Ivar Sisniegaexecutive president of the Mexican Football Federation, confirmed that the former player of the FC Barcelona Rafael Marquez will be the selector of Mexico in the process towards the 2030 World Cup. “The thing about Rafael Márquez is in his contract; he says that as soon as he finishes as Javier Aguirre’s assistant, after next year’s World Cup, he will join as the main coach of the national team,” said the president of the FMF.
Márquez, 46, is considered, along with Hugo Sánchez, as one of the two best Mexican soccer players in history. Multiple champion with FC Barcelona, he was part of the Mexican team that obtained its greatest international achievement, the victory in the 1999 Confederations Cup against Brazil. In addition to participating in five World Cups, he attended six Copa América, of which he was part of the runner-up in 2001.
The last great captain of the tri was also champion twice in the Gold Cup, in which he accumulated four participations. In August of last year, Rafa left the position of coach of Barça Atletic to join the coaching staff of current coach Javier Aguirre, under the promise that once the 2026 World Cup was over, he would take over.
“I would not detract from the national team and the work you can do in a World Cup, which everyone sees. Both as an assistant today, and as a coach in the next World Cup cycle, that is my main showcase. I have no doubt that if I play a great role, I can have an opportunity at Barcelona,” Márquez mentioned in 2024.
There have already been some meetings
Sisniega reiterated that the project that began with Aguirre will continue as planned. “I have already had meetings with Márquez to explore his coaching staff. This is a plan that has already been launched. He has observed many young players to integrate his first calls and we hope to fulfill what we have established,” concluded the manager.
In the 2026 World Cup, Mexico will be part of group A along with South Africa, against whom it will debut on June 11; South Korea, with whom they will collide on the 18th of the same month and the winner of the play-off that will emerge between Denmark, Macedonia, the Czech Republic and Ireland, who will be measured on the 24th to close the first phase.
