Mexico will look to make it three wins in a row under new interim manager Jaime Lozano when they take on Qatar in their 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup group finale on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
After a spectacular debut win against Honduras (4-0), Mexico labored bit more against Haiti before seeing them off with a scintillating second half (3-1). El Tri clinched a ticket to the quarterfinals with that victory over Haiti, and Lozano has stated that he will rest his starters against Qatar.
The Qatari team, host of the men’s 2022 World Cup, is a member of the Asian soccer confederation participating in the Gold Cup as a guest nation. But they’re not happy guests after conceding a late winner against Haiti (2-1 loss) and then a late equalizer against Honduras (1-1 draw) characterized by poor referee decisions, according to manager Carlos Queiroz. They must win against Mexico to have a shot to advance.
“We should be in the position of Mexico, already qualified with six points,” Queiroz told media. “Our team deserves more respect, not what happened in the last two games. It is important that the referee and the VAR didn’t see the handball in the last game. If it happens, we need to understand why that happened. and they should be here to explain. Not me.”
The Sporting News will be following the Mexico vs. Qatar match live, providing score updates, commentary, and highlights as the action unfolds.
MORE: Updated 2023 Gold Cup bracket
Group B standings
Only the top two teams advance to the Gold Cup quarterfinals.
| Team | Pts | W-D-L | Goals Scored |
Goal Diff. |
| 1. Mexico-Q | 6 | 2-0-0 | 7 | +6 |
| 2. Haiti | 3 | 1-0-1 | 3 | -1 |
| 3. Qatar | 1 | 0-1-1 | 2 | -1 |
| 4. Honduras | 1 | 0-1-1 | 1 | -4 |
Q = Qualified to quarterfinals
Mexico vs Qatar live score
| 1st Half | Goal scorers | |
| Mexico | — | |
| Qatar | — |
Lineups:
Mexico (4-3-3, right to left): 13-Ochoa (GK) — 2-Araujo, 4-E. Alvarez, 21-I. Reyes, 6-Arteaga — 8-Charly, 7-Romo, 18-Chavez — 9-Ozziel, 11-Gimenez, 17-Pineda
Qatar (4-3-3, right to left): 22-Barsham (GK) — 13-Khoder, 2-Suhail, 5-Salman, 14-Ahmed — 12-Marafee, 6-Fatehi, 16-Mashal — 10-Waad, 17-Al Abdullah, 3-Shehata.
Mexico vs Qatar live updates, highlights and commentary from Gold Cup
5 mins to kickoff: Teams are out on the field and anthems are up next. Mexico first, followed by Qatar.
10 mins to kickoff: While other players are getting some rest today for Mexico, 37-year-old Memo Ochoa is hard at work again and gets another cap (No. 139).
Se prepara @yosoy8a y los mexicanos se entregan🇲🇽🤩🥳
📽 @DanieCortesB #VeranoDeCampeones pic.twitter.com/KZrix1cU1W
— TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) July 3, 2023
1 hour to kickoff: Lineups are out. Six changes to Mexico’s starting lineup.
Así juega @miseleccionmx contra Qatar 🇲🇽🇶🇦
Santi Giménez es titular. pic.twitter.com/RebnJ2bQWz
— LUIS CASTILLO (@mluiscastillo) July 3, 2023
👀 The XI for @QFA_EN 🇶🇦 to start against 🇲🇽! ⚽️ #GoldCup pic.twitter.com/st73PGsbPL
— Gold Cup (@GoldCup) July 3, 2023
2 hours to kickoff: Referee Drew Fischer from Canada will officiate the match between Mexico and Qatar on Sunday.
El árbitro canadiense Drew Thomas Fischer pitará el partido entre México y Catar en Copa Oro 2023. pic.twitter.com/I3sJuM9FPm
— Goles y Cifras (@golesycifras) July 2, 2023
Mexico vs Qatar lineups
Mexico manager Lozano made it clear that changes would be coming against Qatar and we have six of them, at right-back (Julian Araujo), center-back (Israel Reyes), midfield (Charly Rodriguez), winger (Ozziel Herrera), and center-forward (Santiago Gimenez).
Left-back Gerardo Arteaga is back after a two-match suspension imposed by CONCACAF and he slots right back into the lineup. Center-back Cesar Montes will only return for the quarterfinal stage, serving an extra game for his role in the dust-ups against the USA in the CONCACAF Nations League.
Mexico starting lineup (4-3-3): 13-Guillermo Ochoa (GK) — 2-Julian Araujo, 4-Edson Alvarez, 21-Israel Reyes, 6-Gerardo Arteaga — 8-Carlos ‘Charly’ Rodriguez, 7-Luis Romo, 18-Luis Chavez — 9-Ozziel Herrera, 11-Santiago Gimenez, 17-Orbelin Pineda
Mexico projected subs (11): 1-Jose Antonio Rodriguez (GK), 12-Luis Angel Malagon (GK), 19-Jorge Sanchez, 5-Johan Vasquez, 22-Victor Guzman, 23-Jesus Gallardo, 14-Erick Sanchez, 10-Roberto Alvarado, 16-Diego Lainez, 15-Uriel Antuna, 20-Henry Martin
Adding to Qatar’s frustrations in the tournament is that they will be missing two starters against Mexico: Qatar’s best player Yusuf Abdulrisag is suspended for a red card received against Honduras, and starting right-back Bassam Al Rawi is also suspended for picking up two yellow cards in two games. Star forward Almoez Ali has missed the entire tournament due to injury and will also sit out vs. Mexico.
Qatar starting lineup (4-3-3): 22-Meshaal Barsham (GK) — 13-Musab Khoder, 2-Ahmed Suhail, 5-Tarek Salman, 14-Homam Ahmed — 12-Abdullah Marafee, 6-Ahmed Fatehi, 16-Moustafa Mashal — 10-Mohammed Waad, 17-Tameem Al Abdullah, 3-Hazem Shehata.
Qatar subs (9): 1-Salah Zakaria (GK), 21-Yousef Hassan (GK), 4-Youssef Ayman, 23-Assim Madibo, 20-Jassim Gaber, 8-Ali Asad, 7-Mahdi Salem, 18-Khalid Muneer, 9-Mohammed Muntari.
Mexico vs Qatar live stream, TV channel
Here’s how to watch the Mexico vs. Qatar match in the USA and Canada on Sunday, July 2 with kickoff set for 9:30 p.m. ET from Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
USA
- TV channel: FS1, Univision, TUDN
- Streaming: Fubo, Fox Sports site/app, TUDN site/app
The match will be televised in the USA on FS1 (English) and Univision and TUDN (Spanish) with all three channels streaming on Fubo, which is available to new users on a free trial.
Subscribers to cable, satellite, or telco packages can use those authenticated credentials to access a live stream on the Fox Sports or TUDN site and app.
Canada
- TV channel: Telus Optik TV (Channel 980)
- Streaming: Fubo Canada, OneSoccer site/app
The match will be televised in Canada on Telus Optik TV (Channel 980), where viewers can watch the OneSoccer broadcast.
It will also be streamed on Fubo Canada, as well as on the OneSoccer site and app for subscribers.
Mexico vs Qatar betting odds
Mexico are the huge favorites with Qatar given nearly one-in-seven odds to win the match. The betting market is leaning so heavily toward Mexico that the spread is up to 1.5 goals for this game (versus the usual 0.5 goals).
But you wonder whether the market is taking into account that it will be an alternate Mexican side made up of the backups, who haven’t played a real game together to develop any sort of rhythm or work out the kinks.
For that reason, it might be best to focus on both teams scoring considering the game should be wide open since Qatar have nothing to lose and need a win at all costs to have a shot at qualification to the quarterfinals.
| Mexico win |
Draw | Qatar win |
Both teams to score Y / N |
Over / Under 3.5 goals |
MEX -1.5 |
QAT +1.5 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BetMGM (USA) |
-300 | +425 | +675 | -135 / -110 | +260 / -400 | -120 | -120 |
| Sports Interaction (Canada) |
1.34 | 5.20 | 7.40 | 1.69 / 1.92 | 2.20 / 1.65 | 1.92 | 1.86 |