Mexico vs Qatar

Qatar’s adventure at the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup is in the balance as they meet Mexico in their final Group B fixture at Levi’s Stadium.

There’s a reason the Mexicans have lifted the Gold Cup crown a record 11 times. Under the guidance of interim manager Jaime Lozano, ‘El Tri’ have recovered from a humiliating 3-0 loss to the United States in June’s CONCACAF Nations League semi-finals, stitching together three straight wins. A 4-0 thrashing of Honduras and a 3-1 demolition of Haiti across the opening two Gold Cup rounds form part of that hat-trick of victories, helping Mexico book knockout tickets with a game to spare. Seeking a fourth consecutive triumph for the first time since July 2021, the Mexicans come into proceedings unbeaten in their last 16 Gold Cup group-stage fixtures. Five of their seven Gold Cup goals have come beyond halftime, describing how hard they are to contain in the second half.

In the meantime, Qatar’s second appearance at the Gold Cup is nearing an unsatisfying end following a woeful two-game winless start to their Group B journey (D1, L1). Qatar secured a third-place finish in their maiden Gold Cup campaign two years ago, but they need a miracle to make it out of the group stages this summer. Stuck two points behind second-placed Haiti, the ‘Maroons’ have to defy the odds against Mexico and hope bottom-placed Honduras can defeat Haiti in the other game. However, Carlos Queiroz’s men must overcome an abysmal run of form in 2023 (W2, D2, L5) to hold up their end of the bargain. But since they’re without a clean sheet in their last eight internationals, it’s hard to back them to pull off an upset with any real conviction.