Overview

• Mexico dominated possession at 60%, outshot the U.S. 16-6 and secured a 2-1 comeback through Edson Álvarez’s 78th-minute header after a VAR review overturned an offside call.
• Chris Richards opened scoring in the fourth minute with a header from a Sebastian Berhalter free kick, giving the U.S. an early lead in Houston.
• Coach Mauricio Pochettino publicly blasted referee Mario Escobar and the VAR team for failing to award a clear handball penalty against Jorge Sánchez.
• The U.S. lineup, without key regulars such as Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie, featured mainly MLS-based players as part of Pochettino’s possession-oriented rebuild.
• With Gold Cup play concluded, the USMNT will regroup in September to reintegrate absent stars and sharpen tactics en route to the 2026 World Cup.