MEXICO 1
(Gimenez 88)
PANAMA 0
Mexico reclaimed their Gold Cup crown with an encouraging display at this year’s edition of CONCACAF’s biennial tournament, after which they will be hoping to put a difficult and disappointing few years behind them.
Along with the United States and Canada, Mexico are one of the co-hosts of the next World Cup in 2026, and this victory will come as something of a relief as they look to reassert themselves as a force in the region in preparation for making their mark at that tournament.
This latest victory, defeating Panama 1-0 in the final, saw El Tri maintain their status as the most successful team in Gold Cup history, making it nine wins in total and winning the title back from the United States who defeated them in the previous final in 2021.
The scorer of the late winner against Panama, Santiago Gimenez, had been on the pitch for less than five minutes when he bustled through the opposition’s defence in the 88th minute to net the game’s only goal.
It was a Mexican counter-attack, initiated by a ball by Orbelin Pineda from inside his own half, but the goal was all about Gimenez.
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, but having grown up in Mexico where his
