SAN JOSE — The matchup in the Gold Cup final is not the one CONCACAF privately wanted because a U.S.-Mexico showdown elevates ticket sales and stirs curiosity beyond the region’s borders. It’s not what Fox Sports and Univision wanted either, because a U.S. vs. Mexico match, in any soccer competition, draws strong TV numbers.
None of that, however, matters one bit to the U.S. squad, which, after securing its place Saturday with a 2-0 victory over Costa Rica in greater Dallas, arrived in the Bay Area on Sunday in time to watch coverage of Jamaica’s 1-0 triumph against Mexico.