Rafael Márquez will be the next coach of the Mexico national team, and Duilio Davino said the deal is already signed. Speaking in an interview with Fox Sports México, Davino said Márquez’s staff is “practically 80 percent” complete and added that Andrés Guardado could still join the project.
The announcement lands as Mexico shapes its plan for the 2026 World Cup, with Javier Aguirre currently in charge of the team. Davino said Aguirre has a date of expiry and that the most likely point for a handover is after the FIFA World Cup matches, putting Márquez at the center of the next phase of the program.
Márquez arrives with a coaching résumé that includes Barça Atlètic, the reserve side of FC Barcelona. While he was in that job, he was considered a possible replacement for Xavi, and a Barcelona spokesperson told EFE at the time that Márquez was the closest candidate and would be considered when the moment came. Hansi Flick later replaced Xavi, closing that door and leaving Márquez available for a return to Mexican soccer.
Davino also made clear that Mexico is trying to build around experience and familiarity. He said Guardado could be a very good option for the staff and praised Aguirre’s handling of players, saying the team would compete and that the 2026 World Cup itself should be seen as a major achievement for Mexico.
The timing matters because the broader conversation around the national team is still being shaped by results on the field. Mexico and Portugal played to a 0-0 draw at Estadio Banorte, but fans booed the Mexican players afterward, a reminder that expectations remain high even when the scoreline is respectable against elite opposition.
That gap between patience and pressure is the tension Márquez is stepping into. Davino’s comments suggest the federation is already planning for the next cycle, but the reception at Estadio Banorte showed that supporters want more than a process. They want a team that convinces them now, not just in 2026.
