HOUSTON In times of indignation and grievance over the persecution of immigrants especially Mexicans in the United States, the Mexican national team was able to give its countrymen a moment of distraction, pride, and triumph.

Captain Edson Alvarez scored a header, Mexico's umpteenth set piece goal of the tournament, to break a second-half tie and give the Tricolor its tenth Gold Cup title with a 2-1 victory over the United States at NRG Stadium in Houston.

It is the first time a national team has retained the CONCACAF title since Mexico won the 2009 and 2011 finals, both against the United States. Since then, the two teams had alternated winning the tournament.

Another Mexico set piece goal made the difference

El Tricolor, fueled by the vast majority of the 70,925 spectators at the home of the Houston Texans, had possession in the second half, inhabited the other side of the field and tried to create danger on the flanks, especially on the right, where Alexis Vega and Roberto Alvarado often had space.

Roberto Alvarado came very close to scoring a great goal for Mexico in the 50th minute when he found his left profile on a run down the right and his curling shot went just wide as many in the stadium were already celebrating a goal.

Four minutes later, it was the United States’ turn. Maximilian Arfsten found his angle and sent a shot from his right foot just over the crossbar. Gilberto Mora, the new jewel of Mexican football, was arguably El Tri's best player until his 74th-minute exit, receiving a warm round of applause from the crowd. Orbelín Pineda replaced him. In the 77th minute, the cry for goal erupted when Édson Álvarez headed in a free kick from the corner that was extended by Johan Vásquez. The play was flagged for offside, but after a VAR review,Referee Mario Escobar pointed to the center of the field to declare Mexico 2-1.

The captain of the Tricolor celebrated his goal with euphoria and much emotion, another goal from him in a set piece, the specialty of Javier Aguirre's squad.

After the final whistle, Mexican music resonated in the stadium with the lyrics of El Rey, chanted in unison by tens of thousands of Mexicans in the stands, and it is true that Mexico remains the king of the region.

USA locker room goal and Jiménez goal in the first half

The match had barely started and the United States opened the scoring when the smoke from the protocol ceremony still invaded the stadium.

Sebastian Berhalter took a free kick and Chris Richards, Crystal Palace defender, finished with a header after separating himself from César Montes to score a header. His shot hit the crossbar and bounced just inside the goal area for the first goal allowed by Mexico after four scoreless games.

After the locker room goal, the Mexican team settled on the field and began to have attacks, showing good ball circulation. In the 27th minute, the Mexican team equalized and came from the boots of its best player.

Marcel Ruiz received the ball from Jesús Gallardo on the inside of the left side and filtered a short pass into the area where Raúl Jiménez appeared, who with a lightning half-turn rattled the net, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance, a shot into the corner that frustrated center back Tim Ream, who closed it down late.

Gilberto Mora, the 16-year-old who provided the assist for Mexico's only goal in the semifinal against Honduras, had two dangerous long-range shots in the first half; one from the right that goalkeeper Matt Freese saved beautifully from below, and one from the left that the keeper deflected over for a corner.

Mora continues to show his great talent and poise, unusual for someone his age.

In contrast, Mexican center back César Montes had a difficult first half. Shortly before the break, the center back slipped and gave away a dangerous ball near his area that compromised his team. By then, he had already been booked for a tackle that stopped a dangerous attack by the speedy Patrick Agyemang.

However, Montes bounced back in the second half and made a saving tackle near the end, when the United States was desperately seeking an equalizer.

And so, Mexico will arrive at the 2026 World Cup in a year as the reigning two-time CONCACAF champions.