Mexico wins CONCACAF Nations League final over Panama

The Mexico team celebrate after defeating Panama at the end of a CONCACAF Nations League final soccer match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Sunday, March 23, 2025. Mexico won 2-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

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INGLEWOOD — The talk about who is the best forward in CONCACAF, must always include Raúl Jiménez and he proved why in the CONCACAF Nations League.

Jiménez scored two goals in Mexico’s semifinal win at Canada Thursday and he added another two goals in Sunday’s 2-1 win against Panama in the final in front of 68,212 at SoFi Stadium.

This is Mexico’s first CONCACAF Nations League championship.

“I’m happy for the players, I’m very happy about their performance,” Mexico coach Javier Aguirre. “It’s not easy to beat any team. Panama showed great resistance. I hope they qualify for the World Cup.”

Aguirre, in his third stint as coach of the Mexico, returned last July.

Jiménez opened the scoring in the eighth minute. The winning goal came into stoppage time as he stepped up to the penalty spot and converted, sending the Mexican fans into a wild celebration.

Jiménez has scored 10 goals with Fulham in the English Premier League. He had scored two goals for Mexico last season and has already doubled that this year.

Mexico received a break on a free kick when Panamanian defender José Córdoba was called for hand ball violation, with it appeared the ball was heading out of play.

Jiménez stepped up, sent the goalkeeper the wrong way and the ball was in the back of the net. He becomes the first player to score multiple goals in more than one match in the CONCACAF Nations League.

“If you put that player in a Canada team or a USA team, he can help you win tournaments and that’s what he did,” legend Thierry Henry said of Jiménez on the Paramount+ wrap-up show.

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Panama tied the game at 1-1 on Adalberto Carrasquilla’s successful penalty kick in the first minute of stoppage time.

“When Mexico scored, everything looks bad, but the reaction of the team was very good,” Panama coach Thomas Christiansen said. “We had important opportunities before the penalty (in the second half).

“We had a small country with big dreams. The team fought. The players had that personality in both games. We had better opportunities against Mexico. After a loss you suffered in the last minute, it hurts, but as I said before, I’m honored to be head coach of this team.”

Mexico and Panama met in the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup final, also at SoFi Stadium in 2023, with Mexico winning 1-0.

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