Rafael Márquez appointed Mexico's new head coach for 2030 World Cup

Rafael Márquez has officially taken the helm as the new head coach of the Mexican National Team, with his sights set on the 2030 World Cup. This appointment follows the team's successful campaign in the 2026 World Cup, where they achieved their best-ever group stage performance and advanced to the round of 16 before being eliminated by England. The Federation Mexicana de Futbol had planned for Márquez's arrival when Javier Aguirre, the previous coach, announced his departure after the team's exit from the 2026 tournament. Despite the disappointment of not advancing further, fans expressed satisfaction with a team that inspired hope throughout the competition. Out of the 26 players selected by Aguirre, only third-choice goalkeeper Carlos Acevedo did not see playing time. The rest of the squad contributed to Mexico's historic group stage success and their first appearance in the fifth match in 40 years. Among the standout performers, Julián Quiñones emerged as the star of the World Cup, netting four goals in five games. This remarkable achievement matches the historic record set by Luis Hernández and Javier Hernández for most goals by a Mexican player in the tournament. Erik Lira, captain of Cruz Azul, played in four matches and consistently fueled the team's and fans' belief in a historic performance, also providing an assist to Quiñones for a goal against South Africa. Raúl Jiménez, known as 'El Lobo', scored three goals in four appearances, breaking his World Cup scoring drought. Johan Vásquez was instrumental in the team's strong defense, which kept clean sheets for four consecutive matches. Roberto Alvarado, or 'El Piojo', demonstrated versatility by adapting to various tactical schemes under Aguirre, even sacrificing his attacking role to bolster the defense. He also contributed three assists in five games.