Mexico will look to reclaim the title of best team in North America when they play the 2023 Gold Cup final on Sunday at SoFi Stadium against a Panama side looking to win their first title.
Mexico are seeking their 12th continental title and the first since winning the Gold Cup in 2019. A victory would help interim head coach Jaime Lozano's bid to remain as the permanent hire after he orchestrated a remarkable turnaround in the tournament following an embarrassing third-place finish in the Nations League under former coach Diego Cocca.
It's the third final appearance for Panama who lost in 2005 and 2013 to the USA. The Central American side shocked the USA in the 2023 semifinals, advancing on penalty kicks to reach the final. Los Canaleros have grown stronger as the tournament has progressed, finishing top of their group and proceeding to dismantle Qatar 4-0 in the quarterfinals.
Mexico have won 24 of the 41 all-time meetings between the two nations, and the last time that Mexico lost to Panama came 14 games ago in the 2013 Gold Cup, where they lost twice by a 2-1 score in the group stage and semifinal. Their last Gold Cup meeting came back in 2015 when two controversial penalty decisions boosted Mexico to a 2-1 semifinal triumph.
Their most recent head-to-head came on June 18 in the CONCACAF Nations League third-place consolation match, with Mexico eking out a 1-0 win on an early goal by Jesus Gallardo.
The Sporting News will be following Mexico vs. Panama live, providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happen.
Lineups:
Mexico (4-3-3): 13-Ochoa (GK) — 19-J. Sanchez, 3-Montes, 5-J. Vasquez, 23-Gallardo — 7-Romo, 4-E. Alvarez, 18-L. Chavez — 15-Antuna, 20-Martin, 17-Pineda.
Panama (3-4-1-2): 22-Mosquera (GK)
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