2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup final

{{Infobox football match

| title = 2023 CONCACAF Men’s Gold Cup final

| image = Aerial view of SoFi Stadium (July 2022).jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Aerial view of SoFi Stadium, the host venue for the match.

| event = 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup

| team1 = Mexico

| team1association = {{flagicon|MEX|size=30px}}

| team1score = 1

| team2 = Panama

| team2association = {{flagicon|PAN|size=30px}}

| team2score = 0

| details =

| date = {{Start date|2023|07|16}}

| stadium = SoFi Stadium

| city = Inglewood, California

| man_of_the_match1a = Santiago Giménez (Mexico)

| referee = Saíd Martínez (Honduras)

| attendance = 72,963

| weather =

| previous = 2021

| next = 2025

}}

The 2023 CONCACAF Men’s Gold Cup final was a soccer match to determine the winner of the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup. The match was the 17th final of the Gold Cup, a biennial tournament contested by the men's national teams representing the member associations of CONCACAF and an invited guest to decide the champion of North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. The match was held at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, United States, on July 16, 2023, and was contested by Mexico and Panama.{{cite press release |date=October 27, 2022 |title=SoFi Stadium awarded 2023 Concacaf Men’s Gold Cup Final |url=https://www.concacaf.com/gold-cup/article/sofi-stadium-awarded-2023-concacaf-gold-cup-final/ |publisher=CONCACAF |accessdate=October 27, 2022}}

Mexico won 1–0 thanks to a late and the only Goal in Match from substitute Santiago Giménez, securing a record ninth Gold Cup title.{{cite web|url= https://www.espn.com/soccer/report/_/gameId/678990|title= Mexico beats Panama in Men’s Gold Cup final with late Gimenez goal|date=17 July 2023|work=ESPN|accessdate=18 July 2023}}

Background

Mexico was the most successful national team at the CONCACAF Gold Cup with eight titles in ten finals played. After being eliminated in the group stage of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Mexico signed Argentine coach Diego Cocca to replace his fellow countryman Gerardo Martino.{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/mexico-name-argentine-cocca-head-coach-2023-02-10/|title=Mexico name Argentine Cocca as head coach|publisher=Reuters|location=Mexico City|first1=Janina|last1=Nuno Rios|first2=Angelica|last2=Medina|editor-last=Ferris|editor-first=Ken|date=10 February 2023|access-date=15 July 2023}} Under the management of Cocca, the Mexicans played in the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League Finals, losing 3–0 in the semi-finals to the United States but beating Panama 1–0 in the third place play-off. These results led to Cocca's departure and the arrival of Mexican Jaime Lozano as interim coach a few days before the start of the Gold Cup.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37880045/mexico-fires-cocca-names-lozano-interim-coach|title=Mexico fires Cocca, names Lozano as interim coach|publisher=ESPN|first=Cesar|last=Hernandez|date=19 June 2023|accessdate=15 July 2023}}

With Danish-born Spaniard coach Thomas Christiansen at the helm, Panama reached their third Gold Cup final to become the team with the most Gold Cup finals, behind only Mexico and the United States. The Panamanians lost the two previous finals to the United States; 3–1 on penalties after a goalless draw in 2005 and 1–0 in 2013.{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/gold-cup-mexico-panama-final-lozano-christiansen-c8da6220ff72ea00a307b75b43018747|title=Mexico seeks a Gold Cup championship against Panama in redemption tour after disappointing World Cup|publisher=Associated Press|location=Mexico City|first=Carlos|last=Rodriguez|date=15 July 2023|accessdate=15 July 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.concacaf.com/gold-cup/article/mexico-and-panama-to-face-off-in-2023-gold-cup-final-on-july-16-at-sofi-stadium/|title=Mexico and Panama to face off in 2023 Gold Cup Final on July 16 at SoFi Stadium|publisher=CONCACAF|location=Miami|date=12 July 2023|accessdate=12 July 2023}}

This unprecedented Gold Cup final was the 29th match between Mexico and Panama. The two sides most recent meeting was in the aforementioned third place play-off of the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League Finals, won by Mexico 1–0.

Venue

The final was held at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, United States, located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. It was the first major international tournament to be played at the venue, which was built for the Los Angeles Chargers and Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League. The Los Angeles area has previously hosted Gold Cup matches six times, including four finals played at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and two finals at the Rose Bowl.{{cite news |last=Baxter |first=Kevin |date=October 27, 2022 |title=SoFi Stadium to host 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament final |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/story/2022-10-27/sofi-stadium-2023-concacaf-gold-cup-final |work=Los Angeles Times |accessdate=October 27, 2022}} On October 27, 2022, CONCACAF announced that SoFi Stadium would be the host venue for the final. The venue will also host matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Route to the final

=Mexico=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;margin-left:1em;float:right;clear:right;min-width:226px" \|+ Mexico's route to the final
scope="col"\| Round !scope="col"\| Opponent !scope="col"\| Result
style="border-top:2px solid black" !scope="row" style="text-align:center"\|{{abbr\|1\|First group match}} \| align="left"\|{{fb\|HON}} \| 4–0
scope="row" style="text-align:center"\|{{abbr\|2\|Second group match}} \| align="left"\|{{fb\|HAI}} \| 3–1
scope="row" style="text-align:center"\|{{abbr\|3\|Third group match}} \| align="left"\|{{fb\|QAT}} \| 0–1
style="border-top:2px solid black" !scope="row" style="text-align:center"\|{{abbr\|QF\|Quarter-final}} \| align="left"\|{{fb\|CRC}} \| {{longitem\|2–0}}
scope="row" style="text-align:center"\|{{abbr\|SF\|Semi-final}} \| align="left"\|{{fb\|JAM}} \| 3–0

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;margin-left:1em;float:right;clear:right;min-width:226px"

|+ Mexico's route to the final

scope="col"| Round

!scope="col"| Opponent

!scope="col"| Result

style="border-top:2px solid black"

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{abbr|1|First group match}}

| align="left"|{{fb|HON}}

| 4–0

scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{abbr|2|Second group match}}

| align="left"|{{fb|HAI}}

| 3–1

scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{abbr|3|Third group match}}

| align="left"|{{fb|QAT}}

| 0–1

style="border-top:2px solid black"

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{abbr|QF|Quarter-final}}

| align="left"|{{fb|CRC}}

| {{longitem|2–0}}

scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{abbr|SF|Semi-final}}

| align="left"|{{fb|JAM}}

| 3–0

Drawn in Group B, Mexico's first match was against Honduras. Mexico opened the score early, with a first-minute goal from Luis Romo. This was followed by a second goal from Romo and further efforts from Orbelín Pineda and Luis Chávez to secure a 4–0 win.{{cite news |date=June 25, 2023 |title=Mexico thrash Honduras in Gold Cup opener |newspaper=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/mexico-thrash-honduras-gold-cup-opener-2023-06-26/ |access-date=June 25, 2023}} Mexico, then overcame an organized Haiti side with Henry Martín scoring early in the second half, an own goal from Ricardo Adé, and Santiago Giménez complementing to the lead, despite conceding a goal from Danley Jean Jacques. Mexico won 3–1 and became the first team to progress to the knockout stage.{{cite news |title=Concacaf Gold Cup from Glendale: Mexico streaks past Haiti at State Farm Stadium |work=The Arizona Republic |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/soccer/2023/06/29/concacaf-gold-cup-qatar-honduras-haiti-mexico-soccer-scores-updates/70358459007/ |access-date=June 29, 2023}} With progression assured, Mexico rotated most of their team, resting key players for their final group match against a Qatar side who needed a win to avoid elimination; Mexico would lose the match 1–0, courtesy of a goal from Hazem Shehata. Despite this, Mexico maintained their first spot position as group winners, due to a superior point difference over group runners-up Qatar.{{cite news |title=Rotated players fail to impress as Mexico loses to Qatar |work=ESPN |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37952190/lozano-suffers-first-loss-mexico-alternate-players-fail-impress-v-qatar-gold-cup |access-date=July 3, 2023}}

In the quarter-finals, Mexico overcame Group C runners-up Costa Rica 2–0, with second half goals from Pineda and Erick Sánchez.{{cite news |title=Mexico beats Costa Rica, advances to CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal |work=The Dallas Morning News |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/fc-dallas/2023/07/08/mexico-beats-costa-rica-advances-to-concacaf-gold-cup-semifinal/ |access-date=July 8, 2023}} Mexico then faced Jamaica in the semi-finals; El Tri were able to defeat the Caribbean nation with goals from Henry Martín, Luis Chávez and Roberto Alvarado. Mexico thus reached a third consecutive CONCACAF Gold Cup final for the second time in their history.{{cite news |title=Mexico vs Jamaica score, result, and highlights as El Tri reach CONCACAF Gold Cup final vs Panama |work=The Sporting News |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/soccer/news/mexico-vs-jamaica-live-score-result-gold-cup-semifinal-2023/istat0dgnqgq03slschehlmf |access-date=July 12, 2023}}

=Panama=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;margin-left:1em;float:right;clear:right;min-width:226px" \|+ Panama's route to the final
scope="col"\| Round !scope="col"\| Opponent !scope="col"\| Result
style="border-top:2px solid black" !scope="row" style="text-align:center"\|{{abbr\|1\|First group match}} \| align="left"\|{{fb\|CRC}} \| 2–1
scope="row" style="text-align:center"\|{{abbr\|2\|Second group match}} \| align="left"\|{{fb\|MTQ}} \| 2–1
scope="row" style="text-align:center"\|{{abbr\|3\|Third group match}} \| align="left"\|{{fb\|SLV}} \| 2–2
style="border-top:2px solid black" !scope="row" style="text-align:center"\|{{abbr\|QF\|Quarter-final}} \| align="left"\|{{fb\|QAT}} \| {{longitem\|4–0
scope="row" style="text-align:center"\|{{abbr\|SF\|Semi-final}} \| align="left"\|{{fb\|USA}} \| {{longitem\|1–1 {{aet}} {{pso\|5–4}}}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;margin-left:1em;float:right;clear:right;min-width:226px"

|+ Panama's route to the final

scope="col"| Round

!scope="col"| Opponent

!scope="col"| Result

style="border-top:2px solid black"

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{abbr|1|First group match}}

| align="left"|{{fb|CRC}}

| 2–1

scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{abbr|2|Second group match}}

| align="left"|{{fb|MTQ}}

| 2–1

scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{abbr|3|Third group match}}

| align="left"|{{fb|SLV}}

| 2–2

style="border-top:2px solid black"

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{abbr|QF|Quarter-final}}

| align="left"|{{fb|QAT}}

| {{longitem|4–0

scope="row" style="text-align:center"|{{abbr|SF|Semi-final}}

| align="left"|{{fb|USA}}

| {{longitem|1–1 {{aet}}
{{pso|5–4}}}}

After winning Group C unbeaten and with seven points, Panama decisively defeated Qatar 4–0 in the quarter-finals; Yoel Bárcenas scored in the first half, followed by a nine-minute Ismael Díaz hat-trick in the second half, making it the fastest hat-trick in Gold Cup history.{{cite news |title=Ismael Diaz scores hat-trick to earn Panama semis berth with win over Qatar |work=Marca |url=https://www.marca.com/en/football/2023/07/09/64aa0bbe268e3eac638b459b.html |access-date=July 8, 2023}} Panama's semi-final fixture came against reigning champions and hosts United States. Following a 0–0 stalemate after regulation time, Panama took the lead in the first half of extra time through Iván Anderson, but conceded an equalizer from Jesús Ferreira at the end of the first extra time period. With the score remaining at 1–1, both teams headed for a penalty shootout. Panama goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera saved the first United States penalty from Ferreira, while only Cristian Martínez missed for Panama as Adalberto Carrasquilla's successful penalty secured Panama a third final appearance and a first in ten years for Panama.{{cite news |title=Panama sends USMNT out of Gold Cup in penalties |work=NBC Sports |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/soccer/news/usmnt-vs-panama-live-how-to-watch-stream-start-time-preview |access-date=13 July 2023}}

Match

=Details=

{{Football box

|date = {{Start date|2023|7|16}}

|time = 19:30 {{small|(16:30 UTC−7)}}

|team1 = {{fb-rt|MEX}}

|score = 1–0

|team2 = {{fb|PAN}}

|goals1 =

Giménez {{goal|88}}

|goals2 =

|stadium = SoFi Stadium, Inglewood

|attendance = 72,963

|referee = Saíd Martínez (Honduras)

|report = https://www.concacaf.com/en/gold-cup/game-details?matchid=693778

}}

width=92%

{{Football kit

|pattern_la = _mex22h

|pattern_b = _mex22h

|pattern_ra = _mex22h

|pattern_sh = _mex22h2

|pattern_so = _mex22hl

|leftarm = ff0000

|body = ff0000

|rightarm = ff0000

|shorts = ff0000

|socks = ff0000

|title = Mexico

}}

|{{Football kit

|pattern_la = _pan23a

|pattern_b = _pan23a

|pattern_ra = _pan23a

|pattern_sh = _pan23a

|pattern_so = _pan23a

|leftarm = FFFFFF

|body = FFFFFF

|rightarm = FFFFFF

|shorts = FFFFFF

|socks = FFFFFF

|title = Panama

}}

width=25\|	width=25\|
width="100%" \|valign="top" width="40%"\| {\| style="font-size:90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"
GK	13	Guillermo Ochoa (c)
RB	19	Jorge Sánchez
CB	3	César Montes	{{yel\|45+3}}
CB	5	Johan Vásquez	{{yel\|11}}
LB	23	Jesús Gallardo	{{yel\|55}}
CM	7	Luis Romo
CM	4	Edson Álvarez	{{yel\|58}}
CM	18	Luis Chávez		{{suboff\|75}}
RF	15	Uriel Antuna		{{suboff\|75}}
CF	20	Henry Martín		{{suboff\|85}}
LF	17	Orbelín Pineda		{{suboff\|90+2}}
colspan=3\|Substitutions:
FW	10	Roberto Alvarado		{{subon\|75}}
FW	14	Érick Sánchez		{{subon\|75}}
FW	11	Santiago Giménez		{{subon\|85}}
DF	21	Israel Reyes		{{subon\|90+2}}
colspan=3\|Manager:
colspan=3\|Jaime Lozano (interim)

|valign="top"|

|valign="top" width="50%"|

width=25\|	width=25\|
style="font-size:90%; margin:auto" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"
GK	22	Orlando Mosquera	{{yel\|90+6}}
CB	4	Fidel Escobar
CB	3	Harold Cummings	{{yel\|21}}	{{suboff\|90+1}}
CB	16	Andrés Andrade
RWB	10	Yoel Bárcenas
LWB	15	Eric Davis		{{suboff\|62}}
RM	17	José Fajardo
CM	8	Adalberto Carrasquilla	{{yel\|55}}
CM	20	Aníbal Godoy (c)	{{yel\|62}}
LM	11	Ismael Díaz
CF	19	Alberto Quintero		{{suboff\|61}}
colspan=3\|Substitutions:
FW	18	Cecilio Waterman		{{subon\|61}}
DF	25	Iván Anderson		{{subon\|62}}
FW	9	Azarías Londoño		{{subon\|90+1}}
colspan=3\|Manager:
colspan=3\|{{fbaicon\|ESP}} Thomas Christiansen	{{yel\|26}}

style="width:100%; font-size:90%;"

Man of the Match:

Santiago Giménez (Mexico){{cite tweet|author=CONCACAF|author-link=CONCACAF|user=GoldCup|number=1680771242968637440|title=¡Santiago Giménez se consagra como el Jugador del Partido en la Final de la #CopaOro 2023!|trans-title=Santiago Giménez is established as the Player of the Match in the Final of #GoldCup 2023!|language=es|date=July 16, 2023|access-date=July 16, 2023}}

Assistant referees:{{cite web|url=https://www.concacaf.com/gold-cup/article/2023-gold-cup-referee-appointments-match-40/|title=2023 Gold Cup Referee Appointments: Match 40|publisher=CONCACAF|date=July 12, 2023|access-date=July 12, 2023}}

Walter López (Honduras)

Christian Ramírez (Honduras)

Reserve assistant referee:

Caleb Wales (Trinidad and Tobago)

Fourth official:

Daneon Parchment (Jamaica)

Video assistant referee:

Ricardo Montero (Costa Rica)

Assistant video assistant referee:

Selvin Brown (Honduras)