One year out from co-hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Mexico is setting the tone for what it hopes will be a resurgence on the international stage. This year, however, they face a unique opponent—a debutant Dominican Republic side looking to make history.

The journey to lift the 2025 Gold Cup trophy begins this Saturday as Mexico takes on the Dominican Republic in Group A. There is a lot riding on this tournament for Mexico, who will be defending their title, as the World Cup is only a year away and this will be their biggest challenge before next summer.