For the first time, a new champion will be crowned in the Concacaf Nations League this Sunday at SoFi Stadium. Mexico and Panama are set to compete in the final, both aiming for a significant victory as they look towards the 2026 World Cup in North America. Mexico, a co-host for the upcoming global tournament, enters its third Nations League final as the strong favorite. Panama, on the other hand, is making its debut in the final.
Mexico secured their place in the final with a 2-0 victory over Canada. Despite Canada`s energetic play, Mexico was more effective in capitalizing on opportunities. Raul Jimenez was the star of the match, scoring twice, including a goal in the first minute and another in the second half. He, along with Santiago Gimenez, AC Milan`s in-form striker, will be crucial for Mexico as they seek their first trophy since the 2023 Gold Cup, a tournament where they missed several key players. A win on Sunday would greatly boost confidence in Javier Aguirre, who began his third tenure as team manager in October, tasked with revitalizing a team that has been underperforming despite historically being a top team in Concacaf.
Panama is looking to continue their strong performance from earlier in the week when they surprisingly defeated the U.S. men`s national team 1-0. The USMNT was the only previous winner of the competition. Panama is considered the underdog, but their consistent improvement over recent years means they should not be underestimated, especially with Thomas Christiansen as their coach. This final marks their second appearance in a continental competition final under Christiansen, who has effectively guided them to exceed expectations and is now just one game away from securing their first major trophy.
How to Watch and Odds
- Date: Sunday, March 23
- Location: SoFi Stadium — Inglewood, California
- Live stream: Paramount+
- Odds: Mexico -220; Draw +300; Panama +550
Projected Lineups
Mexico: Luis Malagon, Israel Reyes, Edson Alvarez, Johan Vazquez, Roberto Alvarado, Carlos Rodriguez, Erik Lira, Jesus Gallardo, Santiago Gimenez, Raul Jimenez, Alexis Vega
Panama: Orlando Mosquera, Cesar Blackman, Carlos Harvey, Edgardo Farina, Jose Cordoba, Jorge Gutierrez, Christian Martinez, Adalberto Carrasquilla, Anibal Godoy, Jose Luis Rodriguez, Jose Fajardo
Prediction
Mexico is heavily favored to win this match, and given the stakes, it`s unlikely they will lose. With strong offensive players like Raul Jimenez and Santiago Gimenez, Mexico is expected to have a comfortable game and secure their first Concacaf Nations League title. Pick: Mexico 2, Panama 0
Dominic Ashworth