Mexico faces Chile this Tuesday in Los Angeles in the final game of Rafa Márquez’s first international break as head coach, and the honeymoon is already over.
The former Mexico captain arrived with the mission of giving the national team a new identity, reconnecting with the fans and putting his own stamp on the squad. Instead, after three games, Mexico still has no win, just two goals scored and five conceded.
Mexico’s Growing Injury List
Luis Romo became the latest casualty on Monday after the Mexican Football Federation confirmed that the Chivas midfielder suffered a muscle injury to the biceps femoris in his left leg and will return to his club.
“Following a medical examination, the player was diagnosed with a muscle injury to the biceps femoris in his left leg, so he will return to his club,” the FMF said in a statement.
Romo joins Gilberto Mora, Hirving Lozano and Mateo Chávez on the sidelines. Lozano was already ruled out before the United States game after suffering a muscle injury during training. Mora had been dealing with an ankle problem and was ultimately sent back to Club Tijuana to rest and recover ahead of the remainder of the Apertura 2026. Chávez also returned to the Netherlands to rejoin AZ Alkmaar and avoid further complications with his physical condition.
So, while Márquez looks for answers, his squad keeps getting smaller.
International Break Performance Raises Questions
Mexico opened the international break with a 1-1 draw against Colombia in Baltimore and followed it with another 1-1 draw against Peru in New Jersey.
Then came the reality check. The United States smashed Mexico 3-0 in Glendale, Arizona.
That result turned the volume up on the criticism surrounding Márquez. And, honestly, it is difficult to argue with the numbers. This was supposed to be the beginning of a new era. Instead, it looks a lot like Javier Aguirre’s team with a different man standing on the sideline.
Eighteen of the 26 players who were part of Mexico’s World Cup squad were called up for this international break. Continuity was expected, but what has been missing is the personality, chemistry and attacking spark that Márquez was supposed to bring.
Three games. Two goals scored. Five conceded. Zero wins. Not exactly the blockbuster opening chapter Mexico fans were waiting for.
The 3-0 loss to the USMNT made things even worse because Mexico desperately needed that first victory under Márquez. Instead, they got beaten by their biggest rival and were left searching for answers.
That makes Tuesday’s game against Chile much more important than a simple friendly.
Mexico Needs to Win
Not because one victory will suddenly fix everything, but because another poor result would send the Márquez project into the next international window carrying even more questions than answers.
Chile also arrives looking to avoid ending its own international break on a sour note. La Roja lost 1-0 to Canada in its opening game on September 26 and then suffered a 4-2 defeat against the United States on September 29.
A third straight loss would leave Chile with plenty of explaining to do as well.
The last time Mexico and Chile met was on December 8, 2021, in Austin, Texas. That friendly ended in a thrilling 2-2 draw.
Now, almost five years later, the two teams meet again — and this time, Mexico has much more than bragging rights on the line.
Mexico’s possible lineup
Alex Padilla
Jorge Sánchez — Israel Reyes — Johan Vásquez — Jesús Gallardo
Erick Lira — Álvaro Fidalgo — Luis Chávez
Roberto Alvarado — Armando González — Santiago Sandoval
Padilla, who plays for Athletic Club in Spain, is expected to be one of Márquez’s main changes against Chile.
Chile’s possible lineup
Lawrence Vigouroux
Felipe Faúndez — Iván Román — Jonathan Villagra — Diego Ulloa
Felipe Loyola — Víctor Felipe Méndez — Nils Reichmuth
Darío Osorio — Ben Brereton — Maximiliano Gutiérrez
How to watch Mexico vs Chile
United States: TUDN USA, Univision, TUDN.com, Univision NOW, TUDN App and ViX.
Alejandro Orellana is an accomplished sports journalist based in Mexico City, known for his incisive coverage of Club América and the Mexican National Team. A graduate of Journalism from Escuela de Periodismo Carlos Septien García, Alejandro brings a deep understanding of sports media to his work. His expertise extends to SEO and content creation, allowing him to produce engaging and discoverable sports narratives. He has contributed as a freelance writer for Goal.com, where he notably conducted interviews with MLS players, further showcasing his comprehensive interviewing skills. Prior to this, Alejandro dedicated five years to ESPN’s production department, contributing to renowned shows including SportsCenter, Futbol Picante, and NFL Live. His insightful articles can be found on platforms such as Deportrece and Hooligan Soccer. Connect with Alejandro on @soyalexorellana and Tik Tok to stay updated with his latest work. His commitment to journalistic integrity ensures every piece offers valuable and trustworthy insights for sports enthusiasts.
