Mexico defeated the United States by the famed 2-0 score to win the 2026 U20 CONCACAF Championship. Mexico was the better team and got a deserved victory and for a second straight U20 Championship, win a title after defeating their biggest rival, the United States. Both teams will play in the 2027 U20 World Cup and in the 2028 Olympic games with the United States going in as hosts and Mexico winning their ticket after their victory over Canada in the Semifinals.
The 1st half started with Juan Liceaga
returning to the tournament after the Mexican goalkeeper got a three match ban. Hugo Camberos would make a run and get off a right footed shot from outside the area that went wide. Samir Inda got off a left footed shot from outside the area that went well wide. Diego Ramirez got the ball in the area but his left footed shot was deflected wide. In the ensuing corner kick, Camberos got off a right footed shot that was easily saved by the United States’ goalkeeper, Kayne Rizvanovich. After a great start for Mexico, the United States had evened the match even though they didn’t create chances. Off a free kick, the cross into the area was headed by Carlos Hernandez nto the path of a wide open Cristobal Alfaro, whose header would almost be cleared off the line by Colin Guske but as he tried to clear it, Rizvanovich crashed into him and the ball looked to have gone past the line, with the referee giving it as a goal that gave Mexico the 1-0 lead. It was a controversial decision although replays showed that it looked like the ball did go past the line, and if it hadn’t, it would have been a Penalty Kick as Guske handled the ball as he tried to clear it after the crash with Rizvanovich. A ball would be cleared straight into the path of Inda, whose left footed shot would go just wide. After the United States lost a ball, Camberos looked set to go into the area but was dropped by Chris Applewhite. The referee originally ruled it as a Yellow card but after going to VAR, changed it to a red card in a controversial decision that left the United States with 10 players. The United States subbed out Xantiago Oyharcabal for Brandon Dayes. The halftime whistle blew and although it had been controversial, Mexico had been the better team and had a deserved lead.
The 2nd half started with no substitutions done during the break. Henrique Simeone got off a long range shot that went well wide. A cross into the area would be headed wide from close range by Hernandez. Ramirez got the ball in the area but his right footed shot went wide. After Mexico lost a ball, the United States had a good chance off a counter but Din Klapija sent his right footed shot well wide. Mexico subbed out Hugo Camberos and Diego Ramirez for Luis Gamboa and Aldahir Valenzuela. Ruben Ramos had a chance just outside the area but his shot went well wide. A cross into the area was headed wide by Valenzuela from close range. The United States subbed out Josh Torquato for Tristan Brown. Off a corner kick, Inda’s cross was badly fumbled by Rizvanovich and the ball would fall for Cristobal Alfaro, who would head the ball past two US defenders to score and give Mexico the 2-0 lead. Alfaro not only had scored his second goal of the night but his third goal of the tournament, all three of them coming in after moving the tournament to Estadio Azteca (aka Estadio Banorte). Mexico subbed out Juan Sigala and Yohan Orozco for Luis Gomez and Edwin Soto. After getting the ball in the area, Valenzuela got off a left footed shot that went wide. The United States subbed out Javaun Mussenden for Alexander Shaw. Inda got off a left footed shot from a free kick that Rizvanovich saved. Gomez got off a right footed shot from outside the area that went well wide. Off a free kick, a right footed shot from Simeone was just deflected wide. Mexico subbed out Henrique Simeone for Diego Covarrubias. A ball that fell in the area was lobbed over Rizvanovich by Hernandez but the ball was cleared for a defender only to fall into the path of Gamboa, whose right footed shot in the area was just deflected wide. Ramos got off a left footed that went wide. A harsh foul by Brown on Santiago Sandoval started a scuffle that ended with Brown getting a Yellow card. The match would end and Mexico would become CONCACAF’s U20 Champion for a second consecutive time.
Mexico defended their 2024 U20 CONCACAF Championship by once again defeating the United States in the final. While Mexico didn’t have as talented as squad as they did in that tournament but were able to achieve their mission. Mexico swept the awards by winning the Fair Play, the golden gloves, golden boot and golden ball. Hugo Camberos, who won the golden boot and golden ball also had a statement tournament even when he already played in the 2025 U20 World Cup and scored two goals in the tournament. Mexico did well although it has to be said that the competition was inferior to previous tournament, with only Canada providing a tough challenge. Still Mexico got all three goals met (U20 World Cup ticket, Olympic games ticket7 and U20 title) which gives a huge boost to Coach Alex Diego and his group of players. Mexico’s great run of tournaments continues with Mexico being the current Gold Cup, Nations League, U20 and U15 title holders, as well as qualifying for the U17 World Cup (there is no longer one single champion in that category) and being CONCACAF’s best representative in the 2025 edition.
