Chris Richards headed in a cross from midfielder Sebastian Berhalter less than four minutes after kickoff, giving the United States a 1–0 advantage over Mexico in the opening moments of the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup final at Houston’s NRG Stadium. The early strike sets the tone for a contest between the tournament’s two most successful sides. The United States reached the final after edging Guatemala 2–1, while Mexico advanced by defeating Honduras 1–0. Tonight’s winner will add to a record that currently stands at seven Gold Cups for the U.S. and nine for Mexico.