Mexico’s tour of the United States ended with a 2-0 loss to Chile at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on October 6, 2026, leaving Rafael Márquez’s side without a win in their first four matches under his management. The defeat followed a 3-0 loss to the United States and two draws, putting pressure on the new coach as Mexico continues to search for consistency.
Mexico controlled much of the first half against Chile and created clear chances. Roberto Alvarado forced a save from Chile goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux with a shot from outside the box, and Armando Gonzalez missed a close-range header. Despite these opportunities, Mexico failed to find the net and went into halftime scoreless.
The second half exposed Mexico’s vulnerabilities. In the 54th minute, Maximiliano Gutiérrez capitalised on a turnover to give Chile the lead. Substitutions disrupted Mexico’s rhythm, and shortly after, Vicente Pizarro doubled Chile’s advantage in the 65th minute following another defensive lapse. Mexico struggled to respond and never regained control.
Alvarado admitted the results were disappointing. “Obviously, it's a balance that was not the one we wanted,” he said. “We wanted to come out with a win in all four matches.” However, he rejected the idea of blaming any individual player, insisting responsibility lies with the entire squad. “We are a team, everyone is responsible,” he added.
Germán Berterame, who has played in all four matches under Márquez, acknowledged the challenges of adapting to a new coaching staff with limited training time. Mexico has scored just two goals and conceded seven in those games. “There is little time to work when we come here,” Berterame said. “The coaching staff always tries, with the few training sessions we have, to show all the tools that they ask for.”
Berterame also highlighted Mexico’s need to improve its defensive transitions after losing possession, especially given the risks taken when playing out from the back. Alvarado said Márquez encouraged the team to stay calm and focus on the positives while recognising that there is still room for improvement.
The losses to the United States and Chile expose the fragility of Mexico’s current form. Against the US, the team suffered a 3-0 defeat that also featured a second-half collapse similar to the one seen on Tuesday. These setbacks have interrupted the early momentum Márquez hoped to build in his tenure.
Mexico will have little opportunity for experimentation when they return to competitive action in November for the Nations League quarterfinals against Jamaica. The team faces pressure to convert the lessons from these friendlies into better results in more consequential matches.
For now, the Márquez era has begun with two draws and two defeats from four matches, leaving Mexico with questions about cohesion and consistency as they prepare for the coming months. The next steps will be closely watched as the team seeks to translate potential into results.
According to Yahoo Sports.
