The Mexican national team finds itself in turmoil just a month into Rafael “Rafa” Márquez’s coaching tenure, as they grapple with disappointing results following a promising 2026 World Cup performance. Despite expectations, the team has stumbled through four friendlies, recording:

• 1-1 draw against Colombia
• 1-1 draw against Peru
• 3-0 defeat to the United States
• 2-0 loss against Chile

Analysts express concern that the team seems unrecognizable compared to its World Cup form. TV Azteca's Álvaro López Sordo noted that these results may indicate deeper systemic issues within Mexican football rather than solely reflecting Márquez's coaching abilities.

Márquez, who previously contributed to Mexico's best World Cup performance in decades, faces criticism as the team’s recent performances fall short of expectations. His limited coaching experience raises questions, especially as he inherits a squad with fewer elite players in major European leagues than previous generations.

Despite the challenges, some positive signs emerged during the friendlies, such as Gilberto Mora becoming the youngest goalscorer in national history. However, the absence of key players like Raúl Jiménez and Julián Quiñones highlighted the team’s striking deficiencies.

The Mexican football community is already questioning Márquez's future, with calls for a reassessment of the coaching strategy. The pressing concern remains whether the team can separate the performance of a new coach from the long-standing issues that have plagued Mexican football for years.