USA vs. Mexico live score, updates, highlights from 2021 Gold Cup final

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

Goals:

(All times Eastern)

38th min.: OK, this is a personal battle between Turner and Funes Mori. The Mexican forward fires a show shot, but Turner stops it.

34th min.: Chance for Funes Mori in the middle of the box, but his first time shot goes wide after the Gallardo cross from the left. The Mexican fullbacks are pushing way up the field.

31st min.: Another big save by Matt Turner! Funes Mori just turns James Sands in the box and fires a shot from a tight angle off Turner’s knee at the near post.

26th min.: What a miss by Paul Arriola. He was alone against the goalkeeper in the box after Sebastian Lletget strips Edson Alvarez of the ball. Big missed opportunity for the USA, off the outside of the right post.

21st min.: Funes Mori goes down in the box again! This time it was a battle for the ball against Miles Robinson, who had his arms extended, but no push, just shielding the ball. And the referee has a talk with Funes Mori.

18th min.: Mexico left back Gallardo with a ball that goes across the face of the goal to the Mexico right back, who wins a corner. The header on the set piece is right at goalkeeper Matt Turner.

15th min.: After a long delay, Williamson is back on the field and the fans start the “Ole” on every Mexico pass. Pretty sure your team needs to be in the lead before you can do that.

12th min.: U.S. midfielder Eryk Williamson on the ground getting treatment after taking a ball to the head.

11th min.: On the ensuing corner, US ‘keeper Turner makes a diving save on a header by Funes Mori.

11th min.: Wow. That looked like a penalty kick that should’ve been awarded to Mexico. George Bello with the high arm in an unnatural position to block a Mexico cross. The officials don’t call it! USA got away with one there.

10th min.: We’re 10 minutes in and the USMNT has had a few giveaways in midfield, but the Americans have held up. As the minutes go by, the USA is seemingly dropping deeper on each attack.

2nd min.: Mexico fans wanted a penalty for Rogelio Funes Mori going down in the box on a challenge from goalkeeper Matt Turner. But that was a dive. Great no-call by the ref.

1st min.: It’s a go. USMNT pressing right out of the gates.

8:57 p.m.: The place is absolutely jam-packed:

8:54 p.m.: National anthem time. Mexico’s is first.

8:52 p.m.: Here’s tonight’s prize:

8:28 p.m.: It’s going to essentially be a Mexico home game:

8:21 p.m.: On DraftKiings, the USA is at +135 to win the Gold Cup, Mexico the favorite at -165:

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 — 17-Sebastian Lletget, 23-Kellyn Acosta, 19-Eryk Williamson — 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 — 16-Hector Herrera, 4-Edson Alvarez, 6-Jonathan Dos Santos — 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.