Hugo Sánchez backs Rafa Márquez for World Cup glory: “Three cycles ideal”

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·24 September 2026

Hugo Sánchez backs Rafa Márquez for World Cup glory: “Three cycles ideal”

Rafael Márquez’s era in charge of the Mexican National Team is about to officially begin. Next September 26, against Colombia, the legendary former defender will manage his first match as El Tri’s head coach, launching a project with its sights set on the 2030 World Cup.

Amid the expectations surrounding this new cycle, Hugo Sánchez called for Márquez to be kept on through several World Cup cycles, arguing that a long-term project could allow him to fully develop his ideas.

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Hugo wants a long-term project

The legendary Mexican striker publicly backed Márquez and put forward a proposal that goes far beyond the 2030 World Cup.

“I support Rafa. We have to back him because he is putting his prestige and his future on the line. He is counting on being supported during this four-year period, at the very least, because ideally it would be what I asked for at the time: three World Cup cycles.”

For Hugo, keeping the coach in place for several cycles would make it possible to build a structure with greater continuity and avoid constant changes on the bench.

“If we keep Rafa for three World Cup cycles because he’s doing well, which I hope is the case, that’s when we could get closer to the possibility of becoming world champions.”

The proposal, however, reflects Hugo Sánchez’s position. The official project presented by the Mexican Football Federation is aimed at the 2030 World Cup.

Rafa Márquez already has a date for his debut

The new national team coach will face his first test this Saturday, September 26 against Colombia, at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. He will then face Peru, the United States, and Chile during this first training camp of the new cycle.

The FMF introduced Márquez as the head of a new project leading up to 2030, supported by a coaching staff that includes Juan Manuel Lillo and Andrés Guardado as assistants, along with Vidal Paloma, Xabier Mancisidor, and Pol Lorente.

Hugo also sees Guardado as a future coach

Sánchez even raised a possibility for the future of El Tri’s bench: preparing Andrés Guardado from now on so that he can eventually become national team coach.

“Andrés Guardado should be getting ready with that possibility in mind. Do it the German way—prepare him so that he becomes the future coach of the national team.”

For now, that possibility is part of the vision expressed by Hugo Sánchez. Márquez’s immediate priority will be to begin his process against Colombia and build the team that will represent Mexico in the next World Cup cycle.

The first chapter of this new era is only a few days away.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.