Rafael Márquez’s Mexico era faces one of its biggest tests against Mauricio Pochettino and the United States

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·3 October 2026

Rafael Márquez’s Mexico era faces one of its biggest tests against Mauricio Pochettino and the United States

Rafael Márquez’s era in charge of the Mexico national team will face one of its biggest tests this Saturday as El Tri takes on Mauricio Pochettino and the United States in the most intense rivalry in North American soccer.

Mexico will face the United States at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, in a new edition of the Concacaf Classic and Márquez’s third game as head coach.

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El Tri enters the match after two consecutive draws at the start of this new era. Mexico first drew 1-1 against Colombia in Baltimore before rescuing another 1-1 draw against Peru. The United States, meanwhile, has had a completely different start to this international window, earning convincing victories over Peru, 4-1, and Chile, 4-2.

Pochettino’s team will look to maintain that momentum against Mexico, while El Tri will be looking for a stronger collective performance that can help them secure their first win of the international window.

In both of Mexico’s first two matches under Márquez, the team had to come from behind, making the clash with the United States another opportunity to begin putting his footballing ideas into practice.

On the other side, the United States arrives with a completely different dynamic. Pochettino’s team opened this international window with back-to-back wins over Peru and Chile, scoring nine goals in the process. Saturday’s match in Glendale will also mark the 80th meeting between the two national teams.

For Mexico, the rivalry puts the spotlight back on a process that is still in its early stages. Márquez has used his first games to evaluate players and give opportunities to a new generation, but against the United States, he will have to combine that renewal with the demands of facing Mexico’s biggest rival in the region.

One of the biggest storylines will be the matchup between Gilberto Mora and Cavan Sullivan, with both players just 17 years old. The young Mexican midfielder experienced some discomfort during the national team camp, but Márquez confirmed that he has improved and is available for the game.

“Yes, Gil underwent some routine tests. He had some slight discomfort, but he is progressing very well, so he is eligible for the match,” Márquez said.

Sullivan represents another path for the United States. The midfielder broke into professional soccer at a very young age and remains one of the country’s most promising prospects. Although his international development is at a different stage than Mora’s, both players represent the push to develop footballers capable of reaching the highest level before turning 20.

During his press conference, Márquez was also asked about Pochettino’s comments regarding the rivalry. The U.S. head coach acknowledged that the rivalry has been fueled in part by the geographical proximity between the two countries, but said that his focus should be on winning for his own team rather than simply thinking about who the opponent is.

Márquez responded with praise for the Argentine coach.

“The admiration is mutual. I have known Pochettino for some time. We have this small relationship and admiration for each other. He is a great coach and has had opportunities with some very important teams,” Márquez said.

“As for the rivalry, there is no need to explain it. We all know what it means to face the United States,” he added.

The Mexico manager also expects another highly competitive game, similar to the one against Colombia.

“It will be a competitive game, just like against Colombia. We are facing a very competitive United States national team,” Márquez said.

Márquez also emphasized that the younger players in his squad understand exactly what is at stake when facing the United States.

“They are very aware of it and know exactly who we are facing. The responsibility of playing against a rival like the United States does not change the mentality we want to instill in the team. We want to maintain the same level and try to win every game we play. It hasn’t happened yet, but the objective is to compete and make the fans identify with the team,” Márquez said.

Beyond the result, the match will provide an early indication of how much Mexico has progressed after just a few weeks under Márquez. The former Mexico captain has repeatedly stressed the need to build a competitive national team regardless of the opponent and to reconnect with the fans.

The recent head-to-head record also adds context. Mexico enters the match with two consecutive victories over the United States, including the 2025 Gold Cup final, although the U.S. enters this international window with two wins and nine goals scored.

The match will kick off at 8:00 p.m. CT / 6:00 p.m. PT / 9:00 p.m. ET at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

More than just a friendly, the Concacaf Classic will provide Márquez with his first test against the rival that has historically defined much of Mexico’s competition in the region. Pochettino, meanwhile, will look to give his players another boost by defeating Mexico.