The 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup is underway, and Mexico, the defending champion, faced off against the Dominican Republic in their opening match at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on June 14, 2025. This game marked a historic moment as the first-ever meeting between these two nations in an official competition. Mexico entered the tournament in strong form, having won three of their last four matches, including the CONCACAF Nations League final against Panama in March. The Dominican Republic, making their Gold Cup debut, aimed to make a statement against the reigning champions.
The match began with Mexico dominating possession and creating several early chances. Dominican Republic's goalkeeper, Xavier Valdez, was called into action early, producing a world-class save in the 21st minute to deny Raúl Jiménez and keep the score level. Despite Mexico's dominance, the Dominican Republic's defense held firm for much of the first half.
Just before halftime, in the 44th minute, Edson Álvarez broke the deadlock with a header, giving Mexico a 1-0 lead. The goal injected further momentum into the Mexican side as they headed into the break.
The second half started with a bang as Raúl Jiménez found the net in the 47th minute, extending Mexico's lead to 2-0. Jiménez, playing as a lone striker, showcased his clinical finishing ability, putting Mexico in a commanding position.
Despite the two-goal deficit, the Dominican Republic showed resilience. Peter González scored in the 51st minute, marking the nation's first-ever goal in the CONCACAF Gold Cup and reducing the deficit to 2-1. However, Mexico responded swiftly. Edson Álvarez scored again in the 53rd minute, deflecting a shot off Cesar Montes, to restore Mexico's two-goal advantage, making it 3-1. The Dominican Republic continued to fight, and Edison Azcona scored, narrowing the gap to 3-2. Ultimately, Mexico managed to hold on to their lead and secure the win.
The confirmed lineups before the match saw Luis Malagón in goal for Mexico, with a defense consisting of Jorge Sánchez, Israel Reyes, César Montes, and Jesús Gallardo. The midfield featured Edson Álvarez, Erik Lira, and Orbelín Pineda, while Roberto Alvarado, Santiago Giménez, and Raúl Jiménez led the attack. For the Dominican Republic, Xavier Valdez started in goal, with a defense of Noah Dollenmayer, Edgar Pujol, Pablo Rosario, and Joao Urbáez. The midfield comprised Edarlyn Reyes, Heinz Mörschel, Jean Carlos López, and Jimmy Kaparos, with Peter González and Dorny Romero up front.
Javier Aguirre, Mexico's coach, had emphasized the importance of the bond between the team and its fans ahead of the tournament. He aims to use the Gold Cup to fine-tune his squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Mexico is in Group A alongside the Dominican Republic, Suriname, and Costa Rica, as they aim to win their 10th Gold Cup title.
