Mexico Opens Gold Cup Title Defense With a Statement Win

INGLEWOOD, Calif. June 14, 2025—

Mexico’s road toward another CONCACAF Gold Cup title began with a warning: No opponent can be overlooked.

El Tri earned a 3-2 victory over the Dominican Republic in a dramatic opening match at SoFi Stadium, but the final score told the story of a game that was much closer than many expected.

Mexico found itself tested by a young and confident opponent that played without fear.

Edson Álvarez Opens the Door

After a frustrating opening half, Mexico finally broke through before halftime when Edson Álvarez rose above the defense and powered a header into the net to give El Tri a 1-0 lead.

Moments into the second half, veteran striker Raúl Jiménez continued his historic international career by scoring Mexico’s second goal, reaching another milestone with his 40th goal for the national team.

Raul Jiménez’s finishing ability once again showed why he remains one of Mexico’s most important players.

Dominican Republic did not Back Down

Despite trailing by two goals, the Dominican Republic showed the character that has made its national program one of the fastest-growing teams in the region.

Young forward Peter González gave Dominican fans a historic moment, scoring the nation’s first-ever Gold Cup goal and bringing his team back into the match.

Mexico answered quickly when César Montes restored the two-goal advantage with another header, but the Dominican Republic continued fighting.

Edison Azcona scored to make it 3-2, creating a tense final stretch where Mexico was forced to defend its narrow lead.

In the end, Mexico won the game.

Post-Match Reactions

Mexico Head Coach:
“Every Gold Cup match is difficult. We know teams raise their level when they play against Mexico. We have to improve, but the most important thing was getting the three points.”

Dominican Republic Head Coach Marcelo Neveleff:
“Our players showed courage. They believed they could compete, and that is important for the growth of Dominican soccer.”

Mexico earned the result it needed, but the Dominican Republic left SoFi Stadium with something even bigger: respect.

For El Tri, the mission remains clear: improve, advance, and defend the Gold Cup crown.

Final Score: Mexico 3-2 Dominican Republic