Three teams advance to Gold Cup quarters after Sunday slate in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS -- Costa Rica’s veteran goalie Keylor Navas was the star of the show in Sunday’s Gold Cup clash against Mexico, saving all four of El Tri’s shots on goal to secure a clean sheet in the 0-0 draw. 

All four that counted in that stat book, anyway.

Navas’ night was nearly spoiled in the fourth minute of extra time, as Mexico’s Santiago Gimenez executed a brilliant bicycle kick for what appeared to be the game-winning goal. The no-goal ruling after replay was ultimately correct, but the caliber of the shot almost made you wish it wasn’t.

The 38-year-old Navas made two particularly enthralling saves on one sequence in the 23rd minute, including a full airborne extension that denied Raul Jimenez of what looked to be a surefire goal off the foot.

The robbery was certainly heartbreaking for the Fulham striker Jimenez, who would have found himself in highlight reels for years to come had Navas allowed the ball to sail into the back of the net.

Both Mexico and Costa Rica advanced to the quarterfinals out of Group C with seven points and both would have done so regardless of the outcome of Sunday’s game. Mexico technically won the group thanks to an advantage goal in differential, holding a one-goal advantage over Costa Rica in group play. 

Late equalizer sends Saudi to quarters

The opening game of Sunday’s two-game Gold Cup slate at Allegiant Stadium had more significant implications. Thanks to a gorgeous equalizer in the 60th minute, Saudi Arabia secured its spot in the quarterfinals with a draw against Trinidad and Tobago. 

Ali Majrashi began the goal-scoring sequence with a long pass to Feris Al-Brikan. Al-Brikan executed a nifty spinning touch pass to his teammate Abdullah Al-Amri, whose subsequent shot on goal bounced off the crossbar and back to a wide-open Al-Brikan who collected the deflection and finished the goal.

Trinidad and Tobago drew first blood early on a goal from Brooklyn-born Dante Sealy in the 10th minute that was possibly the pound-for-pound highlight of the day. 

Sealy brought the ball up pitch and fired a shot into the net's upper right corner from outside the box. Sealy plays for MLS club CF Montreal and previously had a stint with FC Dallas. He began his international career in the United States National Team system, reaching the U20 level in 2021 before returning to international play with Trinidad and Tobago in February 2025. 

With the United States’ 2-1 defeat of Haiti, which was occurring in Dallas simultaneously, the Saudis secured the second-place spot in Group D and thus moved. 

To address the elephant in the room that is Saudi Arabia’s participation in the CONCACAF-sanctioned Gold Cup, the North American governing body typically invites a non-member to compete in the tournament. Qatar received CONCACAF’s international invites in the 2021 and 2023 editions of the tournament, advancing to the semi-finals in their maiden appearance. 

On-field product aside, the crowd for the first game was underwhelming even by summer Sunday afternoon standards in Vegas. The few fans in the building were Mexican supporters who decided to venture in from their tailgate in advance of the second game, and I would put a healthy wager on the fact that there were more fans outside the stadium drinking Modelo during the first game than there were seated fans in the stadium. 

Up Next

Since Mexico won Group C and Saudi Arabia finished second in Group D, the two teams will meet in the quarterfinal round at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona next Sunday. Costa Rica will square off with the United States, as Mauricio Pochettino’s Americans conquered Group D.