A pair of rivals meet up in the Concacaf Gold Cup final on Sunday, July 6 as the United States takes on Mexico at NRG Stadium in Houston.
This soccer match is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. EDT and will be broadcast on FOX. Fans looking to watch this match can do so for free by using DIRECTV, which offers a free trial, or FuboTV, which also offers a free trial as well as up to $25 off your first month. SlingTV doesn’t offer a free trial but has promotional offers available for streaming the match.
The United States defeated Guatemala, 2-1, in the semifinals to set up this rivalry match. Diego Luna scored in the 4′ and 15′ to give the USA a quick lead that it held onto the entire match, only allowing a goal in the 80′.
Mexico defeated Honduras in its semifinal thanks to a Raúl Jiménez goal in the 50′ for the lone score in the 1-0 match.
The last time these squads faced off in the Gold Cup final was 2021, the last time the USA won, and it was a 1-0 contest that went to extra time. Mexico is looking to be the first repeat champion since 2009 and 2011 when Mexico defeat the USA in the final both years, following the USA winning consecutively in 2005 and 2007.
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Who: United States vs. Mexico
When: Sunday, July 6 at 7 p.m. EDT
Where: NRG Stadium in Houston
Stream: DIRECTV (free trial); FuboTV (free trial); SlingTV
Betting: Check out our MA sports betting guide, where you can learn basic terminology, definitions and how to read odds for those interested in learning how to bet in Massachusetts.
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FuboTV is an internet television service that offers more than 200 channels across sports and entertainment including Paramount+ with SHOWTIME. From the UEFA Champions League to the WNBA to international tournaments ranging across sports, there’s plenty of options available on FuboTV, which offers a free trial and up to $25 off the first month for new customers.
What is Sling TV?
Sling TV offers a variety of live programming ranging from news and sports and starting as low as $20 a month for your first month. Subscribers also get a month of DVR Plus free if they sign up now. Choose from a variety of sports packages without long-term contracts and with easy cancellation.
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Chris Richards says US team ready to fight in Gold Cup final against Mexico
HOUSTON (AP) — Chris Richards has noticed a turnaround in the U.S. team during the CONCACAF Gold Cup, a change from both the end of coach Gregg Berhalter’s tenure and the start of Mauricio Pochettino’s.
“We kind of like to fight, so I think that’s something that maybe has been missing from the national team over the last few camps, few months, few years,” the defender said ahead of Sunday’s final against Mexico. “We didn’t come into camp saying that we want to fight, but I think if teams want to bring it to us, then they have something else coming for them. Of course, we want to win games, but sometimes in CONCACAF it’s not pretty, so you have to do the dirty things.”
Mexico is the defending champion and has nine titles to seven for the U.S. and one for Canada. A pro-Mexico crowd is expected at NRG Stadium.
Richards said the Americans have bonded during their month together, causing players to defend each other when opponents challenge them.
“We love each other as if we’re a big family, and if you have siblings you know that if anybody messes with your sibling, well, I guess for lack of a better word, you kind of have to kill them,” he said Saturday. “You’re allowed to do whatever to your siblings, but nobody from the outside can.”
Missing many of its regular starters because of injuries, vacation and the Club World Cup, the No. 16 U.S managed five wins over relatively weak opponents and reached its first Gold Cup final since 2021. The meeting with 17th-ranked Mexico will be the last competitive match for both nations before they co-host next year’s World Cup along with Canada.
“I think the team is going to be ready not only to fight on the pitch against players from Mexico with the difficult atmosphere on the stadium, on the crowd, but I think it’s good for us,” said Pochettino, who admired the energy-filled semifinal crowd in St. Louis that was 90% pro-Guatemala. “It’s good because I think it’s going to be maybe the last game that we are going to play under pressure, and to play under pressure is what we need.”
The U.S. advanced with victories over teams ranked No. 100 (Trinidad and Tobago), 58 (Saudi Arabia), 83, (Haiti), 54, (Costa Rica) and 106 (Guatemala), winning three times by one goal and once on penalty kicks. The only dominant performance was an opening 5-0 rout of T&T.
The Americans entered the Gold Cup with a four-game losing streak, their longest since 2007. Defender Tim Ream, at 37 the oldest player on the roster, said it took time for them to adjust to Pochettino and his assistants.
“This is a different atmosphere now,” he said. “This is different set of coaches, different ideas, different standards, different values, different everything. And it was a learning process, for sure.”
Pochettino is a former coach of Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain, where he guided Lionel Messi.
“From the outside looking in, they can be a little bit intimidating,” Richards said. “But then once you finally get to meet them, you understand that they’re all just big teddy bears and they all really care about family.”
Matt Freese has emerged during the Gold Cup to supplant Matt Turner for now as the starting goalkeeper.
“I think we’ve proved that we can play against some bigger opponents. I think we’ve proved that we surprise people,” he said. “We haven’t proved what we want to prove yet, and so the job is not finished.”
Ahead of the final, Pochettino gathered the players and staff for a motivational message,
“He said something about his dreams last night,” midfielder Malik Tillman said, “and about his dream for tomorrow.”
The Associated Press contributed to this post
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