Tyler Adams and Giovanni Reyna found the net as the United States emerged victorious against Mexico to claim the Concacaf Nations League title. The match held in Arlington, Texas, faced interruptions three times due to homophobic chants from fans.
Concacaf, the governing body for football in North and Central America and the Caribbean, strongly denounced the discriminatory chanting and reported that a “significant number” of fans were removed from the stadium.
The United States, along with Mexico and Canada, are set to co-host the 2026 World Cup. The match was halted in the 86th minute and twice during injury time due to homophobic chants directed at USA goalkeeper Matt Turner during his goal-kicks. Similar incidents led to a pause in the previous encounter between the teams in June 2023.
Concacaf expressed disappointment over the recurring issue, especially considering the upcoming opportunity to enhance the sport in the region. The organization urged fans to show positive support for their teams and demonstrate respect for all participants.
The United States has clinched all three Concacaf Nations League titles since its inception in 2019-20.
Midfielder Tyler Adams, who has faced injury setbacks, made a significant impact by opening the scoring in his fourth appearance of the season before being substituted at halftime. Giovanni Reyna, on loan at Nottingham Forest from Borussia Dortmund, secured the victory with his eighth international goal.
Reflecting on the win, Reyna expressed gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to his country’s success, emphasizing the camaraderie and energy within the team.
He however remarked that the homophobic chant by some section of supporters is ridiculous and unacceptable.
