Rafa Marquez: Charting the Path to 2026 and 2030 World Cups

Rafa Marquez's New Role

This Saturday, during the friendly match against New Zealand in Los Angeles, Rafa Marquez officially initiates his journey as an assistant coach for the Mexican National Team, steering towards the 2026 World Cup and focussing on leading the project for 2030. Known as the 'Kaiser' from Michoacan, Marquez, a five-time World Cup participant as a player, recently stepped down from his role at Barcelona Athletic, the third tier of Spanish football, to support Javier Aguirre from the bench.

Future Expectations

Marquez signed a six-year contract with the FMF, indicating the trust placed in him. However, Hugo Sanchez recently expressed doubts on ESPN about Marquez's decision, suggesting it may be a mistake to not allow Aguirre to take the lead before the World Cup. He warned that if results aren't favorable in 2026, a lack of responsibility may reflect poorly on Marquez's coaching career.

The Opponent Ahead

Presently, New Zealand doesn’t pose a significant challenge for the Mexican team, currently ranking 94th in FIFA. Marquez has a solid history against them from previous matches, including the World Cup playoffs leading to Brazil 2014 and the Confederations Cup in 2017. In that playoff, Marquez, a seasoned player, became a vital asset for the team, helping secure a 5-1 win in Mexico City and a 4-2 victory away. Notably, Marquez scored one of the goals in that match.

Looking Back

Rafa’s legacy includes participation in four World Cups and a solid role in the 2018 World Cup preparations. He also logged minutes in the 2017 Confederations Cup triumph over New Zealand, showcasing his invaluable experience. At 45 years old, Marquez played 158 matches for the Mexican National Team from his debut in 1997 to his retirement in 2018. Initially, the FMF had offered a demotion position to Jaime Lozano, to later ascend as head coach for 2030, but Lozano declined. Now, it's Marquez who fills that role.