Concacaf Gold Cup has finally arrived as Mexico and the Dominican Republic ring in the group stage. The two nations will face off on Friday at SoFi Stadium in California. The build-up to the tournament has already provided plenty of tension across participating national teams ahead of play and heightened safety concerns.

Mexico comes into this year’s tournament as huge favorites. La Tri won the nation’s ninth Gold Cup in 2023, and followed that up with a triumphant victory in the CONCACAF Nations League this past year. They bring in a lot of the talent that has helped them win over the past couple of years with the hopes of competing for a trophy once again.