USMNT Falls to Mexico in Gold Cup Heartbreak, New Identity Takes Shape

Alexi Lalas’ State of the Union Podcast

The U.S. Men’s National Team came up short in the 2025 Gold Cup Final, falling 2-1 to Mexico in a hard-fought battle. The match was decided once again by intensity, momentum swings, and set pieces. Chris Richards gave the U.S. a dream start with an early header, but Raul Jimenez pulled Mexico level before halftime. A controversial handball in the second half kept the drama high, and after a lengthy VAR check, Edson Álvarez delivered the decisive blow.
Stu Holden and Maurice Edu joined the show to break down the performance and examine what this tournament revealed about the team’s evolving identity. They discuss who stepped up, who has real 2026 World Cup potential, and who is still on the bubble. With just a handful of windows remaining before World Cup camp begins, the clock is ticking, and the path forward is coming into focus.

Intro (0:00)
USMNT vs Mexico Gold Cup Final Recap (1:01)
Valuable Lessons for Mauricio Pochettino (4:05)
USMNT Outlook: Better, Worse, or Same? (7:25)
USMNT Gold Cup Winners: Luna, Tillman, Berhalter (8:50)
Search for Striker Continues (13:39)
Alexi Rides A Horse (27:12)

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