Mexico have already qualified to the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinals, but they will still hope to keep building momentum when El Tri take on Qatar in their Group B finale on Sunday at Levi's Stadium in Northern California.
El Tri have impressed for different reasons against Honduras (4-0 win) and against Haiti (3-1 win), as the transition to interim manager Jaime 'El Jimmy' Lozano has revitalized Mexico after the struggles under Diego Cocca. Lozano will want to keep the good times rolling, despite fielding an alternate lineup.
Qatar, which hosted the 2022 World Cup, is a guest participant in the Gold Cup and have been unlucky to concede late goals in their two previous matches to drop three points. That leaves 58th-ranked Qatar in must-win territory against 14th-ranked Mexico, and they'll be playing with a chip on their shoulder after feeling victimized by referee decisions that went against them.
If Mexico can wrap up first place, El Tri will face the runner-up from Group C in the quarterfinals. Martinique currently occupies second place with Costa Rica and El Salvador still holding out hope of overtaking the French nation.
LIVE BLOG: Follow all the action from Levi's Stadium in Northern California
Group B standings
The top two finishers advance to the Gold Cup quarterfinals. Next matches:
- July 2: Mexico vs. Qatar
- July 2: Haiti vs. Honduras
| Team | Pts | W-D-L | Goals Scored |
Goal Diff. |
| 1. Mexico-Q | 6 | 2-0-0 | 7 | +6 |
| 2. Haiti | 3 | 1-0-1 | 3 | -1 |
| 3. Qatar | 1 | 0-1-1 | 2 | -1 |
| 4. Honduras | 1 | 0-1-1 | 1 | -4 |
Q = Qualified to quarterfinals
What time is Mexico vs Qatar?
The Mexico vs.Qatar CONCACAF Gold Cup group finale will be the second of a doubleheader held at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
- Date: Sunday, July 2
- Time: 9:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. PT)
The first game played in the stadium will be a Group A finale between Jamaica and St. Kitts & Nevis.
The other Group B match, Haiti vs. Honduras, will be taking place simultaneously across the country in Charlotte, North Carolina.
MORE: Updated Gold Cup bracket and schedule
Mexico vs Qatar live stream, TV channel
Here's how to watch the Mexico vs. Qatar match for fans based in the USA and Canada:
USA
- TV channel: FS1, Univision, TUDN
- Streaming: Fubo, Fox Sports site/app, TUDN site/app
The match will be televised in the USA on FS1 (English) and Univision and TUDN (Spanish) with all three channels streaming on Fubo, which is available to new users on a free trial.
Subscribers to cable, satellite, or telco packages can use those authenticated credentials to access a live stream on the Fox Sports or TUDN site and app.
Canada
- TV channel: Telus Optik TV (Channel 980)
- Streaming: Fubo Canada, OneSoccer site/app
The match will be televised in Canada on Telus Optik TV (Channel 980), where viewers can watch the OneSoccer broadcast.
It will also be streamed on Fubo Canada, as well as on the OneSoccer site and app for subscribers.
Mexico vs Qatar lineups
Mexico manager Lozano made it clear that changes would be coming against Qatar and we have six of them, at right-back (Julian Araujo), center-back (Israel Reyes), midfield (Charly Rodriguez), winger (Ozziel Herrera), and center-forward (Santiago Gimenez).
Left-back Gerardo Arteaga is back after a two-match suspension imposed by CONCACAF and he slots right back into the lineup. Center-back Cesar Montes will only return for the quarterfinal stage, serving an extra game for his role in the dust-ups against the USA in the CONCACAF Nations League.
Mexico starting lineup (4-3-3): 13-Guillermo Ochoa (GK) — 2-Julian Araujo, 4-Edson Alvarez, 21-Israel Reyes, 6-Gerardo Arteaga — 8-Carlos 'Charly' Rodriguez, 7-Luis Romo, 18-Luis Chavez — 9-Ozziel Herrera, 11-Santiago Gimenez, 17-Orbelin Pineda
Mexico projected subs (11): 1-Jose Antonio Rodriguez (GK), 12-Luis Angel Malagon (GK), 19-Jorge Sanchez, 5-Johan Vasquez, 22-Victor Guzman, 23-Jesus Gallardo, 14-Erick Sanchez, 10-Roberto Alvarado, 16-Diego Lainez, 15-Uriel Antuna, 20-Henry Martin
Adding to Qatar's frustrations in the tournament is that they will be missing two starters against Mexico: Qatar's best player Yusuf Abdulrisag is suspended for a red card received against Honduras, and starting right-back Bassam Al Rawi is also suspended for picking up two yellow cards in two games. Star forward Almoez Ali has missed the entire tournament due to injury and will also sit out vs. Mexico.
Qatar starting lineup (4-3-3): 22-Meshaal Barsham (GK) — 13-Musab Khoder, 2-Ahmed Suhail, 5-Tarek Salman, 14-Homam Ahmed — 12-Abdullah Marafee, 6-Ahmed Fatehi, 16-Moustafa Mashal — 10-Mohammed Waad, 17-Tameem Al Abdullah, 3-Hazem Shehata.
Qatar subs (9): 1-Salah Zakaria (GK), 21-Yousef Hassan (GK), 4-Youssef Ayman, 23-Assim Madibo, 20-Jassim Gaber, 8-Ali Asad, 7-Mahdi Salem, 18-Khalid Muneer, 9-Mohammed Muntari.
Mexico vs Qatar betting odds
Mexico are heavy favorites, which makes you wonder whether the betting market is taking into account the fact that El Tri is fielding an alternate lineup with little to play for (Haiti is unlikely to beat out Mexico for first place given goal difference tiebreaker), while Qatar is motivated to win.
El Tri's backup squad is still made up of starting quality players, but it would be a surprise if they can just take the field and replicate what the previous lineup did against Honduras and Haiti.
So steering away from picking a side (as well as the handicap/spread) might prove best here, but there should be goals in the game with Qatar forced to play an open style to push for the win. Both teams can create danger in transition. The over 3.5 total goals is at +120 and both teams to score is at -130.
| Mexico win |
Draw | Qatar win |
Both teams to score Y / N |
Over / Under 2.5 goals |
MEX -1.5 |
QAT +1.5 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BetMGM (USA) |
-300 | +425 | +675 | -135 / -110 | -210 / +140 | -120 | -120 |
| Sports Interaction (Canada) |
1.34 | 5.20 | 7.40 | 1.69 / 1.92 | 1.51 / 2.50 | 1.92 | 1.86 |