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As autumn arrives, the Mexico national team is also embarking on a new era, with El Tri icon Rafael Márquez set to take charge of his first four matches as the squad's new head coach.
Márquez unveiled his inaugural 30-man squad a week ago, assembling a mix of seasoned veterans who fueled Mexico's remarkable run at the 2026 World Cup alongside several highly promising young talents expected to shape the future of El Tri.
Mexico face Colombia on Saturday in Márquez's first senior managerial outing, though the squad will be incomplete as Liga MX does not pause its schedule until the second week of the international window.
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However, Márquez will have a full squad available for the remaining three fixtures against Peru, the USMNT, and Chile to round out his first camp at the helm. There are some notable absentees from the roster, including skipper Edson Álvarez and the dynamic attacking pair of Raúl Jiménez and Julián Quiñones, but there are compelling alternatives who have shone domestically throughout the year and can begin establishing themselves with El Tri as the 2030 cycle gets underway.
Once Márquez has his full complement of players available, here's how Mexico could set up with their strongest XI during the September-October international window.
Mexico Predicted Lineup for Fall Friendlies (4-3-2-1)
GK: Raúl Rangel—The Chivas shot-stopper kept a clean sheet in each of his first four World Cup appearances and has carried that impressive form into the start of the Liga MX season. He looks set to be Mexico's first-choice goalkeeper for the foreseeable future.
RB: Israel Reyes—Having lost his starting spot over the summer, Reyes returns to the XI with something to prove. A versatile defender comfortable playing centrally or on the right, he can drop into a back-three in possession to give the opposite fullback more freedom to attack.
CB: Cesar Montes—Linked with a potential Liga MX return throughout the summer, Montes fought hard to remain in Europe for another season. He'll wear the captain's armband to kick off the Márquez era following a commanding World Cup campaign—his injury against England proved a significant blow.
CB: Johan Vásquez—The Genoa skipper, widely regarded as Mexico's finest player, retains his spot in the starting lineup alongside his trusted defensive partner. Several top European clubs came calling during the summer window, and Vásquez's World Cup performances made it easy to see why.
LB: Mateo Chávez—Jesús Gallardo has been a model of consistency, but as a new era begins, it feels like the right moment for a natural handover, with Chávez, 22, stepping in as Mexico's left back of the future. He's made an encouraging start to the campaign with AZ Alkmaar after netting his first El Tri goal during his limited World Cup minutes.
CM: Erik Lira—The fallout from Folarin Balogun's failed transfer to Everton cost Lira his long-awaited move to Europe. Nevertheless, the combative midfielder has refused to let the setback affect his performances and is already back to dominating Liga MX opponents. He remains El Tri's midfield anchor for years to come.
CM: Jeremy Márquez—The fresh-faced midfielder is a welcome addition to El Tri despite being 26—a reflection of Mexico's broader talent development challenges. Márquez was a key figure in Cruz Azul's title-winning campaign in May and will partner his club teammate in the national team setup, with the freedom to influence play across the entire midfield.
RW: Roberto Alvarado—The first Mexican player ever to record three assists in a single World Cup. Alvarado's magical left foot is one of El Tri's most lethal weapons, made even more effective when the team allows him to drift inside. He is arguably the standout performer in Liga MX right now.
AM: Santiago Sandoval*—One of the most exciting young talents in the country. Sandoval was the star of the show for Mexico's U-20 side that claimed the Concacaf title in August, and the 19-year-old has since scored four goals in seven appearances for Chivas. Able to operate across the entire attacking third, his current form warrants a proper look with El Tri on his first senior call-up.
LW: Gilberto Mora—Mexico's most prized footballing asset has contributed six goals in seven Liga MX outings to open the season. Still just 17 and fresh off a historic World Cup debut, anticipation continues to grow around his impending move to Europe.
ST: Armando González—The only Mexico international to secure a European transfer this summer is hitting the ground running at Olympiacos, scoring four goals in his first four starts. La Hormiga increasingly resembles a Javier "Chicharito" Hernández reincarnation, and has firmly cemented himself as El Tri's top striking option while Jiménez recovers from injury.
*Won't join Mexico's squad until the second game of the fall window against Peru on Sept. 29