Mexico Faces Dominican Republic in Gold Cup Opener

INGLEWOOD, California — The Mexican national soccer team will face the Dominican Republic in the opening match of the 2025 Gold Cup on Saturday, June 14, at 8:15 PM local time. The match will take place at the SoFi Stadium.

Head coach Javier Aguirre‘s team enters this tournament as the reigning champions, having won the last edition. Mexico is expected to dominate the game against the Dominican Republic, who are making their Gold Cup debut.

Both teams come into this matchup with recent wins in their warm-up matches. Mexico defeated Turkey 1-0, while the Dominican Republic secured a 5-0 victory over Dominica. This encounter marks the first clash between the two nations in their soccer history.

The Mexican lineup is expected to feature Luis Malagón as goalkeeper, with Jorge Sánchez, César Montes, Israel Reyes, and Jesús Gallardo forming the defense. Midfield will include Edson Álvarez and Erik Lira, while the forwards will be Orbelín Pineda, Roberto Alvarado, Santiago Giménez, and Raúl Jiménez.

Before the game, Aguirre refrained from confirming all starting players to maintain some uncertainty. He emphasized that the focus is on performing well in the tournament to secure Mexico’s position in future competitions.

The Dominican Republic, led by captain Jean López, will field Xavier Valdez in goal, with Edgar Pujol, Noah Dollenmayer, and Jimmy Kaparos in the defense. They are eager to prove their competitiveness in their first appearance.

With high expectations, the Mexican team aims to secure three points to kickstart their Gold Cup journey. Fans are looking forward to an exciting match in Southern California.