Mexico Survives Scare in Gold Cup Opener Against Dominican Republic

With the 2026 World Cup just a year away, co-hosts Mexico opened their CONCACAF Gold Cup campaign with a tense 3-2 win over the Dominican Republic at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. While the three points provide a positive start, the performance left lingering questions about El Tri’s readiness for the challenges ahead, especially as expectations continue to rise.

Set against the backdrop of rising protests and tensions in LA over the United States’ controversial immigration policies, the match took on a deeper meaning. With Trump-era immigration enforcement making headlines again, the game offered a rare moment of unity and release for fans from both communities. For many, football became more than just a sport. It was an escape, a cultural celebration, and a brief respite from the uncertainty of daily life in America.

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Mexico entered the tournament as one of the favorites, bolstered in part by the United States opting not to bring their strongest squad. The U.S. has had its own struggles in the build-up, including a heavy defeat to Switzerland, raising eyebrows about their form.

Mexico, too, had mixed fortunes in their warm-ups, falling 4-2 to the Swiss before edging out Türkiye 1-0. With automatic World Cup qualification already secured through co-hosting duties, this tournament serves as a much-needed litmus test and tune-up for El Tri, who are desperate to find rhythm, balance, and identity before 2026.

The match began with both teams looking unsettled. Mexico dominated possession but were sluggish in the final third, often making the wrong pass or taking one touch too many. Edson Álvarez, traditionally a defensive midfielder, was tasked with orchestrating play.

It was a role he embraced despite being out of his natural zone. In the 18th minute, he delivered a gorgeous ball over the top which led to Santi Giménez having an effort cleared off the line. Raúl Jiménez followed with a shot that forced a brilliant save from Xavier Valdez in the Dominican net. Mexico eventually broke through in the 44th minute with Álvarez heading home from a corner.

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Second-half changes saw Alexis Vega and Carlos Rodríguez enter the game, with Álvarez dropping into center-back. Mexico wasted no time as Jiménez doubled the lead just two minutes in, finishing a smooth move with strike partner Giménez. But complacency crept in.

In a bizarre moment, a second ball rolled onto the pitch during play, causing confusion that led to Peter González curling a shot into the net for the Dominicans. Just two minutes later, Álvarez, initially credited with a goal, appeared to deflect a header off César Montes for Mexico’s third.

Despite the scoreline, the midfield noticeably lost its balance without Álvarez shielding the defense. His removal allowed for more attacking freedom but left Mexico exposed and lacking control. The backline also seemed less coordinated with Álvarez in a new role, and in the 67th minute, Edison Azcona punished them. Cutting in from the left, he fired a deflected shot past the keeper after Jesús Sánchez allowed him too much space on his favored foot.

In a night that mixed politics, passion, and pressure, Mexico secured three points. However, if this is to be a true stepping stone toward World Cup readiness, they’ll need much more than that.

By: Jahvon Barrett / @jahvonbarrett

Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Soccrates Images – Getty Images