Mexico Beats Dominican Republic in 2025 Gold Cup Opener

Mexico opened its 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup title defense with a 3-2 win over debutant Dominican Republic at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, which will host the 2028 Olympics opening ceremony. Edson Álvarez, Raúl Jiménez—marking his 40th international goal—and César Montes scored for Mexico, while Peter González and Edison Azcona found the net for the Dominican Republic. The match occurred amid widespread protests and heightened tensions in Los Angeles over U.S. immigration enforcement, significantly affecting fan turnout and celebrations by major supporters' groups. Mexico's team changed hotels due to security concerns, and President Claudia Sheinbaum urged authorities to avoid immigration actions targeting fans. Coach Javier Aguirre praised Mexico's composure and acknowledged the Dominican Republic's strong performance. Mexico now tops its group and will face Suriname next, while the Dominican Republic plays Costa Rica.