Mexico Wins 3-2 Over Dominican Republic in Gold Cup Opener

Mexico narrowly defeated the Dominican Republic 3-2 in their opening match of the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup at SoFi Stadium, with Edson Álvarez and Raúl Jiménez playing key roles in the victory. Despite Mexico's status as defending champions and tournament favorites, the Dominican Republic, making their Gold Cup debut, delivered a spirited performance and scored twice, including their first-ever Gold Cup goal by Peter González. The match was marked by Mexico's struggle to maintain control, with multiple two-goal leads quickly challenged by the resilient Dominicans. The game took place amid heightened tensions in Los Angeles due to immigration enforcement policies, adding a deeper social context to the event and drawing a mostly Mexican-supporting crowd of over 54,000. Mexico coach Javier Aguirre praised his team's emotional balance but acknowledged areas needing improvement as they prepare for their next match against Suriname. The Dominican Republic will look to build on their debut performance when they face Costa Rica next.