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Mexico vs USA: Pochettino calls refereeing decision ’embarrassing’ after 2025 Gold Cup final result

Mexico retained the Gold Cup, having dethroned the USA in 2023

Written by Ben Miller
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Mexico vs USA: Pochettino calls refereeing decision ’embarrassing’ after 2025 Gold Cup final result

USA coach Mauricio Pochettino has claimed his team could have been “celebrating with the trophy” if a penalty decision had gone their way during their 2-1 Gold Cup final defeat to Mexico.

Pochettino was incensed when referee Mario Alberto Escobar Toca did not punish  Jorge Sanchez for touching the ball with a hand as the defender fell to the floor with the scoreline 1-1 during the second half.

“If that had happened in the Mexico [box], for sure it’s a penalty,” said Pochettino, discussing the final competitive match for both teams before they co-host the 2026 Fifa World Cup with Canada.

“The player was on the floor with a knee and pushed the hand over the ball. It’s not that the hand was on the floor and the ball touched it.

“There are all the excuses now but that was a penaltty and it would maybe have been 2-1 to us and we would have been celebrating with the trophy.”

Mexico vs USA: Gold Cup comeback lands El Tri glory

Crystal Palace center-back Chris Richards’ header gave the USMNT a fourth-minute lead and put Pochettino on course for his first trophy since being appointed in September 2024.

Fulham forward Raul Jimenez struck the equaliser from inside the box 23 minutes later, using his celebration to pay tribute to Diogo Jota – his former Wolves team-mate – who died in a car accident last week.

West Ham’s Edson Alvarez headed the 77th-minute winner as part of a dominant display by Mexico, who had all 12 corners between the teams, 60% of possession and 16 of the 22 attempts on target.

Mexico have now won 10 Gold Cup titles to the USA’s seven, with Canada’s win in 2000 the only occasion on which another team has won the tournament.

El Tri have won six of their eight meetings with the USA in the final and added their latest triumph to their 2024/25 Concacaf Nations League title.

Pochettino: USA ‘nice guys’ should have had penalty

Pochettino lamented the penalty call and suggested it would have been “difficult” for officials to disallow a Mexico goal for a third time at the finals.

“It was embarrassing to see that situation and it’s a shame because I understand that 70,000 people [in the stadium] would have seen this penalty,” he added.

“[Cesar] Montes was blocking Chris Richards when the ball arrived. The player who delivered the ball was in an offside position.

“You say ‘yes, but the referee didn’t score the goal’ – but it’s details. Please, guys – where I come from, I was born with a ball in my hands.

“Come on, stop. My player doesn’t deserve this. If we lose, we lose – no problem, I will say we deserve to lose. I have full respect for Mexico and congratulate them.

“But if that had happened to Mexico, would the players or coaches be talking the same way? For me, the stadium would be fiery. For us, it’s like, ‘OK, they are nice guys, it’s not a problem.’

“I didn’t want to cry and I’m not going to cry. We need to tell the truth and the truth is that we lost and we need to be critical, of course. But the reality is there and everyone can see it on TV.”

2026 World Cup: USMNT unconvincing

Following a run of four defeats in the build-up to the tournament, Pochettino oversaw the most consistent run of positive results of his tenure with wins over Trinidad and Tobago, Saudi Arabia, Haiti, Costa Rica – on penalties – and Guatemala to reach the final.

None of those teams are among the top 50 ranked sides in the world, leaving their World Cup prospects looking uncertain for the USA, who were depleted by absentees entering the Gold Cup.

“I am so proud of the team; keep going, keep fighting, keep pushing,” said Pochettino, who reiterated his plea to Americans to show more support for the team by going to games and embracing a highly competitive spirit towards football.

“We have a year until the World Cup and there are many positives to take.”

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