Rafael Márquez debuts as Mexico national team head coach, attends Clásico between Cruz Azul and América

Rafael Márquez formally began his tenure as head coach of the Mexico national team by attending the Clásico Joven between Cruz Azul and América at Estadio Azteca, one of the most notable matches of the Liga MX matchday. The Mexican coach was accompanied by Andrés Guardado, who serves as his assistant on the national team staff. Both took their seats in a VIP box to closely monitor the performance of players who could be called up for the upcoming national team cycle. Although Márquez had already begun his work tour with visits to the Atlas and Chivas training camps, the clash between La Máquina and the Águilas marked his first official match attendance since assuming the national team coaching role. The match featured several Mexican players vying for spots in future call-ups. Erik Lira started for Cruz Azul, while Israel Reyes was in América's starting XI. Beyond these two, players such as Carlos Rodríguez, Jesús Orozco Chiquete, Erick Sánchez, Isaías Violante, and Ramón Juárez are also under consideration for the Tricolor's new cycle and will need to catch the coaching staff's attention. Márquez and Guardado arrived at Estadio Azteca with a private security detail and proceeded to the box from which they followed the match between two of Liga MX's most prominent clubs. The technical body's presence at stadiums aims to maintain direct observation of Mexican players, a practice also employed by Javier Aguirre during his previous tenure leading the national team to evaluate options for his call-ups.