Rafael Márquez has launched his tenure as head coach of the Mexico national team by initiating a tour across Liga MX clubs, starting with Atlas FC at Academia AGA in Guadalajara on Tuesday, September 8, 2026. The former defender met with club leadership, technical staff, and players as part of a strategic push to align domestic operations with the national team ahead of the 2030 World Cup cycle.
The Federación Mexicana de Futbol (FMF) structured the initiative to bridge the gap between club managers and the national team setup. Márquez arrived at the facilities accompanied by Duilio Davino, director deportivo of the Selección Nacional Mayor, and Andrés Lillini, who has a cargo of the dirección deportiva of the Selecciones Nacionales Menores. Assistant coaches Pol Lorente, Xabier Mancisidor, and Vidal Paloma rounded out the visiting delegation.
Inside the Academia AGA Meetings
Atlas FC served as the launchpad for the tour. Márquez began and ended his professional playing career with the Rojinegros, making the club’s training complex a starting point. Vicepresidente Deportivo Andoni Zubizarreta, Director de Gestión Deportiva Eduardo Herrera, and first-team manager Hernán Crespo welcomed the national team contingent.
During the visit, Márquez observed the squad’s training session and held direct talks with players, including Arturo Alfonso González—with whom Márquez previously shared a pitch during his playing days—and national team defender Jorge Sánchez. According to official club announcements, the meetings focused on sharing training methodologies, standardizing physical monitoring, and opening permanent channels of communication between club technical staff and the national team coaching unit.
The Strategy Behind the 18-Club Tour
The FMF outlined that the working tour will cover all 18 clubs in the Liga MX. The coaching staff intends to review training protocols firsthand across every domestic institution. This systemic approach aims to harmonize physical workloads and secure real-time data on potential call-ups for upcoming international fixtures.
The rollout precedes the formal public introduction of Márquez as the head coach of El Tricolor, which is scheduled for Thursday, September 10, 2026, at 10:00 hours at the Centro de Alto Rendimiento (CAR). That presentation will mark the official commencement of the project targeting the 2030 tournament, following his preceding work alongside Javier Aguirre during the 2026 cycle.
What Comes Next
Following the stop in Guadalajara, the technical delegation planned to continue visits to remaining Liga MX facilities through the week. El Tricolor will soon pivot toward its first competitive block under Márquez, which includes a tour of four matches in Estado
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