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Rafael Márquez unveiled Mexico's 28-man squad for the upcoming two-legged Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal clash against Jamaica as El Tri kicks off its defense of the tournament title.
The atmosphere around El Tri shifted from overly optimistic to increasingly concerning after the Márquez era got underway with four consecutive matches without a win.
Following a promising World Cup showing, Mexico reverted to its familiar, unconvincing form during the September–October international break, drawing twice before suffering a humiliating loss to the USMNT and then another defeat against a struggling Chile side.
Márquez cannot afford to prolong the poor run during the first two competitive matches of his tenure. Failing to advance to the Nations League semifinals in March could put him under serious pressure just six games into his reign.
Determined to avoid another pair of disappointing outings, Márquez overhauled his squad by dropping 11 players from the previous month's selection, bringing in nine new faces that include first-time call-ups and some surprising returns.
Mexico's 2026 November Roster
Goalkeepers (3)
Defenders (9)
Midfielders (8)
Forwards (8)
Desperate Times Call for Desperate Meassures in Attack
With Raúl Jiménez ruled out until 2027 and Mexico once again appearing blunt in attack, Márquez is casting his net wide for options to breathe new life into El Tri's offensive play—and he truly means wide.
That search led him to Croatia and 26-year-old forward Armando León. The FK Osijek striker was virtually unknown to most in Mexican football circles outside of Márquez and his coaching staff. After nearly three years playing in Andorra following his exit from Mexico's second division, León moved to Croatia this past summer. Five goals in 12 Croatian league appearances to open the season have now earned him his first Mexico call-up.
But Márquez's experimentation doesn't stop there. Having given Hirving "Chucky" Lozano an opportunity a month ago, he has now opened the door to another veteran attacker who was once seen as a cornerstone of Mexico's future.
Former Portuguese league MVP with Porto, Jesús "Tecatito" Corona has returned to El Tri for the first time since June 2022. The 33-year-old winger currently plays for Monterrey in Liga MX and, while his peak years may be behind him, Márquez appears intent on leaving no option unexplored.
On a brighter note for Mexico, World Cup standout and Ballon d'Or finalist Julián Quiñones is back in the fold and is expected to provide a significant boost to the attack. And despite Alexis Vega hinting at a possible international retirement after being omitted from Márquez's first squad, the Toluca forward has returned following a sit-down with the coach.
In further encouraging news, 18-year-old Gilberto Mora has recovered from a mysterious injury that forced him to withdraw from El Tri's camp last month and is back in contention for what could be his final two appearances for the national team before his much-anticipated move to European football in the January transfer window.
Mexico's November Schedule
Opponent | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
Jamaica (A) | Nov. 14 | National Stadium—Kingston, Jamaica |
Jamaica (H) | Nov. 17 | Estadio BBVA—Monterrey, Mexico |
A continuation of the poor results that characterized the opening stretch of Márquez's tenure will not be tolerated as the former El Tri captain now faces the first two official fixtures of his time in charge.
Mexico will take on Jamaica for the first time since the 2024 Copa América as it begins its Concacaf Nations League title defense. As the highest-ranked side in the region, Mexico received a direct berth into the quarterfinals.
The first leg will be played at the National Stadium in Jamaica's capital Kingston on Saturday, Nov. 14. El Tri has fallen in each of its last two away legs in the Nations League quarterfinals, making it a priority for Márquez to reverse that trend.
Three days later, Mexico welcomes Jamaica for the second leg at the Estadio BBVA in Monterrey. It will mark the first occasion El Tri's senior side has played at the 2026 World Cup host venue since the stadium opened in 2015.
Mexico holds a commanding edge over Jamaica in the history of the rivalry, having won 21 of 29 previous encounters while suffering just three defeats against the Caribbean side.