Once again it’s USA vs. Mexico in the final of the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup, which crowns the best national team in the region of North America, Central America and the Caribbean. Mexico is the defending champion after beating the USA in the 2019 final by a narrow 1-0 scoreline.
It’s typically tight and heated when these two archrivals go head-to-head — the 2021 Nations League final in June was pure chaos. Mexico will be out for revenge for that loss and with a roster that’s much closer to full strength than the U.S. men’s national team’s alternate squad, El Tri is the favorite to claim back-to-back Gold Cup triumphs.
As the powers in the region, the USA and Mexico have claimed nearly every Gold Cup since 1991: Mexico has won it eight times and the USA on six occasions with the last one coming in 2017. Canada was the only other nation to hoist the trophy during a memorable Cinderella run in 2000.
WATCH: USA vs. Mexico Gold Cup final on fuboTV (free 7-day trial)
Sporting News will be following the 2021 Gold Cup final as it happens, providing live score updates, commentary and highlights as they come through from a sold-out Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas:
USMNT vs. Mexico live score
1H | 2H | Final | |
USA | – | – | – |
Mexico | – | – | – |
Goals:
(All times Eastern)
8:28 p.m.: It’s going to essentially be a Mexico home game:
In terms of fan support, this is shaping up to be about 90-10 in favor of #ElTriEng. I see one pocket of of #usmnt support behind one of the goals. Everything else is for Mexico.
— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) August 2, 2021
8:21 p.m.: On DraftKiings, the USA is at +135 to win the Gold Cup, Mexico the favorite at -165:
Mexico starts seven players who also started the Nations League final to the #USMNT’s one.
Tonight might be El Tri’s best chance to beat the ?? in a final for the next decade-plus.
— Doug McIntyre (@ByDougMcIntyre) August 2, 2021
7:35 p.m.: It’s USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter’s birthday today (48 years young):
7:33 p.m.: A little taste of the atmosphere, well over one hour before kick:
5:46 p.m.: This place is going to be rocking:
USA vs. Mexico starting lineups
Plenty of changes for the USMNT’s lineup against Mexico: Gyasi Zardes gets the start over Daryl Dike; fullbacks Reggie Cannon and George Bello come in for Shaq Moore and Sam Vines; and Eryk Williamson is in the starting XI over Gianluca Busio in midfield.
On the Mexico side, Tata Martino opted for central defender Nestor Araujo over Carlos Salcedo, probably because the latter can be prone to a mistake or red card. The last thing Mexico wants to do is to give the USA any advantage. Also, Martino preferred Jonathan Dos Santos over Erick Gutierrez in midfield, alongside central midfield fixtures Hector Herrera and Edson Alvarez. Dos Santos started the last two matches against Canada and Honduras.
USMNT
Starting lineup (4-3-3, left to right): 1-Matt Turner-GK — 21-George Bello, 12-Miles Robinson, 16-James Sands, 2-Reggie Cannon — 19-Eryk Williamson, 23-Kellyn Acosta, 17-Sebastian Lletget — 13-Matthew Hoppe, 9-Gyasi Zardes, 7-Paul Arriola (capt.)
Substitutes: 18-Sean Johnson-GK, 22-Brad Guzan-GK, 4-Donovan Pines, 3-Sam Vines, 20-Shaq Moore, 24-Henry Kessler, 10-Cristian Roldan, 14-Jackson Yueill, 6-Gianluca Busio, 8-Nicholas Gioacchini, 11-Daryl Dike, 15-Jonathan Lewis
Mexico
Starting lineup (4-3-3, left to right): 1-Alfredo Talavera-GK — 23-Jesus Gallardo, 15-Hector Moreno (capt.), 2-Nestor Araujo, 21-Luis Rodriguez — 6-Jonathan Dos Santos, 4-Edson Alvarez, 16-Hector Herrera — 10-Orbelin Pineda, 11-Rogelio Funes Mori, 17-Jesus “Tecatito” Corona
Subs: 12-Rodolfo Cota-GK, 20-Jonathan Orozco-GK, 3-Carlos Salcedo, 5-Osvaldo Rodriguez, 8-Kevin Alvarez, 19-Gilberto Sepulveda, 7-Erick Sanchez, 14-Erick Gutierrez, 13-Alan Cervantes, 24-Rodolfo Pizarro, 18-Efrain Alvarez, 9-Alan Pulido
How to watch USA vs. Mexico Gold Cup Final
- Date: Sunday, August 1, 2021
- Time: 9 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: FS1
- Spanish-language TV: TUDN, Univision
- Streaming: fuboTV, Fox Sports app, TUDN app, TUDN.tv
- In Canada: OneSoccer.ca
The Gold Cup final from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas will be broadcast on FS1 (English) and Univision and TUDN (Spanish). All three networks can be streamed on fuboTV (free 7-day trial). The match can also be streamed on the Fox Sports app, TUDN app and TUDN.tv, but only for authenticated subscribers.
OneSoccer.ca will carry the CONCACAF regional championship in Canada.
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