HOUSTON — The 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup ended Sunday night with Mexico beating the United States Men’s National Team 2-1 at sold-out NRG Stadium.

Thirty-one games, 16 teams and one momentous tournament are now in the rearview for the North American region. With the World Cup coming to the United States, Canada and Mexico in 2026  — and thus putting an extra spotlight on Concacaf’s teams — here are takeaways from this important tournament: 

Mexico, United States are still the top teams in the region, but serious competition is on the way

2025 was Mexico’s 12th Gold Cup final and the USMNT’s 13th. The teams have long been Concacaf’s finest offerings to the global stage, and this summer proved they still are, even amid rebuilds after their disastrous performances in the Copa America in 2024.

It’s a solid achievement for both sides, but they won’t be alone at the top for long. Guatemala entered this tournament in the triple digits of FIFA’s global rankings and nearly earned itself a deserved spot in the final. Costa Rica is finally a contender under Mexican coach Miguel Herrera. And Panama, eliminated in the quarterfinals on a heartbreaking penalty shootout, can lay claim to being the strongest defensive team in the region.

The 2026 World Cup will feature more Concacaf teams than any previous edition of the tournament, and the timing could not be more fortuitous. This region has plenty of talent to send to the world’s biggest stage.

Canada’s rise might not be the foregone conclusion many thought

Few national teams have made more progress in the past decade than Canada. Les Rouges went from regional also-rans to trophy contenders in five years thanks to strong player recruitment and excellent coaching from John Herdman and Jesse Marsch. Canada entered this 2025 Gold Cup hungry to win it.