Raul Jimenez now has 40 international goals and is third on the all-time list for the Mexico men's team

Mexico Edge Dominican Republic 3-2 in Gold Cup Amid LA Protests

Holders Mexico Win Gold Cup Opener 3-2 Amid LA Immigration Tensions

Defending champions Mexico began their CONCACAF Gold Cup campaign with a narrow 3-2 win over debutants Dominican Republic in a politically charged atmosphere at SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles.

The match took place amid heightened tensions surrounding US President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, with the National Guard deployed and large-scale protests ongoing across LA and other cities. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum urged US officials not to conduct immigration enforcement at the stadium, leading to Mexico’s national team changing hotels for security reasons.

Despite the off-field unrest, over 54,000 fans—mostly Mexican—packed the stadium as Mexico started their title defence.

Match Recap:

Edson Alvarez (West Ham) opened the scoring just before half-time with a powerful header.
Raul Jimenez (Fulham) netted his 40th international goal shortly after the restart to make it 2-0.
Peter Gonzalez quickly responded for the Dominican Republic, scoring their historic first goal in the Gold Cup.
A second Alvarez header led to an own goal by defender Cesar Montes, giving Mexico a 3-1 advantage.
Edison Azcona pulled one back late on for the Dominican side via a deflected shot, making it 3-2.

Security and Political Context

The match occurred in the shadow of national immigration raids and growing public outcry. Demonstrations against ICE raids and deportation threats swept LA throughout the week. The Mexican national team’s presence in the city became a symbolic focal point, adding intensity to both the occasion and crowd atmosphere.

Mexico’s past three matches at SoFi have averaged an attendance of over 63,000, showcasing their drawing power in the US.

What’s Next for Mexico

Mexico continue Group Stage play in Arlington, Texas, and Las Vegas, Nevada, in pursuit of an historic ninth Gold Cup title.

Dominican Republic’s Tournament Debut

This was a commendable showing for the Dominican Republic in their first-ever Gold Cup match. They pushed the region’s top-ranked team to the limit and will look to build on this performance in their remaining group games.