Mexico vs Panama Odds: Gold Cup Trophy on the Line

• Mexico are seeking to win the CONCACAF Gold Cup for the ninth time
• Panama, who knocked out the USMNT in the semis, have never lifted the trophy
• Who will get their hands on the prize at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, California?

Mexico vs Panama Odds

The odds for Mexico vs Panama are from the DraftKings sportsbook, where you can get $200 in bonus bets instantly after betting $5.

Mexico vs Panama Pick

• Back Mexico to beat Panama in the CONCACAF Gold Cup 2023 and over 1.5 goals in total. We fancy El Tri to edge this one.

USA Conquerors Panama on Brink of a Historic Achievement

The USMNT will have to content themselves with just the CONCACAF Nations League trophy. Fresh from winning that tournament last month, the hosts of Gold Cup 2023 were striving for a rare double, only for Panama to extinguish their hopes on Wednesday.

The match could have gone either way. There were no goals in regulation time before the deadlock was finally broken by Ivan Anderson in the ninth minute of extra time. Jesus Ferreira then leveled for the USA just before the first period came to an end.

At that point it seemed like the momentum was with BJ Callaghan’s team. But neither side was able to find a winner before the final whistle and a penalty shoot-out beckoned. Cristian Roldon’s miss proved decisive, as Panama won 5-4.

Callaghan came out and shouldered the blame for the defeat, admitting that he had got his setup and selection wrong. The interim manager changed things at the interval, but by then Panama had gained a foothold.

Questions will now invariably be asked of why Callaghan was in charge anyway, given that Gregg Berhalter is now back as full-time boss. But nothing should take away from Panama’s fantastic effort. They are now through to their third Gold Cup final after defeats by the USA in the showpiece matches of 2005 and 2013.

The best online sportsbooks had Panama down as only the sixth-favorites to lift the trophy before a ball had been kicked, but they are now potentially 90 minutes away from a first major piece of silverware, which would be a magnificent accomplishment.

"Getting into this final is the dream of every Panamanian. We had to suffer to get this victory but that is how it is best savored," said their coach Thomas Christiansen.

Mexico Eye Chance to Show They Are Still CONCACAF Kings

A semi-final against Jamaica looked like a potential banana skin for Mexico, but they completed their task with maturity and professionalism. Goals from Henry Martin and Luis Chavez put the favorites 2-0 up within half an hour, and Roberto Avaraldo added a third in second-half stoppage time.

It was an accomplished performance from Jimmy Lozano’s side. Another interim boss, he has every chance of landing the role on a permanent basis if he can steer Mexico to one more victory this weekend. 

Mexico lost their third group game to Qatar, but that result was not an accurate reflection of the game and the result did not matter anyway. 

They have otherwise been superb throughout this Gold Cup and, given the wider context and the identity of their opponents, Wednesday’s win was their most impressive yet.

The balance from back to front will have delighted Lozano. Mexico were defensively solid throughout the game despite facing a dangerous Jamaican attack. Up front, they played bright, cohesive soccer and were clinical with the chances they created.

Mexico will view this weekend’s final as an opportunity to remind the rest of the region that they are still the most successful CONCACAF nation - in terms of both World Cup appearances and Gold Cup triumphs. Another success here would be their ninth of all time in this tournament.

The USMNT outperformed Mexico at World Cup 2022 and Canada have been making waves over the last couple of years, but it is El Tri that have another trophy in their sights right now.

Panama Are a Threat but Mexico May Edge the Gold Cup Final

The head-to-head record between these two teams is heavily in Mexico’s favor. Of the 25 meetings up to now, only two have ended with Panama victorious. El Tri are currently on a 14-match unbeaten streak in this fixture dating back for a decade.

That is not to say Mexico should expect an easy game this weekend. Anything can happen in a final. Panama will be quietly confident after knocking out the USMNT last time out. And this current squad of players contains plenty of talent.

Yet if Mexico play to their potential, it is hard to see them not winning this Gold Cup final. Bear in mind, too, that their semi-final was about as stress-free as is possible at that stage of a tournament. Panama, by contrast, had to play 120 minutes plus penalties against the USMNT.

Christiansen’s charges will look to make life difficult for Mexico by putting in a diligent, disciplined defensive display. But El Tri have the firepower to find a way past their backline. 

Gold Cup finals are often tight affairs, so we should not necessarily expect a high-scoring thriller. There is a good chance of seeing at least two goals, however, and we recommend pairing that wager with a Mexico win.

How to Watch Mexico vs Panama

• Teams: Mexico vs Panama
• Location: SoFi Stadium, California, United States.
• Date and Time: Jul. 16, 2023, 7.30 p.m. ET 
• How to Watch: Fox Sports 1, fuboTV