'Mexico are in the group of death with Costa Rica' – Mexican media reacts to the draw for the 2025 Gold Cup

Javier Aguirre’s team will be in Group A alongside Costa Rica, Suriname, and the Dominican Republic.

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• Mexico will debut on June 14 at SoFi Stadium
• They could face the USMNT in the Quarterfinals
• Mexico will meet Miguel Herrera in the group stage

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Mexico will begin their Gold Cup title defense at the 2025 Gold Cup on June 14 at SoFi Stadium. In the tournament draw held this Thursday in Miami, it was revealed that Javier Aguirre’s team will be in Group A alongside Costa Rica, Suriname, and the Dominican Republic.

  The match against Costa Rica will carry extra significance, aswill face Miguel Herrera, current coach of the Costa Rican national team and former manager of Mexico during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The head-to-head record between the two sides in this tournament favors Mexico, with six wins, three draws, and no losses in their nine previous Gold Cup meetings.

  On the other hand, it will be the first time in history that Mexico faces Suriname in the Gold Cup, and also the first-ever matchup between Mexico and the Dominican Republic.

  Jorge Campos, goalkeeper for the Mexican national team in three World Cups, was a guest at the Gold Cup draw to unveil the tournament groups.

  “Amazing that they won the Nations League, I’m happy about a new Gold Cup, which I believe we’re going to win. It won’t be easy, but Mexico’s group is manageable. The real battle will be against Costa Rica,” he said.

  Meanwhile, TUDN journalist David Faitelson shared his thoughts: "Mexico in the group of death with Costa Rica. The real intrigue of the Gold Cup draw was finding out which group would land in… it’s Mexico’s. That’s great! We know who’s coaching Costa Rica, so there’s a good feeling about this one. For Miguel Herrera, it will be a very important match."

  "The objective is clear: Mexico must finish as the group leader. But we’ll have to see the match schedule—whether they face each other in the first, second, or third game—because this matchup could end up deciding who tops the group," they said at the TUDN roundtable.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Mexico head into the Gold Cup as the reigning champion and the most successful team in the tournament’s history, with nine titles. They are followed by the USMNT with seven championships, while Canada has won it just once.

  opponent for the opening match at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles has yet to be determined. The tournament final will be held on July 6 at NRG Stadium in Houston, which will be hosting a Gold Cup final for the first time in its history.

  The top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout stage. Groups A and D will face off in the quarterfinals, as will Groups B and C. This format opens up the possibility of a Mexico vs. United States clash as early as the second round, should either team fail to finish first in their group.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Mexico and Costa Rica will face each other for the ninth time in Gold Cup history, but overall, the two national teams have met 58 times, with El Tri holding a dominant record of 32 wins, 20 draws, and just six losses to the Central Americans.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MEXICO NATIONAL TEAM?

   will have two preparation matches ahead of the Gold Cup – against Switzerland on June 7 and against Turkey on June 10.