S. is fielding a B Team that is missing several top players, including superstar Christian Pulisic. Regardless of their rosters, though, the rivalry is always intense on and off the pitch. Bragging rights are always at stake, whether a player sees the field or is resting in Europe.

If history is an indication, the majority of the crowd will be in Mexico’s green supporting El Tri. Even in St. Louis, where fewer than 2 percent of the population is Latino, the U.S. played in front of a pro-Guatemala crowd in the 2-1 semifinal victory.

Mexico at home in Houston

“I think every time we play Mexico, they bring a good crowd of people,” U.S. center back Chris Richards said. “I think Guatemala was a good kind of teaser for some of the young guys who haven’t experienced a hostile crowd. 

“But, me personally, I’m going to try to lead by example tomorrow. I don’t think there’s anything else I can tell … them. If you’re not ready for the Mexico game, I don’t think you’ll be ready for any game.”

Young Mexican forward Santi Gimenez is teammates at AC Milan with Pulisic and U.S. midfielder Yunus Musah. He knows there’s more than a Gold Cup title on the line between the heated rivals.

“You put in a lot of effort because in the end it’s the North American Clasico,” Gimenez said. “And the last games against the United States have been very difficult. Also, because I have Pulisic and Musah (as teammates), I want to tease them a little bit. 

“It’s like that. That’s football. Try to compete, try to win. The other team has that same desire to fight on the field. I think that’s what’s beautiful about soccer, to compete. It’s going to be a great game. It’s going to be a very difficult game. … We want to represent our paisanos, and we will go out with everything.”