Mexico booked their place in the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinals with a commanding 2-0 victory over Saudi Arabia, thanks to a second-half goal from Alexis Vega and an own goal by Saudi defender Madou. In the other quarterfinal clash, Honduras pulled off one of the tournament’s biggest upsets, edging out Panama in a dramatic penalty shootout.
Mexico Dominates from Start to Finish
On paper, this was always going to be a mismatch: 17th-ranked Mexico against 58th-ranked Saudi Arabia, and the match played out accordingly.

Mexico came out of the gates with confidence and control. They dominated possession, holding 61% of the ball, and outshot their opponents 14 to 1. By the final whistle, they had also registered five shots on target and seven corners, compared to none and two for Saudi Arabia.
Despite their early dominance, Mexico had to wait until the 52nd minute for the breakthrough, when Alexis Vega calmly slotted home the opener. Saudi Arabia’s hopes of a comeback were crushed in the 81st minute, when defender Madou turned the ball into his net under pressure, sealing a deserved victory for El Tri.
Mexico’s superiority over Saudi Arabia has been long-standing, with four wins and one draw in their previous five meetings. This latest result was yet another testament to their regional dominance.
Honduras Shock Panama in Shootout After Late Equaliser

While Mexico’s route to the semifinals was smooth, Honduras had to fight tooth and nail in their quarterfinal clash against in-form Panama, a team that had cruised through the group stage with three wins from three.
Panama looked set to continue their winning run after a stoppage-time penalty from Ismael Diaz gave them a 1-0 lead heading into the break. But Honduras refused to fold. In the 82nd minute, Edwin Lozano found the back of the net to level the score at 1-1 and send the match straight to penalties, as the Gold Cup format skips extra time at this stage.
In the shootout, it was Honduras who held their nerve. With the spot-kicks tied at 5-5, their goalkeeper made a crucial save, allowing his side to clinch the shootout 5-4 and send Honduras through with an overall score of 6-5.
Semifinal Showdown: Can Honduras Upset the Giants Again?

Next up, Mexico will face Honduras in a classic battle of heavyweight versus underdog. While Mexico are favourite on paper, Honduras have already shown they can defy the odds.
With momentum on their side and nothing to lose, Honduras will be hoping to pull off another miracle. For Mexico, it’s business as usual as they continue their march toward another Gold Cup final appearance. Expect a thrilling semifinal as both teams fight for a spot in the championship match.