Defending champion Mexico overcame a slow start to defeat the Dominican Republic 3-2 on in a CONCACAF Gold Cup group stage match.

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.

The Dominican Republic men make their Gold Cup debut with a match-up against the tournament's most-successful team: nine-time champions Mexico.

Costa Rica plays Dominican Republic on June 18 at 7 p.m. ET in the 2025 Gold Cup in Arlington, Texas. Which team will emerge victorious from this game? See below for our match prediction. Game time: 7 p.m. ET

SportsLine's Brandt Sutton reveals his soccer picks for the Concacaf Gold Cup group stage match between the Dominican Republic and Mexico on Saturday