Alexis Vega leads Mexico past Saudi Arabia 2-0 to set up Gold Cup semifinal vs. Honduras

Mexico secured their place in the Gold Cup semifinals after defeating Saudi Arabia 2-0 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Goals from Alexis Vega in the 49th minute and a late own goal by Abdullah Madu sealed the win for El Tri, who will now face Honduras in the next round.

Mexico’s first-half performance echoed familiar struggles from earlier in the tournament - lacking cohesion, fluid buildup, and control in the midfield. The team failed to assert dominance over the Saudi side and only came close to scoring in stoppage time, when Vega fired a powerful shot from distance that narrowly missed the target.

The second half told a different story. Right after the restart, Vega found the net following a well-executed move, though the goal was initially ruled offside. After VAR review, however, the goal stood - putting Mexico ahead and shifting the momentum in their favor. El Tri continued to press down the flanks and use their pace to stretch the Saudi defense, eventually finding a second goal in the 81st minute via an own goal by Abdullah Madu.

With the win, Mexico advance to the semifinals for another shot at defending their 2023 Gold Cup title - and chasing a record-extending 10th championship.

Mexico became the first national team in history to reach 200 goals in the Gold Cup. El Tri has a long-standing rivalry with Honduras, having faced them a total of 46 times, with Mexico winning 27, drawing nine, and losing 10 to Los Catrachos.

Alexis Vega may not have been the most clinical throughout the match, but he showed why he wears the coveted No. 10 jersey for Mexico. Always eager to receive the ball, Vega leads the attack, constantly looking to be involved - sending in crosses, driving forward, and taking responsibility in the final third. While greater consistency is expected from the Toluca forward, his current form is promising. If he sharpens his finishing, he could help El Tri score more goals. On this night, he earned Man of the Match honors after netting the opening goal and further solidifying his place as a starter under Javier Aguirre.

The big loser: the Gold Cup.

While Mexico’s matches haven’t drawn poor attendance figures, they also haven’t matched the packed stadiums seen in previous editions, when El Tri regularly played in front of sellout crowds.

READ MORE: Gold Cup fights for relevance...and more fans in the stands

Coach Aguirre has made frequent rotations throughout the tournament, signaling that he’s using the competition to test players and shape his roster for the 2026 World Cup. That approach has affected the team’s performances, which in turn has led to underwhelming games - and fans not getting the level of entertainment they’ve come to expect.

Mexico will face Honduras next Wednesday, July 2, in Santa Clara, California, in the semifinals of the Gold Cup. The match will determine one of the finalists of the tournament.

Following their victory over Saudi Arabia, Aguirre’s team is scheduled to travel on Sunday to begin preparations for the clash against Los Catrachos.