Chicago, IL (My Sportsbook) - The United States will try to claim its fourth CONCACAF Gold Cup on Sunday against Mexico and pull even with its opponent for the most titles in the event's history.

The United States and Mexico have combined to win seven of the eight Gold Cups since its inception in 1991. Canada, which won in 2000, is the only other team to win a title.

The U.S. has won both of its games in the knockout stage, jumping out to two- goal leads against Panama and Canada and holding on for 2-1 victories. After a perfect run through the group stage, it defeated Panama in the quarterfinals and Canada in the semifinals.

Mexico dropped its second game in the group stage, but has three straight 1-0 wins. It defeated Costa Rica in extra time in the quarterfinals and Guadeloupe in the semifinals.

The United States and Mexico have played in the Gold Cup final two times, and Mexico won both. Mexico won 4-0 in the 1993 final and captured the 1998 crown, 1-0. Mexico won its other titles in 1996 and 2003 with wins over Brazil.

The United States won the last Gold Cup in 2005 in penalty kicks over Panama. Its other titles were in 1991 and 2002.

With its successful start to the tournament this year, the U.S. jumped 13 spots in the FIFA rankings to 16th. A victory over Mexico could vault the team close to, if not into, the top 10. Mexico is ranked 26th in the world.

The winner also earns a berth in the 2009 Confederations Cup in South Africa. This year's Gold Cup final begins at 3 p.m. (ET) at Chicago's Soldier Field.

"We are very excited to be in the final," said U.S. head coach Bob Bradley, who improved to 9-0-1 since taking over in December. "As a group, we have worked very hard."

Bradley has used all 22 players with the team throughout the tournament, but has called on a more stable starting group in the knockout stage. However, the U.S. will be without starting defender Frankie Hejduk, who scored against Canada, and Michael Bradley in the final. Hejduk was given a yellow card for the second straight game in the knockout stage and Bradley received a red against Canada.

In addition to replacing Hejduk in defense and Bradley in midfield, it's unclear who will start in goal for the United States. Tim Howard, who was named as the starter before the tournament, has split time with veteran Kasey Keller so far.

Keller got his 100th cap in Thursday's semifinal, but Howard got a yellow card in the quarterfinals and Bradley may have been cautious about losing him for the final.

"It was nice to get the 100th cap, but it was important to get the 100th cap and win and now to be able to go into the final and try and get another trophy," Keller said. "It's been a whole team effort for these five games so far, and I'm sure it's going to be another great effort for the final. We want to win this thing."

Although the United States is the only unbeaten in the tournament, it has had some tough stretches. The U.S. barely escaped the semifinals against Canada when a bad offside call in stoppage time erased an equalizing goal.

"When you play in these kind of tournaments, you have periods where the soccer is good. As a team you have to fight for each other and survive when the soccer isn't as good," Bradley said. "And when you put it all together, it's what makes you a team. I feel very good that we are getting stronger, the mentality is getting better, and it is very important to be in the final."

A great sign in the tournament for the United States has been its balance offensively. Landon Donovan leads the team with three goals - all on penalty kicks - and DeMarcus Beasley has two, but the team's other six goals have been scored by different players. Carlos Bocanegra, Brian Ching, Clint Dempsey, Hejduk, Eddie Johnson and Taylor Twellman each have one.

The United States has scored two goals or more in all but one game. Mexico has just six goals in the whole tournament - five less than the U.S. - and scored two goals in a game just once.

Jared Borgetti leads Mexico with two goals, including the game-winner against Costa Rica. Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Nery Castillo, Pavel Pardo and Carlos Salcido all have one goal for Mexico.